Ἡμιονίτις,
Hemionitis, Moon Fern, is possessed at the same time of astringency and bitterness. It therefore relieves affections of the spleen when taken with vinegar.
Commentary. Galen calls it also by the names of Scolopendrium and Asplenium. (ii, 292, ed. Basil.) Dioscorides describes it so as to leave no doubt of its being a cryptogamous plant. It is a species of the Scolopendrium. The other authorities praise it in enlarged spleen.
Ἧπαρ,
Hepar, the Liver; if that of a mad dog be roasted and eaten, it is said to relieve those who have been bitten by him. The sanies of a boiled goat’s liver relieves nyctalopia when injected into the eye. They also direct the vapour of it when boiling to be received into the eyes, and also to be eaten. They say that it rests epileptics if eaten, and that the liver of the buck-goat does the same. The liver of a lizard when put into carious teeth relieves the pain. That of the wolf is added to the hepatic medicine prepared from eupatorium. The liver of an ass when roasted is of use to epileptics when eaten fasting. That of a bear when dried in its fresh state and triturated with wine is drunk for the bites of reptiles. The liver of the cormorant, when dried and taken in a draught, makes calculi be discharged.
Commentary. We have treated of the livers of animals in the dietetical part of the [First Book]. See also in particular Galen and Serapion. Our author copies from the former, who in his turn follows closely in the footsteps of Dioscorides.
Ἠριγέρων,
Senecio, Groundsel, has mixed powers, being refrigerant and moderately discutient.
Commentary. Dioscorides recommends it (Senecio vulgaris) in inflammatory complaints, and also says of it that when drunk with must it relieves the pains of the stomach proceeding from bile. Galen and the other authorities, like Paulus, treat of it in general terms as an antiphlogistic application. Apuleius recommends it in sciatica (75, 5.) In modern times it had the character of being emetic, but the ancient authorities do not say that it has this property.