CHAP. 97. (26.)—EIGHT REMEDIES DERIVED FROM THE HYACINTH.
The hyacinth[2353] grows in Gaul more particularly, where it is employed for the dye called “hysginum.”[2354] The root of it is bulbous, and is well known among the dealers in slaves: applied to the body, with sweet wine, it retards the signs of puberty,[2355] and prevents them from developing themselves. It is curative, also, of gripings of the stomach, and of the bites of spiders, and it acts as a diuretic. The seed is administered, with abrotonum, for the stings of serpents and scorpions, and for jaundice.
CHAP. 98.—SEVEN REMEDIES DERIVED FROM THE LYCHNIS.
The seed of the lychnis,[2356] too, which is just the colour of fire, is beaten up and taken in drink for the stings of serpents, scorpions, hornets, and other insects of similar nature: the wild variety, however, is prejudicial to the stomach. It acts as a laxative to the bowels; and, taken in doses of two drachmæ, is remarkably efficacious for carrying off the bile. So extremely baneful is it to scorpions, that if they so much as see it, they are struck with torpor. The people of Asia call the root of it “bolites,” and they say that if it is attached to the body it will effectually disperse albugo.[2357]
CHAP. 99. (27.)—FOUR REMEDIES DERIVED FROM THE VINCAPERVINCA.
The vincapervinca,[2358] too, or chamædaphne,[2359] is dried and pounded, and given to dropsical patients in water, in doses of one spoonful; a method of treatment which speedily draws off the water. A decoction of it, in ashes, with a sprinkling of wine, has the effect of drying tumours: the juice, too, is employed as a remedy for diseases of the ears. Applied to the regions of the stomach, this plant is said to be remarkably good for diarrhœa.
CHAP. 100.—THREE REMEDIES DERIVED FROM BUTCHER’S BROOM.
A decoction of the root of butcher’s broom[2360] is recommended to be taken every other day for calculus in the bladder, strangury, and bloody urine. The root, however, should be taken up one day, and boiled the next, the proportion of it being one sextarius to two cyathi of wine. Some persons beat up the root raw, and take it in water: it is generally considered, too, that there is nothing in existence more beneficial to the male organs than the young stalks of the plant, beaten up and used with vinegar.