Psyllion,[843] cynoïdes, crystallion, sicelicon, or cynomyia, has a slender root, of which no use is made, and numerous thin branches, with seeds resembling those of the bean, at the extremities.[844] The leaves of it are not unlike a dog’s head in shape;[845] and the seed, which is enclosed in berries, bears a resemblance to a flea—whence its name “psyllion.” This plant is generally found growing in vineyards, is of a cooling nature, and is extremely efficacious as a dispellent. The seed of it is the part made use of; for head-ache, it is applied to the forehead and temples with rose oil and vinegar, or else with oxycrate; it is used as a liniment for other purposes also. Mixed in the proportion of one acetabulum to one sextarius of water, it is left to coagulate and thicken; after which it is beaten up, and the thick solution is used as a liniment for all kinds of pains, abscesses, and inflammations.
Aristolochia is used as a remedy for wounds in the head; it has the property, too, of extracting fractured bones, not only from other parts of the body, but the cranium in particular. The same, too, with plistolochia.
Thryselinum[846] is a plant not unlike parsley; the root of it, eaten, carries off pituitous humours from the head.
CHAP. 91. (12.)—REMEDIES FOR DISEASES OF THE EYES.
It is generally thought that the greater centaury[847] strengthens the sight, if the eyes are fomented with it steeped in water; and that by employing the juice of the smaller kind, in combination with honey, films and cloudiness may be dispersed, marks obliterated, and small flies removed which have got into the eye. It is thought also that sideritis is curative of albugo in beasts of burden. As to chelidonia,[848] it is marvellously good for all the affections above mentioned. Root of panaces[849] is applied, with polenta,[850] to defluxions of the eyes; and for the purpose of keeping them down, henbane-seed is taken, in doses of one obolus, with an equal proportion of opium, in wine. Juice, too, of gentian is used as a liniment, and it sometimes forms an ingredient in the more active eyesalves,[851] as a substitute for meconium. Euphorbia,[852] applied in the form of a liniment, improves the eyesight, and for ophthalmia juice of plantago[853] is injected into the eyes.
Aristolochia disperses films upon the eyes; and iberis,[854] attached to the head with cinquefoil, is curative of defluxions and other diseases of the eyes. Verbascum[855] is applied topically to defluxions of the eyes, and vervain is used for a similar purpose, with rose oil and vinegar. For the treatment of cataract and dimness of sight, cyclaminos is reduced to a pulp and divided into lozenges. Juice, too, of peucedanum, as already mentioned,[856] mixed with meconium and oil of roses, is good for the sight, and disperses films upon the eyes. Psyllion,[857] applied to the forehead, arrests defluxions of the eyes.
CHAP. 92. (13.)—THE ANAGALLIS, OR CORCHORON; TWO VARIETIES OF IT: SIX REMEDIES.
The anagallis is called “corchoron”[858] by some. There are two kinds of it, the male[859] plant, with a red blossom, and the female,[860] with a blue flower. These plants do not exceed a palm in height, and have a tender stem, with diminutive leaves of a rounded form, drooping upon the ground. They grow in gardens and in spots covered with water, the blue anagallis being the first to blossom. The juice[861] of either plant, applied with honey, disperses films upon the eyes, suffusions of blood[862] in those organs resulting from blows, and argema[863] with a red tinge: if used in combination with Attic honey, they are still more efficacious. The anagallis has the effect also of dilating[864] the pupil; hence the eye is anointed with it before the operation of couching[865] for cataract. These plants are employed also for diseases of the eyes in beasts of burden.
The juice, injected into the nostrils, which are then rinsed with wine, acts as a detergent upon the head: it is taken also, in doses of one drachma, in wine, for wounds inflicted by serpents. It is a remarkable fact, that cattle will refuse to touch the female plant; but if it should so happen that, deceived by the resemblance—the flower being the only distinguishing mark—they have accidentally tasted it, they immediately have recourse, as a remedy, to the plant called “asyla,”[866] but more generally known among us as “ferus oculus.”[867] Some persons recommend those who gather it, to prelude by saluting it before sunrise, and then, before uttering another word, to take care and extract the juice immediately; if this is done, they say, it will be doubly efficacious.