CHAP. 74.—REMEDIES FOR ERYSIPELAS.
For the cure of erysipelas, aizoüm[1413] is used, or else pounded leaves of hemlock, or root of mandragora;[1414] this last being cut into round slices like cucumber and suspended over must,[1415] after which it is hung up in the smoke, and then pounded in wine or vinegar. It is a good plan too to use fomentations with myrtle wine: two ounces of mint beaten up in vinegar with one ounce of live sulphur, form a mixture sometimes employed; as also soot mixed with vinegar.
There are several kinds of erysipelas, one in particular which attacks the middle of the body, and is known as “zoster:”[1416] should it entirely surround the body, its effects are fatal. For this disease, plantago[1417] is remedial, mixed with Cimolian[1418] chalk; vervain, used by itself; or root of persolata.[1419] For other kinds of erysipelas of a spreading nature, root of cotyledon[1420] is used, mixed with honied wine; aizoüm also,[1421] or juice of linozostis,[1422] in combination with vinegar.
CHAP. 75. (12.)—REMEDIES FOR SPRAINS.
For the cure of sprains, root of polypodion[1423] is used, in the form, of a liniment: the pain and swelling are modified also by using seed of psyllion;[1424] leaves of plantago[1425] beaten up with a little salt; seed of verbascum,[1426] boiled in wine and pounded; or hemlock with axle-grease. Leaves of ephemeron[1427] are applied topically to tumours and tuberosities, so long as they are capable of being dispersed.
CHAP. 76.—REMEDIES FOR JAUNDICE.
It is upon the eyes in particular that jaundice is productive of so remarkable an effect; the bile penetrating between the membranes, so extremely delicate as they are and so closely united. Hippocrates[1428] tells us that the appearance of jaundice on or after the seventh day in fevers is a fatal symptom; but I am acquainted with some instances in which, the patients survived after having been reduced to this apparently hopeless state. We may remark also, that jaundice sometimes comes on without fever supervening. It is combated by taking the greater centaury,[1429] as already mentioned, in drink; agaric, in doses of three oboli in old wine; or leaves of vervain, in doses of three oboli, taken for four consecutive days in one hemina of mulled wine. But the most speedy cure of all is effected by using juice of cinquefoil, in doses of three cyathi, with salt and honey. Root of cyclaminos[1430] is also taken in drink in doses of three drachmæ, the patient sitting in a warm room free from all cold and draughts, the infusion expelling the bile by its action as a sudorific.