CHAP. 79.—REMEDIES FOR ABSCESSES AND HARD TUMOURS.
Abscesses and inflammations are cured by an application of leaves of argemonia.[1449] For indurations and gatherings of all descriptions a decoction of vervain or cinquefoil in vinegar is used; leaves or root of verbascum;[1450] a liniment made of wine and hyssop; root of acoron,[1451] a decoction of it being used as a fomentation; or else aizoüm.[1452] Contusions also, hard tumours, and fistulous abscesses are treated with, illecebra.[1453]
All kinds of foreign substances which have pierced the flesh are extracted by using leaves of tussilago,[1454] daueus,[1455] or seed of leontopodium[1456] pounded in water with polenta.[1457] To suppurations, leaves of pycnocomon[1458] are applied, beaten up with polenta, or else the seed of that plant, or orchis.[1459] An application of root of satyrion[1460] is said to be a most efficacious remedy for deep-seated diseases of the bones. Corrosive ulcers and all kinds of gatherings are treated with sea-weed,[1461] used before it has dried. Root, too, of alcima[1462] disperses gatherings.
CHAP. 80.—REMEDIES FOB BURNS.
Burns are cured by the agency of plantago,[1463] or of arction,[1464] so effectually indeed as to leave no scar. The leaves of this last plant are boiled in water, beaten up, and applied to the sore. Boots of cyclaminos[1465] are used, in combination with aizoüm;[1466] the kind of hypericon also, which we have mentioned as being called “corissum.”[1467]
CHAP. 81. REMEDIES FOR DISEASES OF THE SINEWS AND JOINTS.
For diseases of the sinews and joints, plantago,[1468] beaten up with salt, is a very useful remedy, or else argemonia,[1469] pounded with honey. Patients affected with spasms or tetanus are rubbed with juice of peucedanum.[1470] For indurations of the sinews, juice of ægilops[1471] is employed, and for pains in those parts of the body erigeron[1472] or epithymum,[1473] used as a liniment, with vinegar. In cases of spasms and opisthotony, it is an excellent plan to rub the part affected with seed of the hypericon known as “caros,”[1474] and to take the seed in drink. Phrynion,[1475] it is said, will effect a cure even when the sinews have been severed, if applied instantaneously, bruised or chewed. For spasmodic affections, fits of trembling, and opisthotony, root of alcima[1476] is administered in hydromel; used in this manner, if has a warming effect when the limbs are benumbed with cold.
CHAP. 82.—REMEDIES FOR HÆMORRHAGE.
The red seed of the plant called “pæonia”[1477] arrests hæmorrhage; the root also is possessed of similar properties. But it is clymenus[1478] that should be employed, when there are discharges of blood at the mouth or nostrils, from the bowels, or from the uterus. In such cases, lysimachia[1479] also is taken in drink, applied topically, or introduced into the nostrils; or else seed of plantago,[1480] or cinquefoil, is taken in drink, or employed in the form of a liniment. Hemlock seed is introduced into the nostrils, for discharges of blood there, or else it is pounded and applied in water; aizoüm.[1481] also, and root of astragalus.[1482] Ischæmon[1483] and achillea[1484] likewise arrest hæmorrhage.