CHAP. 40.—THE CAUCALIS: TWELVE REMEDIES.
The caucalis, [Note] too, is an edible plant. It resembles fennel in
appearance, and has a short stem with a white flower; [Note] it is
usually considered a good cordial. [Note] The juice, too, of this plant
is taken as a potion, being particularly recommended as a stomachic, a diuretic, an expellent of calculi and gravel, and for the
cure of irritations of the bladder. It has the effect, also, of
attenuating morbid secretions [Note] of the spleen, liver, and kidneys.
The seed of it acts as an emmenagogue, and dispels the bilious
secretions after child-birth: it is prescribed also, for males, in
cases of seminal weakness. Chrysippus is of opinion that this
plant promotes conception; for which purpose it is taken by
women in wine, fasting. It is employed in the form of a liniment, for wounds inflicted by marine animals of a venomous nature, at least we find it so stated by Petrichus in his poem. [Note]
