Latin Texts & Translations

But it is the phycos thalassion, or sea-weed, ^[Note] more particularly, that is so excellent a remedy for the gout. It resembles the lettuce in appearance, and is used as the basis in dyeing tissues with the purple of the murex. ^[Note] Used before it becomes dry, it is efficacious as a topical application not only for gout, but for all diseases of the joints. There are three kinds of it; one with a broad leaf, another with a longer leaf of a reddish hue, and a third with a crisped leaf, and used in Crete for dyeing cloths. ^[Note] All these kinds have similar properties; and we find Nicander prescribing them in wine as an antidote to the venom of serpents even. The seed also of the plant which we have spoken of as "psyllion," ^[Note] is useful for the cure of gout: it is first steeped in water, and one hemina of the seed is then mixed with two spoonfuls of resin of Colophon, and one spoonful of frankincense. Leaves of mandragora, ^[Note] too, are highly esteemed for this purpose, beaten up with polenta.

(11.) For swellings of the ankles, slime, ^[Note] kneaded up with oil, is wonderfully useful, and for swellings of the joints the juice of the smaller centaury; this last being remarkably good also for diseases of the sinews. Centauris, ^[Note] too, is very useful; and for pains in the sinews of the shoulder-blades, shoulders,

vertebræ, and loins, an infusion of betony is taken in drink in the same way as for diseases of the liver. ^[Note] Cinquefoil is applied topically to the joints, and a similar use is made of the leaves of mandragora, mixed with polenta, ^[Note] or else the root, beaten up fresh with wild cucumber ^[Note] or boiled in water. For chaps upon the toes, root of polypodion ^[Note] is used; and for diseases of the joints, juice of henbane with axle-grease; amomum, ^[Note] with a decoction of the plant; centunculus, ^[Note] boiled; or fresh moss steeped in water, and attached to the part till it is quite dry.

The root, too, of lappa boaria, ^[Note] taken in wine, is productive of similar effects. A decoction of cyclaminos ^[Note] in water, is curative of chilblains, and all other affections resulting from cold. For chilblains, cotyledon ^[Note] is also employed with axle-grease, leaves of batrachion, ^[Note] and juice of epithymum. ^[Note] Ladanum, ^[Note] mixed with castoreum, ^[Note] and vervain applied with wine, extract corns from the feet.