CHAP. 51.—EMPETROS. BY OUR PEOPLE CALLED CALCIFRAGA: FOUR
REMEDIES.
Empetros, [Note] by the people of our country called "calcifraga," [Note] grows on mountains near the sea, and is generally
found upon rocks: the nearer it grows to the sea the salter it
is, acting as an evacuant of bile and pituitous secretions. That,
on the other hand, which grows at a greater distance and more
inland, is of a more bitter flavour. It carries off the aqueous
humours of the body, being taken for that purpose in broth of
some kind, or else hydromel. When old, it loses its strength;
but used fresh, either boiled in water or pounded, it acts as a
diuretic, and disperses urinary calculi. Authorities who wish
full credence to be given to this asserted property, assure us
that pebbles boiled with it will split asunder.
