Molon[1097] is a plant with a striated stem, a soft diminutive leaf, and a root four fingers in length, at the extremity of which there is a head like that of garlic; by some persons it is known as “syron.” Taken in wine, it is curative of affections of the stomach, and of hardness of breathing. For similar purposes the greater centaury is used, in an electuary; juice also of plantago, or else the plant itself, eaten with the food; pounded betony, in the proportion of one pound to half an ounce of Attic honey, taken daily in warm water; and aristolochia[1098] or agaric, taken in doses of three oboli, in warm water or asses’ milk. For hardness of breathing an infusion of cissanthemos[1099] is taken in drink, and for the same complaint, as also for asthma, hyssop. For pains in the liver, chest, and side, if unattended with fever, juice of peucedanum is used. For spitting of blood agaric is employed, in doses of one victoriatus,[1100] bruised and administered in five cyathi of honied wine: amomum,[1101] too, is equally useful for that purpose. For liver diseases in particular, teucria[1102] is taken fresh, in doses of four drachmæ to one hemina of oxycrate; or else betony, in the proportion of one drachma to three cyathi of warm water. For diseases of the heart, betony is recommended, in doses of one drachma to two cyathi of cold water. Juice of cinquefoil is remedial for diseases of the liver and lungs, and for spitting of blood as well as all internal affections of the blood. The two varieties of anagallis[1103] are wonderfully efficacious for liver complaints. Patients who eat the plant called “capnos”[1104] discharge the bile by urine. Acoron[1105] is also remedial for diseases of the liver, and daucus[1106] is useful for the thorax and the pectoral organs. CHAP. 20.—THE EPHEDRA OR ANABASIS: THREE REMEDIES. The ephedra,[1107] by some persons called “anabasis,” mostly grows in localities exposed to the wind. It climbs the trunks of trees, and hangs down from the branches, is destitute of leaves, but has numerous suckers, jointed like a bulrush; the root is of a pale colour. This plant is given, pounded, in astringent red wine, for cough, asthma, and gripings in the bowels. It is administered also in the form of a pottage, to which some wine should be added. For these complaints, gentian is also used, being steeped in water the day before, and then pounded and given in doses of one denarius, in three cyathi of wine. CHAP. 21.—GEUM: THREE REMEDIES.