On the other hand, again, the juice of the smaller centaury acts as a purgative upon the bowels, and carries off bile, taken, in doses of one drachma, in one hemina of water with a little salt and vinegar. The greater centaury is curative of griping pains in the bowels. Betony, also, has a laxative effect, taken in the proportion of four drachmæ to nine cyathi of hydromel: the same, too, with euphorbia[1172] or agaric, taken, in doses of two drachmæ, with a little salt, in water, or else in three oboli of honied wine. Cyclaminos,[1173] also, is a purgative, either taken in water or used as a suppository; the same, too, with chamæcissos,[1174] employed as a suppository. A handful of hyssop, boiled down to one third with salt, or beaten up with oxymel and salt, and applied to the abdomen, promotes pituitous evacuations, and expels intestinal worms. Root also of peucedanum[1175] carries off pituitous humours and bile. CHAP. 35.—EPITHYMON OR HIPPOPHEOS: EIGHT REMEDIES. The two kinds of anagallis, taken in hydromel, are purgative; the same, too, with epithymon,[1176] which is the blossom of a sort[1177] of thyme similar to savory; the only difference being that the flower of this plant is nearer grass green, while that of the other thyme is white. Some persons call it “hippopheos.”[1178] This plant is by no means wholesome to the stomach, as it is apt to cause vomiting, but at the same time it disperses flatulency and gripings of the bowels. It is taken also, in the form of an electuary, for affections of the chest, with honey, or in some cases, with iris.[1179] Taken in doses of from four to six drachmæ, with honey and a little salt and vinegar, it relaxes the bowels. Some persons, again, give a different description of epithymon: according to them, it is a plant without[1180] a root, diminutive, and bearing a flower resembling a small hood, and of a red colour. They tell us, too, that it is dried in the shade and taken in water, in doses of half an acetabulum; and that it has a slightly laxative effect upon the bowels, and carries off the pituitous humours and bile. Nymphæa[1181] is taken for similar purposes, in astringent wine. CHAP. 36.—PYCNOCOMON; FOUR REMEDIES. Pycnocomon,[1182] too, is a purgative. It is a plant with leaves like those of rocket, only thicker and more acrid; the root is round, of a yellow colour, and with an earthy smell. The stem is quadrangular, of a moderate length, thin, and surmounted with a flower like that of ocimum.[1183] It is found growing in rough stony soils. The root, taken in doses of two denarii in hydromel, acts as a purgative upon the bowels, and effectually carries off bile and pituitous humours. The seed, taken in doses of one drachma in wine, is productive of dreams and restlessness. Capnos,[1184] too, carries off bile by the urine. CHAP. 37.—POLYPODION: THREE REMEDIES.