CHAP. 76.—REMEDIES FOR JAUNDICE. It is upon the eyes in particular that jaundice is productive of so remarkable an effect; the bile penetrating between the membranes, so extremely delicate as they are and so closely united. Hippocrates[1428] tells us that the appearance of jaundice on or after the seventh day in fevers is a fatal symptom; but I am acquainted with some instances in which, the patients survived after having been reduced to this apparently hopeless state. We may remark also, that jaundice sometimes comes on without fever supervening. It is combated by taking the greater centaury,[1429] as already mentioned, in drink; agaric, in doses of three oboli in old wine; or leaves of vervain, in doses of three oboli, taken for four consecutive days in one hemina of mulled wine. But the most speedy cure of all is effected by using juice of cinquefoil, in doses of three cyathi, with salt and honey. Root of cyclaminos[1430] is also taken in drink in doses of three drachmæ, the patient sitting in a warm room free from all cold and draughts, the infusion expelling the bile by its action as a sudorific. Leaves of tussilago[1431] are also used in water for this purpose; the seed of either kind of linozostis,[1432] sprinkled in the drink, or made into a decoction with chick-pease or wormwood: hyssop berries taken in water; the plant lichen,[1433] all other vegetables being carefully abstained from while it is being used; polythrix,[1434] taken in wine; and struthion,[1435] in honied wine. CHAP. 77.—REMEDIES FOR BOILS. There are boils also, known as “furunculi,”[1436] which make their appearance indiscriminately on all parts of the body, and are productive of the greatest inconvenience: sometimes indeed, when the constitution is exhausted, they are fatal in their effects. For their cure, leaves of pycnocomon[1437] are employed, beaten up with polenta,[1438] if the boil has not come to a head. They are dispersed also by an application of leaves of ephedron.[1439] CHAP. 78.—REMEDIES FOR FISTULA. Fistulas, too, insidiously attack all parts of the body, owing to unskilfulness on the part of medical men in the use of the knife. The smaller centaury[1440] is used for their cure, with the addition of lotions[1441] and boiled honey: juice of plantago[1442] is also employed, as an injection; cinquefoil, mixed with salt and honey; ladanum,[1443] combined with castoreum;[1444] cotyledon,[1445] applied hot with stag’s marrow; pith of the root of verbascum[1446] reduced to a liquid state in the shape of a lotion, and injected; root of aristolochia;[1447] or juice of tithymalos.[1448] CHAP. 79.—REMEDIES FOR ABSCESSES AND HARD TUMOURS.