That which we have spoken of as the “chironion”[1511] is particularly good as a desiccative: bruised with honey, it opens tumours, and is useful for serpiginous ulcers, the cure of which appears more than doubtful; in which case it is amalgamated with flower[1512] of copper tempered with wine, either the seed, flower, or root, being employed for the purpose. Mixed with polenta[1513] it is good for old wounds. The following are also good detergents for wounds: heraclion siderion,[1514] apollinaris,[1515] psyllion,[1516] tragacantha,[1517] and scordotis[1518] mixed with honey. Powdered scordotis, applied by itself, consumes fleshy excrescences on the body. Polemonia[1519] is curative of the malignant ulcer known as “cacoëthes.” The greater centaury,[1520] sprinkled in powder, or applied in the form of a liniment, or the leaves of the smaller[1521] centaury, boiled or pounded, act as a detergent upon inveterate ulcers, and effect a cure. To recent wounds, the follicules of the clymenus[1522] are applied. Gentian is applied to serpiginous ulcers, the root being bruised or else boiled down in water to the consistency of honey; the juice also of the plant is employed. For wounds, a kind of lycium[1523] is prepared from gentian. Lysimachia[1524] is curative of recent wounds, and plantago[1525] of all kinds of liberations, those on females, infants, and aged persons more particularly. This plant, when softened by the action of fire, is better still: in combination with cerate it acts as a detergent upon ulcers with indurated edges, and arrests the progress of corrosive sores: when applied bruised, it should be covered with its own leaves. Chelidonia[1526] also acts as a desiccative upon suppurations, abscesses, and fistulous ulcers; indeed, it is so remarkably useful for the cure of wounds, as to be employed as a substitute for spodium[1527] even. In cases where the cure is almost hopeless, it is applied with axle-grease. Dittany,[1528] taken internally, causes arrows to fall from the flesh; used as a liniment, it has the effect of extracting other kinds of pointed weapons: the leaves are taken in the proportion of one obolus to one cyathus of water. Nearly equal in its efficacy is pseudo-dictamnon:[1529] they are both of them useful, also, for dispersing suppurations.