We have already[34] stated that the best mistletoe is that which grows on the robur,[35] and have described the manner in which it is prepared. Some persons, after bruising the berries, boil them in water, till nothing appears on the surface, while others, again, bite the berries with the teeth, and reject the skins.[36] The best kind of viscus is that which has none of the outer skin in it, is extremely light, yellow without, and of a leek-green colour within. There is no substance more glutinous than this: it is of an emollient nature, disperses tumours, and acts as a desiccative upon scrofulous sores; combined with resin and wax, it heals inflamed swellings of every description. Some persons add galbanum as well, using equal proportions of each ingredient, and this preparation they employ also for the treatment of wounds. The viscus of the mistletoe has the additional property also of rectifying malformed nails; but to effect this it must be taken off at the end of seven days, and the nails must be washed with a solution of nitre.[37] Some persons have a sort of superstitious notion that the viscus will be all the more efficacious if the berries are gathered from the robur at new moon, and without the aid of iron. They have an impression too, that if it has not touched the ground, it will cure epilepsy,[38] that it will promote conception in females if they make a practice of carrying it about them: the berries, chewed and applied to ulcers, are remarkably efficacious for their cure, it is said. CHAP. 7.—THE EXCRESCENCES WHICH GROW ON THE ROBUR: ONE REMEDY. THE CERRUS: EIGHT REMEDIES. The round excrescences[39] which grow on the robur * * * and mixed with bear’s grease, are remedial in cases of loss of the hair by alopecy. The leaves, bark, and acorns of the cerrus[40] act as a desiccative upon gatherings and suppurations, and arrest fluxes. A decoction[41] of them, used as a fomentation, strengthens such parts of the body as are paralyzed; and it is a very good plan to employ it as a sitting-bath, for its desiccative or astringent effects upon the lower extremities. The root of this tree neutralizes the venom of the scorpion. CHAP. 8.—THE-CORK TREE: TWO REMEDIES. The bark of the cork-tree,[42] pulverized and taken in warm water, arrests hæmorrhage at the mouth and nostrils;[43] and the ashes of it, taken in warm wine, are highly extolled as a cure for spitting of blood. CHAP. 9. (5.)—THE BEECH: FOUR REMEDIES. The leaves[44] of the beech are chewed for affections of the lips and gums. A liniment is made of the ashes of beech-mast for urinary calculus, and, in combination with honey, for alopecy. CHAP. 10.—THE CYPRESS: TWENTY-THREE REMEDIES.