CHAP. 13.—THE ASTAPHISAGRIA, OTHERWISE CALLED STAPHIS OR TAMINIA: TWELVE REMEDIES.
The wild astaphis, otherwise called staphis,2866 is by some persons erroneously called “uva taminia;”2867 for it is altogether a distinct plant from the other. It has a black, upright stem, with leaves resembling those of the labrusca,2868 and bears what we may call a pod,2869 rather than a grape, green, similar to a chick-pea in appearance, and enclosing a kernel of triangular form. The fruit of it ripens with the vintage and turns black, while the berries of the taminia,2870 as is well known, are red; this last, too, as we are aware, grows only in shaded spots, while the wild astaphis, on the other hand, loves a site that is exposed to the sun.
I would not recommend any one to use the kernels2871 of the wild astaphis as a purgative, as it is very doubtful whether they might not choke the patient; nor would I advise them to be employed for the purpose of attenuating the phlegm, as they are extremely irritating to the throat. Beaten up, however, and applied topically, they kill vermin2872 in the head and other parts of the body, more particularly if they are used with sandarach; they are very useful, too, for itch-scabs and prurigo. A decoction of the kernels is made with vinegar, for the cure of tooth-ache, diseases of the ears, cicatrices2873 that are slow in healing, and running sores.
The blossoms of the plant are beaten up and taken in wine for stings2874 inflicted by serpents; but, as to the seed, I would strongly recommend its rejection, on account of its extremely pungent properties. Some persons give to this plant the name of “pituitaria,”2875 and use it as a common application for stings inflicted by serpents.