CHAP. 25.—CHALCETUM; TWO REMEDIES. MOLEMONIUM; ONE REMEDY.
Chalcetum1116 also is the name of a plant, which is pounded with grape husks and applied topically, for the cure of liver complaints. Root of betony acts as a gentle emetic, taken in the same way as hellebore, in doses of four drachmæ in raisin wine or honied wine. Hyssop, too, is beaten up with honey for similar purposes; but it is more efficacious if nasturtium or irio1117 is taken first.
Molemonium1118 is used as an emetic, being taken in doses of one denarius; the same, too, with sillybum.1119 Both of these plants have a milky juice, which thickens like gum, and is taken with honey in the proportions above-mentioned, being particularly good for carrying off bile. On the other hand, vomiting is arrested by the use of wild cummin or powdered betony, taken in water. Crudities and distaste for food are dispelled, and the digestion promoted by employing daucus,1120 powdered betony1121 taken in hydromel, or else plantago boiled like greens. Hiccup is arrested by taking hemionium1122 or aristolochia,1123 and asthma by the use of clymenus.1124 For pleurisy and peripneumony, the greater centaury is used, or else hyssop, taken in drink. Juice of peucedanum1125 is also good for pleurisy.