CHAP. 58.—REMEDIES FOR DISEASES OF THE TESTES AND OF THE FUNDAMENT.
Scordion1285 reduces swellings of the testes. Henbane is curative of diseases of the generative organs. Strangury is cured by juice of peucedanum,1286 taken with honey; as also by the seed of that plant. Agaric is also used for the same purpose, taken in doses of three oboli in one cyathus of old wine; root of trefoil, in doses of two drachmæ in wine; and root or seed of daucus,1287 in doses of one drachma. For the cure of sciatica, the seed and leaves of erythrodanum1288 are used, pounded; panaces,1289 taken in drink; polemonia,1290 employed as a friction; and leaves of aristolochia,1291 in the form of a decoction. Agaric, taken in doses of three oboli in one cyathus of old wine, is curative of affections of the tendon known as “platys”1292 and of pains in the shoulders. Cinquefoil is either taken in drink or applied topically for the cure of sciatica; a decoction of scammony is used also, with barley meal; and the seed of either kind of hypericon1293 is taken in wine.
For diseases of the fundament and for excoriations plantago is remarkably efficacious; for condylomata, cinquefoil; and for procidence of the rectum, root of cyclaminos,1294 applied in vinegar. The blue anagallis1295 reduces procidence of the rectum, while, on the contrary, that with a red flower has a tendency to bear it down. Cotyledon1296 is a marvellous cure for condylomatous affections and piles; and root of acoron,1297 boiled in wine and beaten up, is a good application for swelling of the testes. According to what Cato1298 says, those who carry about them Pontic1299 wormwood, will never experience chafing between the thighs.
(9.) Some persons add pennyroyal to the number of these plants: gathered fasting, they say, and attached to the hinder part of the body, it will be an effectual preservative against all pains in the groin, and will allay them in cases where they already exist.