Sideritis,1329 attached to the body as an amulet, reduces varicose veins, and effects a painless cure. Gout used to be an extremely rare disease, not in the times of our fathers and grandfathers only, but within my own memory even. Indeed, it may justly be considered a foreign complaint; for if it had been formerly known in Italy, it would surely have found a Latin name. It should, however, by no means be looked upon as an incurable malady; for before now, in many instances, it has quitted the patient all at once, and still more frequently, a cure has been effected by proper treatment.

For the cure of gout, roots of panaces1330 are used, mixed with raisins; juice of henbane, or the seed, combined with meal; scordion,1331 taken in vinegar; iberis, as already mentioned;1332 vervain, beaten up with axle-grease; or root of cyclaminos,1333 a decoction of which is good also for chilblains.

As cooling applications for gout, root of xiphion1334 is used; seed of psyllion;1335 hemlock, with litharge or axle-grease; and, at the first symptoms of red gout, or, in other words, hot gout, the plant aizoüm.1336 For either kind of gout, erigeron,1337 with axle-grease, is very useful; leaves of plantago, beaten up with a little salt; or argemonia,1338 pounded with honey. An application of vervain is also remedial, and it is a good plan to soak the feet in a decoction of that plant in water.