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CHAP. 120.—FENUGREEK OR SILICIA: THIRTY-ONE REMEDIES.

Nor is fenugreek held in less esteem. By some it is known as "telis," by others as "carphos," and by others again as "buceras,"1 or "ægoceras,"2 the produce of it bearing some resemblance to horns. Among us it is known as "silicia." The mode of sowing it we have already3 described on the appropriate occasion. Its properties are desiccative,4 emollient, and resolvent. A decoction of it is useful for many female maladies, indurations for instance, tumours, and contractions of the uterus; in all which cases it is employed as a fomentation or used for a sitting-bath: it is serviceable also as an injection. It removes cutaneous eruptions on the face; and a decoction of it, applied topically with nitre or vinegar, cures diseases of the spleen or liver. In cases of difficult labour, Diocles recommends the seed pounded, in doses of one acetabulum, mixed with boiled5 must. After taking one third of the mixture, the patient must use a warm bath, and then, while in a perspiration, she must take another third, and, immediately after leaving the bath, the remainder—this, he says, will prove a most effectual means of obtaining relief.

The same authority recommends fenugreek boiled, with barley or linseed, in hydromel, as a pessary for violent pains in the uterus: he prescribes it also as an external application for the lower regions of the abdomen. He speaks also of treating leprous sores and freckles with a mixture composed of equal proportions of sulphur and meal of fenugreek, recommending it to be applied repeatedly in the course of the day, due care being taken not to rub the part affected.

For the cure of leprosy, Theodorus prescribes a mixture of fenugreek, and one fourth part of cleaned nasturtium, the whole to be steeped in the strongest vinegar. Damion used to give a potion by way of emmenagogue, consisting of half an acetabulum of fenugreek seed in nine cyathi of boiled must6 and water. There is no doubt too, that a decoction of it is remarkably useful for diseases of the uterus and for ulcerations of the intestines, and that the seed is beneficial for affections of the joints and chest. Boiled with mallows and then taken in honied wine, fenugreek is extolled in the highest terms, as serviceable for affections of the uterus and intestines. Indeed, the very steam that arises from the decoction may be productive of considerable benefit. A decoction too of fenugreek seed is a corrective of the rank odours of the armpits. Meal of fenugreek, with wine and nitre, speedily removes ring-worm and dandriff of the head; and a decoction of it in hydromel, with the addition of axle-grease, is used for the cure of diseases of the generative organs, inflamed tumours, imposthumes of the parotid glands, gout in the Feet and hands, maladies of the joints, and denudations of the bones. Kneaded with vinegar, it effects the cure of sprains, and, boiled in oxymel only, it is used as a liniment for affections of the spleen. Kneaded with wine, it acts as a detergent upon carcinomatous sores; after which, applied with honey, it effects a perfect cure. A pottage too is made of this meal, which is taken for ulcerations of the chest and chronic coughs; it is kept boiling a considerable time, in order to remove the bitterness,7 after which honey is added.

We shall now proceed to speak of the plants which have gained a higher degree of reputation.

SUMMARY.—Remedies, narratives, and observations, eleven hundred and seventy-six.

ROMAN ATUTHORS QUOTED.—C. Valgius,8 Pompeius Lenæus,9 Sextius Niger10 who wrote in Greek, Julius Bassus11 who wrote in Greek, Antonius Castor,12 Cornelius Celsus.13

FOREIGN AUTHORS QUOTED.—Theophrastus,14 Apollodorus,15 Democritus,16 Orpheus,17 Pythagoras,18 Mago,19 Menan- der20 who wrote the "Biochresta," Nicander,21 Homer, Hesiod,22 Musæus,23 Sophocles,24 Anaxilaüs.25

MEDICAL AUTHORS QUOTED.—Mnesitheus,26 Callimachus,27 Phanias28 the physician, Timaristus,29 Simus,30 Hippocrates,31 Chrysippus,32 Diocles,33 Ophelion,34 Heraclides,35 Hicesius,36 Dionysius,37 Apollodorus38 of Citium, Apollodorus39 of Tarentum, Praxagoras,40 Plistonicus,41 Medius,42 Dieuches,43 Cleophantus,44 Philistion,45 Asclepiades,46 Crateuas,47 Petronius Diodotus,48 Iollas,49 Erasistratus,50 Diagoras,51 Andreas, Mnesides,52 Epicharmus,53 Damion,54 Sosimenes,55 Tlepolemus,56 Metrodorus,57 Solon,58 Lycus,59 Olympias60 of Thebes, Philinus,61 Petrichus,62 Micton,63 Glaucias,64 Xenocrates.65 66

1 "Bull's horn" or "goat's horn."

2 "Bull's horn" or "goat's horn."

3 In B. xviii. c. 39.

4 The seed contains a mucilage, and is considered emollient and resolvent. Till recently, Fenugreek was the base, Fée says, of a plaster held in high esteem.

5 "Sapa." Grape-juice boiled down to one-third.

6 "Sapa."

7 Fée remarks, that in reality there is no bitterness in fenugreek. He suggests therefore, that the meaning may be "offensive smell," that emitted by fenugreek being far from agreeable.

8 See end of B. xx.

9 See end of B. xiv.

10 See end of B. xii.

11 See end of B. xx.

12 See end of B. xx.

13 See end of B. vii.

14 See end of B. iii.

15 See end of B. xi.

16 See end of B. ii.

17 See end of B. xx.

18 See end of B. ii.

19 See end of B. viii.

20 See end of B. xix.

21 See end of B. vii.

22 See end of B. vii.

23 See end of B. xxi.

24 See end of B. xxi.

25 See end of B. xxi.

26 See end of B. xxi.

27 See end of B. iv.

28 See end of B. xxi.

29 See end of B. xxi.

30 See end of 1, . xxi.

31 See end of B. vii.

32 See end of B. xx.

33 See end of B. xx.

34 See end of B. xx.

35 See end of B. xii.

36 See end of B. xxv.

37 See end of B. xxvi,

38 See end of B. xx.

39 See end of B. xx.

40 See end of B. xx.

41 See end of B. xx.

42 See end of B. xx.

43 See end of 13. xx.

44 See end of B. xx.

45 See end of B. xx.

46 See end of B. vii.

47 See end of B. xx.

48 See end of B. xx.

49 See end of B. xii.

50 See end of B. xx.

51 See end of B. xii.

52 See end of B. xx.

53 See end of B. xii.

54 See end of B. xx.

55 See end of Bs. xx.

56 See end of B. xx.

57 See end of B. xx.

58 See end of B. xx.

59 See end of B. xx.

60 See end of B. xii.

61 See end of B. xx.

62 See end of B. xx.

63 See end of B. xix.

64 See end of B xx.

65 See end of B. xx.

66 See end of B. xx.

The Natural History. Pliny the Elder. John Bostock, M.D., F.R.S. H.T. Riley, Esq., B.A. London. Taylor and Francis, Red Lion Court, Fleet Street. 1855.

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