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CHAP. 64.—SESAME: SEVEN REMEDIES. SESAMOIDES: THREE REMEDIES. ANTICYRICUM: THREE REMEDIES.

Sesame,1 pounded and taken in wine, arrests vomiting: it is applied also topically to inflammations of the ears, and burns. It has a similar effect even while in the blade: and in that state, a decoction of it in wine is used as a liniment for the eyes. As an alignment it is injurious to the stomach, and imparts a bad odour to the breath. It is an antidote to the bite of the spotted lizard, and heals the cancerous sore known as "cacoethes."2 The oil made from it, as already3 mentioned, is good for the ears.

Sesamoïdes4 owes its name to its resemblance to sesame; the grain5 of it, however, is bitter, and the leaf more diminutive: it is found growing in sandy soils. Taken in water, it carries off bile, and, with the seed, a liniment is made for erysipelas: it disperses inflamed swellings also. Besides this, there is another6 sesamoïdes, which grows at Anticyra, and, for that reason, is known by some as "anticyricon." In other respects, it is similar to the plant erigeron, of which we shall have to speak7 on a future occasion; but the seed of it is like that of sesame. It is given in sweet wine as an evacuant, in doses of a pinch in three fingers, mixed with an obolus and a half of white hellebore; this preparation being employed principally as a purgative, in cases of insanity, melancholy, epilepsy, and gout. Taken alone, in doses of one drachma, it purges by stool.

1 See B. xviii. c. 22. It is still used in medicine in Egypt, and as a cosmetic.

2 Or "bad habit."

3 In B. xv. c. 7. See also B. xxiii. c. 49. Fée thinks it not unlikely that oil of sesame might have this effect. The people of Egypt still look upon this grain as an antophthalmic, but, as Fée says, without any good reason.

4 "Like sesame."

5 Sprengel has identified this plant, the "smaller" Sesamoides of Dioscorides, with the Astragalus sesameus of Linnæus, or else with the Reseda canescens. Other naturalists have mentioned the Catananche cærulca of Linnæus, the Passerina hirsuta of Linnæus, and the Passerina polygalæ- ofolia of Lapeyrouse. Fée is of opinion that it has not been identified.

6 Altogether a different plant; Spruengel identifies it with the Reseda Mediterranea, hut Fée dissents from that opinion, and is inclined to agree with the opinion of Dalechamps, that it is the Daphne Tartonraira of Linnæus, which is a strong purgative.

7 In B. xxv. c. 106.

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