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CHAP. 47.—THE DIPSACOS: TWO REMEDIES.

The dipsacos1 has leaves like those of the lettuce, with prickly tubercles on the middle of the back. The stem of it, two cubits in length, is bristling all over with prickles of a similar nature. The joints of the stem are closely covered with two leaves, which form a concave axil in which a saltish dew-like liquid collects.2 At the summit of the stem there are small heads covered with prickles: it grows in watery localities.

This plant is used for the cure of chaps of the fundament and of fistula; in which latter case the root is boiled down in wine to the consistency of wax, to allow of its being introduced into the fistula in the form of a salve.3 It is employed; too, for the cure of all kinds of warts: as a liniment for which, the juice collected in the axils, as above mentioned, is also used by some.

1 The same plant as the Labrum Venereum of B. xxv. c. 108. It is used for carding cloth, but is no longer employed in medicine.

2 Hence its name "Venus' bath."

3 "Collyrii."

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