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CHAP. 57.—REMEDIES DERIVED FROM GRAIN. SILIGO: ONE REMEDY. WHEAT: ONE REMEDY. CHAFF: TWO REMEDIES. SPELT: ONE REMEDY. BRAN: ONE REMEDY. OLYRA, OR ARINCA: TWO REMEDIES.

Having now described the remedies derived from flowers, both those which enter into the composition of garlands, and the ordinary garden ones, as well as from the vegetable productions, how could we possibly omit those which are derived from the cereals?

(25.) It will be only proper then, to make some mention of these as well. In the first place, however, let us remark that it is a fact universally acknowledged, that it is the most intel- ligent of the animated beings that derive their subsistence from grain. The grain of siligo1 highly roasted and pounded in Aminean2 wine, applied to the eyes, heals defluxions of those organs;3 and the grain of wheat, parched on a plate of iron, is an instantaneous remedy for frost-bite in various parts of the body. Wheat-meal, boiled in vinegar, is good for contractions of the sinews, and bran,4 mixed with rose-oil, dried figs, and myxa5 plums boiled down together, forms an excel- lent gargle6 for the tonsillary glands and throat.

Sextus Pomponius, who had a son prætor, and who was himself the first citizen of Nearer Spain, was on one occasion attacked with gout, while superintending the winnowing in his granaries; upon which, he immediately thrust his legs, to above the knees, in a heap of wheat. He found himself re- lieved, the swelling in the legs subsided in a most surprising degree, and from that time he always employed this remedy: indeed, the action of grain in masses is so extremely powerful as to cause the entire evaporation of the liquor in a cask. Men of experience in these matters recommend warm chaff of wheat or barley, as an application for hernia, and fomentations with the water in which it has been boiled. In the grain known7 as spelt, there is a small worm found, similar in appearance to the teredo:8 if this is put with wax into the hollow of carious teeth, they will come out, it is said, or, indeed, if the teeth are only rubbed with it. Another name given to olyra, as already9 mentioned, is "arinca:" with a decoction of it a medicament is made, known in Egypt as "athera," and extremely good for infants. For adult persons it is employed in the form of a liniment.

1 See B. xviii. c. 20.

2 See B. xiv. c. 5.

3 Fée says that it can have no such effect.

4 The bran of wheat, Fée says, is of a soothing nature, and that of barley siligtly astringent.

5 See B. xv. c. 12, and B. xvii. c. 14.

6 The only truth in this statement, Fée says, is, that wheat bran makes a good gargle.

7 See B. xviii. c. 19.

8 See B. xvi. c. 80. This insect, or weevil, Fée says, is the Calandra granaria. It strongly resembles the worm or maggot found in nuts. It can be of no efficacy whatever for the removal of carious teeth.

9 In B. xviii. c. 20.

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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