BOOK 8: ON THE POWERS OF SIMPLE REMEDIES

Ed. Chartier XIII. [184, 185]

...but rather to take some indication of its powers from its specific effects original: "ἔργων" (ergōn); refers to the observable actions or "works" of a drug on the body, tracing the argument back to the underlying principles established at the beginning of this work. It is clear from what has been said that this plant possesses an incisive original: "τμητική" (tmētikē); the ability to cut through or break up thick, sticky fluids in the body, cleansing, dispersive, and contractive power.

Indeed, when mixed with vinegar, it removes white vitiligo original: "ἀλφοὺς" (alphous); a skin condition characterized by white patches. It also disperses scrofula original: "χοιράδας" (choiradas); swollen lymph nodes, often in the neck and hard tumors when mixed with other drugs suitable for those conditions. The fruit of the plant possesses powers proportional to the bark of the root, except that it is weaker in every respect.

[185] Furthermore, the leaves and the stalks of the plant possess similar powers. I myself once knew a case where scrofulous hardness was dispersed in a few days using only the leaves. However, we clearly mix them with substances that blunt the intensity of their power. It is not surprising that the juice of the plant kills worms in the ears, given its extreme bitterness.

The caper plant that grows in very hot regions, such as the variety found in Arabia, is much more pungent than the variety found in our lands. Consequently, it partakes even more of a caustic original: "καυστικῆς" (kaustikēs); burning or stinging power.

8. On Cress

original Greek: "Περὶ καρδάμου" (Peri kardamou); the Latin translator uses "Nasturtium," referring to garden cress or watercress.

The seed of cress has a caustic or...