CHAP. 49.—REMEDIES FOR CALCULI AND DISEASES OF THE BLADDER.

For diseases of the bladder and calculi (affections which, as :already observed,[1] produce the most excruciating torments), palimonies[2] is highly efficacious, taken in wine; agaric also, and leaves or root of plantago, taken in raisin wine. Betony, too, is very good, as already observed, when speaking[3] of diseases of the liver. This last plant is used also for hernia, applied topically or taken in drink: it is remarkably efficacious too for stranger. For calculi some persons recommend betony, vervain, and milfoil, in equal proportions in water, as a sovereign remedy. It is universally agreed that dittany is curative of strangury, and that the same is the case with ainquefoil, boiled down to one third in wine: this last plant is very useful, too, taken internally and applied topically, for rupture of the groin.

The upper part of the root of xiphion[4] has a diuretic effect upon infants; it is administered also in water for rupture of the groin, and is applied topically for diseases of the bladder. Juice of peucedanumn[5] is employed for hernia in infants, and psyllion[6] is used as an application in cases of umbilical bernia. The two kinds of anagallis[7] are diuretic, and a similar effect is produced by a decoction of root of acoron,[8] or the plant itself bruised and taken in drink; this last is good too for all affections of the bladder. Both the stem and root of cotyledon[9] are used for the cure of calculi; and for all inflammations of the genitals, myrrh is mixed in equal proportions with the stem and seed. The more tender leaves of ebulum,[10] beaten up and taken with wine, expel calculi of the bladder, and an application of them is curative of diseases of the testes. Erigeron,[11] with powdered frankincense and sweet wine, is curative of inflammation of the testes; and root of symphytum,[12] applied topically, reduces rupture of the groin. The white hypocisthis [13] is curative of corroding ulcers of the genitals. Artemisia[14] is prescribed also in sweet wine for the cure of calculi and of strangury; and root of nymphæa heraclia,[15] taken in wine, allays pains in the bladder.

1. In B. xxv. c. 7.

2. See B. xxv. c. 28.

3. See c. 19 of this Book.

4. See B. xxv. cc. 88, 89.

5. See B. xxv. c. 70.

6. See B. xxv. c. 90.

7. See B. xxv. c. 92.

8. See B. xxv. c. 100.

9. It is quite useless for such a purpose; and the same is the case, Fée says, with all the asserted remedies mentioned in this Chapter. See B. xxv. c. 101.

10. See B. xxv. c. 71.

11. See B. xxv. c. 106.

12. See B. xxvii. c. 24.

13. See c. 31 of this Book.

14. See B. xxv. c. 36.

15. Sec B. xxv. c. 37.