For, as Plato says, dryness, being an enemy to moisture, unnaturally contracts the spongy and tender nerves of the tongue.

And green ulcers are usually drained by bitter injections.

Thus Homer:-- He squeezed his herbs, and bitter juice applied; And straight the blood was stanched, the sore was dried.
("Iliad," xi.

846.) And he guesses well, that what is bitter to the taste is a drier.
Besides, the powders women use to dry up their sweat are bitter, and by reason of that quality astringent.

This then being certain, it is no wonder that the bitterness of the almonds hinders the operation of the wine, since it dries the inside of the body and keeps the veins from being overcharged; for from their distention and disturbance they say drunkenness proceeds.