Latin Texts & Translations

We have already ^[Note] stated in what country the honey is venomous: the fish known as the dorade ^[Note] is an antidote to its effects. Honey, even in a pure state, is sometimes productive of surfeit, and of fits of indigestion, remarkable for their severity; the best remedy in such case, according to Pelops, is to cut off the feet, head, and tail, of a tortoise, and boil and eat the body; in place, however, of the tortoise, Apelles mentions the scincus, an animal which has been described elsewhere ^[Note] We have already mentioned too, on several occasions, ^[Note] how highly venomous is the menstruous fluid: the surmullet, as already ^[Note] stated, entirely neutralizes its effects. This last fish, too, either applied topically or taken as food, acts as an antidote to the venom ^[Note] of the pastinaca, the land and sea scorpion, the dragon, ^[Note] and the phalangium. ^[Note] The head of this fish, taken fresh and reduced to ashes, is an active neutralizer of all poisons, that of fungi more particularly.

It is asserted also, that if the fish called the sea-star ^[Note] is smeared with a fox's blood, and then nailed to the upper lintel of the door, or to the door itself, with a copper nail, no noxions spells will be able to obtain admittance, or, at all events, to be productive of any ill effects.