Latin Texts & Translations

The pickle of the coracinus ^[Note] disperses inflammatory tumours; an effect which is equally produced by using the cal-

cined intestines and scales of the sciæna. ^[Note] The sea-scorpion, ^[Note] too, is used for the same purpose, boiled in wine, and applied as a fomentation to the part affected. Shells of sea-urchins, bruised and applied with water, act as a check upon incipient inflammatory tumours. Ashes of the murex, or of the purple, are employed in either case, whether it is wanted to disperse inflammatory tumours in an incipient state, or to bring them to a head and break them. Some authorities prescribe the following preparation: of wax and frankincense twenty drachmæ, of litharge forty drachmæ, of calcined murex ten drachmæ, and of old oil, one semisextarius. Salt fish, boiled and applied by itself, is highly useful for the above purposes.

River crabs, bruised and applied, disperse pustules on the generative organs: the same, too, with calcined heads of mænæ, ^[Note] or the flesh of that fish, boiled and applied. Heads of salted perch, ^[Note] reduced to ashes, and applied with honey, are equally useful for the purpose; or else calcined heads of pelamides, ^[Note] or skin of the squatina reduced to ashes. ^[Note] It is the skin of this fish that is used, as already ^[Note] stated, for giving a polish to wood; for the sea even, we find, furnishes its aid to our artificers. For a similar purpose the fishes called "smarides" ^[Note] are applied topically; as also ashes of the shell of the murex or of the purple, applied with honey; which last are still more efficacious when the flesh has been burnt with the shell.

Salt fish, boiled with honey, is particularly good for the cure of carbuncles upon the generative organs. For relaxation of the testes, the slime ^[Note] of snails is recommended, applied in the form of a liniment.

The flesh of hippocampi, ^[Note] grilled and taken frequently as food, is a cure for incontinence of urine; the ophidion, ^[Note] too, a little fish similar to the conger in appearance, eaten with a lily root; or the small fry found in the bellies of larger fish that have swallowed them, reduced to ashes and taken in water. It is recommended, too, to burn ^[Note] African snails, both shells and flesh, and to administer the ashes with wine ^[Note] of Signia.