ART. 15. HISTORY OF MEDICIXE EXHIBITS WHITEBKEAD. 41 



used at the time of Hippcx-rates and among the Romans at tlie beginning of 

 the Christian era. Cat. No. 141,807, U.S.N.M. 



Lcmnian earth. — An aluminum silicate containing iron, found native in the 

 Island of Lemnos. Does not differ from the Armenian bole except in the 

 proportion of iron oxide. " It is collected by the inhabitants of the island, 

 and after being washed and mixed with goat's blood it is formed into pastilles 

 and marked with a seal. Taken with wine it is a potent remedy for deadly 

 poisons, is an antidote for the stings and bites of venomous animals, and is 

 useful in dysentery." — Dioscorides. Cat. No. 143,171, U.S.N.M. 



Sulphur. — Administered in form of fumigation for cough, asthma, and 

 accumulation of phlegm in the chest. Mixed with turpentine, it removes ring- 

 worm, smooths asperities of the skin, and extirpates injured nails. Applied 

 with resin, it heals the stings of the scorpion and those of the sea dragon. 

 Friction with sulphur and niter relieves itching of the whole body. Applied to 

 the forehead in powder or with white of egg. it cures jaundice and catarrh. 

 In powder sprinkled upon the body, it checks perspiraton. The fumes of 

 sulphur received in the eyes through a reed cures blindness. — Dioscorides. 



Animal Dkugs 



Viper. — " The flesh of the viper, cooked and eaten, sharpens the siglit, is 

 good for nervous debility, and resolves scrophulous tumors. The head and tail 

 of the viper should be cut off before cooking ; but to say that these extremi- 

 ties must be cut off according to a certain method I hold to be fabulous. 

 The rest of the body, after evisceration, should be cooked with oil, wine, dill, 

 and a little salts. Some say that those who eat vipers' flesh become very 

 lousy, but that is false; others say that they are longer lived." — Dioscorides. 

 Cat. No. 143,170, U.S.N.M. 



Crah. — " The ashes of the burned crab, given witli wine for a period of 

 three days, in a dose of two spoonfuls, with a spoonful of gentian, is helpful 

 to those bitten by a mad dog. Applied with honey it relieves cracks of 

 the feet and anal fissure, and is a remedy for chilblains and cancer. The 

 powdered shell, taken with asses' milk, is good for snake and scorpion bites." 

 —Dioscorides. Cat. No. 143,175, U.S.N.M. 



