16 PLimr's NATUEAL HISTOET. [Book XXXII. 



neutralizing poisons. These tortoises are found in the greatest 

 numbers in Africa ; where the head and feet being first cut off, 

 it is said, they are given to persons by way of antidote. 

 Eaten, too, in a broth made from them, they are thought to 

 disperse scrofula, diminish the volume of the spleen, and effect 

 the cure of epilepsy. The blood of the land-tortoise improves 

 the eyesight, and removes cataract : it is kept also, made up 

 with meal into pills, which are given with wine when neces- 

 sary, to neutralize the poison of all kinds of serpents, frogs, 

 spiders, and similar venomous a<nimals. It is found a useful 

 plan, too, in cases of glaucoma, to anoint the eyes with gall of 

 tortoises, mixed with Attic honey, and, for the cure of inj uries 

 inflicted by scorpions, to drop the gall into the wound. 



Ashes of tortoiseshell, kneaded up with wine and oil, are 

 used for the cure of chaps upon the feet, and of ulcerations. 

 The shavings of the surface of the shell, administered in drink, 

 act as an antaphrodisiac : a thing that is the more surprising, 

 from the fact that a powder prepared from the whole of the shell 

 has the reputation of being a strong aphrodisiac. As to the urine 

 of the land-tortoise, I do not think that it can be obtained 

 otherwise than by opening it and taking out the bladder ; this 

 being one of those substances to which the adepts in magic 

 attribute such marvellous properties. For the sting of the 

 asp, they say, it is wonderfullj^ efi'ectual ; and even more so, 

 if bugs are mixed with it. The eggs of the tortoise, hardened 

 by keeping, are applied to scrofulous sores and ulcers arising 

 from burns or cold : they are taken also for pains in the 

 etomach. 



The flesh of the sea-tortoise,^ mixed with that of frogs, is 

 an excellent remedy for injuries caused by the salamander;* 

 indeed there is nothing that is a better neutralizer of the secre- 

 tions of the salamander than the sea-tortoise. The blood of 

 this animal reproduces the hair when lost through alopecy, 

 and is curative of porrigo and all kinds of ulcerations of the 

 head ; the proper method of using it being to let it dry, and 

 then gently wash it off. For the cure of ear-ache, this blood 

 is injected with woman's milk, and for epilepsy it is eaten 

 with fine wheaten flour, three heminse of the blood being 

 mixed with one hemina of vinegar. It is prescribed also for 

 the cure of asthma : but in this cas« in combination with one 

 3 Or turtle. * See B. x. c. 86. 



