24 plint's natueal history. [Book XXXII. 



They recommend, also, that to wounds inflicted by the scor- 

 pion, these crabs, or the ashes of them, should be applied, with 

 ocimum. Tor all these purposes, however, sea-crabs, it should 

 be remembered, are not so useful. Thrasyllus informs us that 

 there is nothing so antagonistic to serpents as crabs ; that 

 swine, when stung by a serpent, cure themselves by eating 

 them ; and that, while the sun is in the sign of Cancer," ser- 

 pents suffer the greatest tortures. 



The flesh, too, of river-snails, eaten either raw or boiled, is 

 an excellent antidote to the venom of the scorpion, some per- 

 sons keeping them salted for the purpose. These snails are ap- 

 plied, also, topically to the wound. 



The coracinus''^ is a fish peculiar to the river Inlus, it is 

 true, but the particulars we are here relating are for the benefit 

 of all parts of the world : the flesh of it is most excellent as 

 an application for the cure of wounds inflicted by scorpions. 

 In the number of the poisonous fishes we ought to reckon the 

 sea-pig,"*^ a fish which causes great suffering to those who have 

 been pierced with the pointed fin upon its back : the proper 

 remedy in such case is the slime taken from the other parts 

 of the body of the fish. 



CHAP. 20. — THE SEA-CALF : TEN REMEDIES. THE MUE-SENA : ONE 

 KEMEDT. THE HIPPOCAMPUS: NINE REMEDIES. THE SEA- 

 TJRCHIN : ELEVEN REMEDIES. 



In cases of hydrophobia resulting from the bite of the mad 

 dog, the practice is to rub the patient's face with the fat of 

 the sea-calf ; an application rendered still more efficacious by 

 the admixture of hyaena's marrow, oil of mastich, and wax. 

 Bites inflicted by the mursena are cured by an application of 

 the head of that fish, reduced to ashes. The pastinaca,^ also, 

 is remedial for its own bite, the ashes of the same fish, or of 

 another of the same genus, being applied to the wound with 

 vinegar. When this fish is intended for food, every portion of 

 the back that is of a saffron colour should be removed, as well 



^' The Crab. This is giving the serpent credit for too much wisdom ; 

 an acquaintance, in fact, with the fantastic names which mankind have 

 bestowed upon the signs of the Zodiac. 



*s See B. ix. c. 32. 



*3 The same as the Orbis or Orthagoriscus of Chapters 5 and 9 of this 

 Book, the Mola or sun-fish of the ]\[editerranean. See B. ix. c. 17. 



50 Or sting-ray. See B. ix. c. 72. 



