38 plint's NATUEAL HISTOET. [Book XXXII. 



This last preparation is used, also, for the cure of impost- 

 humes of the parotid glands ; a purpose for which the liver 

 of the sea-fish known as the *'saurus"'*^ is employed. Nay, 

 even more than this, fragments of earthen vessels in which 

 salt fish have been kept are pounded with stale axle-grease, 

 and applied to scrofulous sores and imposthumes of the parotid 

 glands ; as also calcined murex, incorporated with oil. Stiffness 

 in the neck is allayed by taking what are known as sea-lice,*^* 

 in doses of one drachma in drink, taking castoreum** mixed 

 with pepper in honied wine, or making a decoction of frogs in 

 oil and salt, and taking the liquor. 



Opisthotony, too, and tetanus are treated in a similar manner; 

 and spasms, with the addition of pepper. Ashes of burnt 

 heads of salted msense are applied externally, with honey, for the 

 cure of quinsy ; as also a decoction of frogs, boiled in vinegar, 

 a preparation which is equally good for affections of the tonsil- 

 lary glands. Eiver-crabs, pounded, one to each hemina of 

 water, are used as a gargle for the cure of quinsy ; or else 

 they are taken with wine and hot water. Garum,*^ put beneath 

 the uvula with a spoon, eftectually cures diseases of that part. 

 The silurus,^^ used as food, either fresh or salted, improves the 

 voice. 



CHAP. 29. REMEDIES FOE COUGH AND DISEASES OF THE CHEST. 



Surmullets act as an emetic, dried and pounded, and taken 

 in drink. Castoreum, taken fasting, with a small quantity of 

 hammoniacum*' in oxymel, is extremely good for asthma : 

 spasms, too, in the stomach are assuaged by taking a similar 

 potion with warm oxymel. Frogs stewed in their own liquor 

 in the saucepan, the same way in fact that fish are dressed, 

 are good for a cough, it is said. In some cases, also, frogs are 

 suspended by the legs, and after their juices^^ have been received 

 in a platter, it is recommended to gut them, and the entrails 

 being first carefully removed, to preserve them for the above 



*^ Or sea-lizard, a fish again mentioned in Chapter 53 of this Book, 

 ^lian also speaks of it, Hist. I^^at. B. xii. c. 25 ; but it has not been 

 hitherto identified. 43. ggg q 25 of this Book. 



^^ See c. 13 of this Book. ^s gge B. xxii. c. 43. 



46 See B. ix. cc. 17, 25, 75. 



*'' It is not clear whether he means the gum ammoniac of B. xii. c. 49, 

 and B. xxiv. c. 14, or the sal ammoniac of B. xxxi. c. 39. 



48 " Saliva." See the recipe of Sallustius Dionysius in Chapter 26 of 

 this Book. 



