M2 flint's NATUKA.L HISTORY. [Book XXXVI. 



axinoraancy ;^^ and thej^ assure us that it will be sure not to 

 burn, if the thing is about to happen as the party desires. 



CKAP. 35.-r-SPONGI.TES: TWO KEMEDIES. 



The stone called '' spongites" is found in sponges, and is a 

 raarine formation. By some persons it is called " teeolithos,"^^ 

 from the circumstance that it is curative of affections of the 

 bladder. Taken in wine, it breaks and disperses urinary calculi. 



CHAP. 36. PHETGIAK- STONE. 



Phrygian stone is so called from the country which produces 

 it, and is a porous mass like pumice. It is first saturated with 

 wine, and then calcined, the fire being kept up with the 

 bellows till the stone is brought to a red heat ; which done, it 

 is quenched in sweet wine. This operation is repeated three 

 times. The only use made of it is for dyeing cloths.^^ 



CHAP. 37. (20.) HEMATITES : FITE REMEDIES. SCHISTOS ! 



SEVEN EEMEDIES. 



Schistos and haematites®' have a certain afiSnity between 

 them. The latter is found in mines, and, when burnt, has 

 just the colour^^ of minium.^^ It is calcined in the same 

 manner as Phrygian stone, but is not quenched in wine. Adul- 

 terations of it are detected by the appearance of red veins in it, 

 and by its comparative friability. It is marvellously useful as 

 an application for bloodshot eyes, and, taken internallj^, it acts 

 as a check upon female discharges. To patients vomiting 

 blood, it is administered in combination with pomegranate- 

 juice. It is very efficacious also for affections of the bladder ; 

 and it is taken with wine for the cure of wounds inflicted by 

 serpents. 



^* See B. XXX. c, 5. According to Dalecbamps, this was practised by 

 placing the jet upon a hatchet at a red lieat. 



^5 *' Stone-macerater." From ttjkco, to "macerate," and \iOdg, *'a 

 stone." 



^' Dioscorides says that it was found in Cappadocia also; and both be 

 and Galen attribute to it certain medicinal properties. It was used either 

 for colouring, or else, like fuller's earth, for taking tlic grease out of wool 

 and cloth. Ajasson is inclined to think that it was either a volcanic scoria 

 or a Peperite, also of volcanic origin. 



""^ Or " blood-stone," mentioned already in Chapter 25 of this Book. 



^^ He is evidently speaking here of the red peroxide of iron. 



^^ Vermilion. See 15. xxxiii. c. 37. 



