Chap. 32.] LEES OF VINEGAR. 483 



of lichens and cutaneous eruptions; they are applied also in a 

 similar manner to leprous sores and running ulcers. Taken 

 in drink, they act as an antidote to the poison of fungi, and 

 more particularly if they are undiluted ; boiled and then rinsed, 

 they are used in preparations for the eyes. They are employed 

 also topically for diseases of the testes and generative organs, 

 and are taken in wine for strangury. When wine-lees have 

 lost their strength, they are still useful for cleansing the body 

 11 and scouring clothes, in which case they act as a substitute 

 ' for gum acacia.**' 



CHAP. 32. LEES OF VINEGAR ! SEVENTEEN EEMEDIES. 



The lees of vinegar,*^ as a matter of course, considering the 



material from which they are derived, are much more acrid 



than those of wine, and more caustic in their effects. This 



f substance prevents the increase of suppuration, and, employed 



i topically, is good for the stomach, intestines, and regions of 



the abdomen. It has the property also of arresting fluxes of 



those parts, and the catamenia when in excess ; it disperses 



j inflamed tumours which have not come to a head, and is a cure 



I for quinsy. Applied with wax, it is curative of erysipelas. 



It reduces swellings of the mamillse when gorged with milk, 



aud removes malformed nails. Employed with polenta, it is 



very efficacious for the cure of stings inflicted by the serpent 



called cerastes;*- and in combination with melanthium,*^ it 



heals bites inflicted by crocodiles and dogs. 



Yinegar lees, too, by being subjected to the action of fii^e, 

 acquire additional strength.** Mixed in this state with oil of 

 iiiastich, and applied to the hair, they turn*^ it red in a single 

 night. Applied with water in linen, as a pessary, they act as a 

 detergent upon the uterus. 



40 See B. xxiv. c. 67. 



*i Their properties are similar to those of wine-lees, but they are no 

 longer used in medicine. The statements here made by our author, Fee 

 remarks, are entirely fabulous. 



•12 Or horned serpent. See B. xi. c. 45. 



" See B. XX. c. 71. 



** This, as Fee observes, is probably the case. 



^^ It must be remembered that red hair was greatly admired by the 

 Komans. 



I I 2 



