Chap. 27.] EEMEDIES DEBITED FROM THE HTiENA. 309 



say, for epilepsy : the same, too, "with the gall, taken with 

 honey ; which is a remedy also for quinzy. A camel's tail 

 dried, it is said, is productive of diarrhoea, and ashes of burnt 

 camel's dung, mixed with oil, make the hair curl. These 

 ashes, applied topically, are very useful for dysentery, as also 

 taken in drink, the proper dose being a pinch in three fingers 

 at a time ; they are curative also of epilepsy. Camel's urine 

 it is said, is very useful to fullers, and is good for the cure of 

 running sores. Barbarous nations, we are told, are in the habit 

 of keeping it till it is five years old, and then taking it as a 

 purgative, in doses of one semisextarius. The hairs of the 

 tail, it is said, plaited and attached to the left arm, are a cure 

 for quartan fevers. 



CHAP. 27. SEVENTY-NmE EEMEDIES DEEIVED FEOM THE HT^NA. 



Eut of all animals, it is the hyasna that has been held in 

 the highest admiration b)'" the magicians, who have gona so 

 far as to attribute to it certain magical virtues even, and the 

 power of alluring*^ human beings and depriving them of their 

 senses. Of its change of sex each year, and other monstrous 

 peculiarities'^^ in its nature, we have spoken already ;** we 

 will now proceed to describe the medicinal virtues that are 

 ascribed to it. 



The hysena, it is said, is particularly terrible to panthers ; so 

 much so, indeed, that they will not attempt to make the slight- 

 est resistance to it, and will never attack a man who has any 

 portion of a hyaena's skin about him. A thing truly marvel- 

 lous to tell of, if the hides of these two animals are hung up 

 facing one another, the hair will fall from off the panther's skin I 

 When the hyaena flies before the hunter, it turns oif on the 

 right, and letting the man get before it, follows in his track ; 

 should it succeed in doing which, the man is sure to lose his 

 senses and fall from his horse even. But if, on the other hand, 

 it turns off to the left, it is a sign that the animal is losing 

 strength, and that it will soon be taken. The easiest method, 

 however, of taking it, they say, is for the hunter to tie his 

 girdle with seven knots, and to make as many knots in the 



*2 See B. viii. c. 44. 



^^ One peculiarity not mentioned by Pliny, is, that its skin, like that of 

 the sea-calf, was said to be proof against the effects of lightning. 

 ^ lu \i. viii. c. 44. 



