456 pliky'3 natural history. [Book XXX. 



to use nitre in the form of a liniment, is considered highly 

 efficacious for the treatment of chronic diseases. 



In cases of tertian fever — so true it is that suffering takes 

 delight in prolonging hope by trying every remedy — it may be 

 worth while to make trial whether the web of the spider called 

 " lycos" ""^ is of any use, applied, with the insect itself, to the 

 temples and forehead in a compress covered with resin and wax ; 

 or the insect itself, attached to the body in a reed, a form in 

 which it is said to be highly beneficial for other fevers. Trial 

 may be made also of a green lizard, enclosed alive in a vessel 

 just large enough to • receive it, and worn as an amulet ; a 

 method, it is said, by which recurrent fevers are often dis- 

 pelled. 



CHAP. 3 1 . REMEDIES FOR DROPSY. 



For the cure of dropsy, wool-grease, a piece about the size 

 of a hazel-nut, is given in wine, with the addition of a little 

 myrrh : some add goose-grease, steeped in myrtle wine. The 

 filth that adheres to the udders of sheep is productive of a 

 similar effect, as also the dried flesh of a hedge-hog, taken with 

 the food. Matter vomited by a dog, we are assured, applied 

 to the abdomen, will draw off the water that has accumulated 

 there. 



CHAP. 32. (12). REMEDIES FOR ERYSIPELAS. 



Por the cure of erysipelas, wool-grease is used, with pom- 

 pholix*^ and oil of roses ; the blood^'~ also extracted from a tick ; 

 earth worms, applied in vinegar ; or else a cricket crushed be- 

 tween the hands — the good efiect of this last being that the per- 

 son who uses this precaution before the malady has made its 

 appearance, will be preserved therefrom for a whole year. Care 

 must be taken also that iron is used for the removal of the 

 cricket, with some of the earth about its hole. Goose-grease 

 is also employed for this purpose ; a viper's head, dried and 

 burnt, and applied with vinegar ; or a serpent's slough, applied 

 to the body, immediately after the bath, with bitumen and 

 lamb suet. 



40 The "wolf" spider. See c. 17 of this Book. 

 *i See B. xxxiv. c. 33. 



_ ^" Ajasson remarks that, in reality, this is not blood, but a kind of 

 viscous liquid. 



