436 PLINY'S NATURAL HISTORY. [Book XXII. 



which is made of skimmed honey, is an extremely whole- 

 some beverage for invalids who take nothing but a light diet, 

 such as strained alica for instance : it reinvigorates the body, 

 is soothing to the mouth and stomach, and by its refreshing- 

 properties allays feverish heats. I find it stated,' 1 too, by 

 some authors, that to relax the bowels it should be taken cold, 

 and that it is particularly well-suited for persons of a chilly 

 temperament, or of a weak and pusillanimous 72 constitution, 

 such as the Greeks, for instance, call " micropsychi/' 



For there is a theory, 73 remarkable for its extreme ingenuity, 

 first -established by Plato, according to which the primary atoms 

 of bodies, as they happen to be smooth or rough, angular or 

 round, are more or less adapted to the various temperaments 

 of individuals : and hence it is, that the same substances are 

 not universally sweet or bitter to all. So, when affected with 

 lassitude or thirst, we are more prone to anger than at other 

 times. 74 These asperities, however, of the disposition, or rather 

 I should say of the mind, 75 are capable of being modified by 

 the sweeter beverages ; as they tend to lubricate the passages 

 for the respiration, and to mollify the channels, the work of 

 inhalation and exhalation being thereby unimpeded by any 

 rigidities. Every person must be sensible of this experiment- 

 ally, in his own case : there is no one in whom anger, afflic- 

 tion, sadness, and all the emotions of the mind may not, in 

 some degree, be modified by diet. It will therefore be worth 

 our while to observe what aliments they are which exercise a 

 physical effect, not only upon the body, but the disposition 

 as well. 



CHAP. 52. HYDROMEL I EIGHTEEN REMEDIES. 



Hydromel is recommended, too, as very good for a cough : 



would cease to be so after undergoing fermentation. In the description 

 of its uses there are some errors, Fee says, combined with some rational 

 observations. 



71 See B. xviii. c. 29 -, also c. 61 of this Book. 



72 This seems to be the meaning of "prseparci" here, though it gene- 

 rally signifies " niggardly,'* or " sordid." 



73 Fe'e combats this theory at considerable length ; but there can. be 

 little doubt that the same substance haw not the same taste to all indi- 

 viduals. 



74 Seneca makes a similar observation, De Ir, B. in. c. 10. 



75 " Animi seu potius animae." 



