Chap. 27.] REMEDIES DEBITED FROM THE HYJEtfA. 313 



beneficial for the cardiac disease ; and the bladder, taken in 

 wine, is a good preservative against incontinence of urine. 

 The urine, too, which is found in the bladder, taken with oil, 

 sesame, and honey, is said to be useful for diseases of long 

 standing. 



The first rib and the eighth, used as a fumigation, are said 

 to be useful for ruptures ; the vertebrae for women in travail ; 

 and the blood, in combination with polenta, 51 for griping pains 

 in the bowels. If the door-posts are touched with this blood, 

 the various arts of the magicians will be rendered of no effect ; 

 they will neither be able to summon the gods into their pre- 

 sence nor to converse with them, whatever the method to which 

 they have recourse, whether lamps or basin, water or globe, 52 

 or any other method. 



The flesh of the hyaena, taken as food, is said to be efficacious 

 for the bite of a mad dog, and the liver still more so. The 

 flesh or bones of a human being which have been found in the 

 belly of a slain hyaena, used as a fumigation, are said to be 

 remedial for gout : but if among these remains the nails are 

 found, it is looked upon as a presage of death to some one among 

 those who have captured it. The excrements or bones which 

 have been voided by the animal at the moment when killed, 

 are looked upon as counter-charms to magic spells. The dung 

 found in the intestines is dried and administered in drink for 

 dysentery ; and it is applied to all parts of the body with 

 goose-grease, in the form of a liniment, in the case of persons 

 who have received injury from some noxious medicament. By 

 rubbing themselves with the grease, and lying upon the skin, 

 of a hysena, persons who have been bitten by dogs are cured. 



On the other hand, the ashes of the left pastern-bone, they 

 say, boiled with weasel's blood, and applied to a person's body, 

 will ensure universal hatred ; a similar effect being equally 

 produced by the eye when boiled. But the most extraordinary 

 thing of all is, their assertion that the extremity of the rectum 

 of this animal is a preservative against all oppression on the 

 part of chiefs and potentates, and an assurance of success in all 

 petitions, judgments, and lawsuits, and this, if a person only 

 carries it about him. The anus, according to them, has so 

 'powerful an effect as a philtre, that if it is worn on the left 

 arm, a woman will be sure to follow the wearer the moment 

 " See B. xviii. c. 14. ' Pila." 



