Chap. 23.] REMEDIES DERIVED FROM THE SALAMANDER. 397 



numerous other remedial properties, as we shall have occasion 

 more fully to mention from time to time : hence it is that the 

 snake is consecrated to ^Esculapius. 25 As for Democritus, he 

 has given some monstrous preparations from snakes, by the aid 

 of which the language of birds, he says, may be understood. 26 



The ^Esculapian snake was first brought to Eome from 

 Epidaurus, 27 but at the present day it is very commonly reared 

 in our houses 28 even ; so much so, indeed, that if the breed 

 were not kept down by the frequent conflagrations, it would 

 be impossible to make head against the rapid increase of them. 

 But the most beautiful of all the snakes are those which are 

 of an amphibious nature. These snakes are known as 

 " hydri," 29 or water-snakes : in virulence their venom is in- 

 ferior to that of no other class of serpents, and their liver is 

 preserved as a remedy for the ill effects of their sting. 



A pounded scorpion neutralizes the venom of the spotted 

 lizard. 30 From this last animal, too, there is a noxious preparation 

 made ; for it has been found that wine in which it has been 

 drowned, covers the face of those who drink it with morphew. 

 Hence it is that females, when jealous of a rival's beauty, are 

 in the habit of stifling a spotted lizard in the unguents which 

 they use. In such a case, the proper remedy is yolk of egg, 

 honey, and nitre. The gall of a spotted lizard, beaten up in 

 water, attracts weasels, they say. 



CHAP. 23. REMEDIES DERIVED FROM THE SALAMANDER. 



But of all venomous animals it is the salamander 31 that is 



25 The god of Medicine. 



26 A favourite reverie with the learned of the East. Dupont de Ne- 

 mours, Ajasson informs us, has left several Essays on this subject. 



21 In Peloponnesus, the principal seat of his worship. A very full 

 account of his introduction, under the form of a huge serpent, into the 

 city of Rome, is given by Ovid, Met. B. xv. 1. 544, et seq. This took 

 place B.C. 293. 



28 Among the snakes that are tamed, Ajasson enumerates the Coluber 

 flagelliformis of Dandin, or American coach-whip snake ; the Coluber con- 

 structor of Linnaeus, or Black snake; and the Coluber viridiflavus of 

 Lacepede. The JEseulapian serpent is still found in Italy. 



29 Or " chersydri," " amphibious." 



30 Or " starred lizard " " stellio." In reality it is not poisonous. 



31 See B. x. c. 86. Some kind of starred lizard, or an eft or newt per- 

 haps, was thus called : but in most respects it appears to be entirely a 

 fabulous animal. 



