Chap. 27.] BEMEDIES FOE EPILEPSY. 451 



lizard is obtained when it casts it off, before it has had the oppor- 

 tunity of devouring 25 it ; there being no creature, it is said, that 

 resorts in its spite to more cunning devices for the deception of 

 man ; a circumstance owing to which, the name of " stellio" 2ti 

 has been borrowed as a name of reproach. The place to which 

 it retires in summer is carefully observed, being generally some 

 spot beneath the projecting parts of doors or windows, or else 

 in vaults or tombs. In the early days of spring, cages made 

 of split reeds are placed before these spots ; and the narrower 

 the interstices the more delighted is the animal with them, 

 it being all the better enabled thereby to disengage itself of 

 the coat which adheres to its body and impedes its freedom of 

 action : when, however, it has once quitted it, the construc- 

 tion of the cage prevents its return. There is nothing what- 

 ever preferred to this lizard as a remedy for epilepsy. The 

 brains of a weasel are also considered very good, dried and 

 taken in drink ; the liver, too, of that animal, or the testes, 

 uterus, or paunch, dried and taken with coriander, in manner 

 already 27 mentioned ; the ashes also of a burnt weasel ; or a 

 wild weasel, eaten whole with the food. All these properties 

 are equally attributed to the ferret. A green lizard is some- 

 times eaten, dressed with seasonings to stimulate the appetite, 

 the feet and head being first removed ; the ashes, too, of burnt 

 snails are used, as an ointment, with linseed, nettle-seed, and 

 honey. 



The magicians think highly of a dragon's tail, attached to 

 the body, with a deer's sinews, in the skin of a gazelle ; as 

 also the small grits found in the crops of young swallows, 

 tied to the left arm of the patient ; for swallows, it is said, give 

 small stones to their young the moment they are hatched. 

 If, at the commencement of the first paroxysm, an epileptic 

 patient eats the first of a swallow's brood that has been 

 hatched, he will experience a perfect cure : but at a later 

 period the disease is treated by using swallow's blood with 

 frankincense, or by eating the heart of the bird quite fresh. 

 Nay, even more than this, a small stone taken from a 

 swallow's nest will relieve the patient the moment it is ap- 

 plied, they say ; worn, too, as an amulet, it will always act as 



25 See B. viii. c. 49. 



23 A cozener, cheat, or rogue. Ajasson has a page of discussion on the 

 origin of this appellation. ~ 7 In 13. xxix. c. 16. 



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