460 PLINY'S NATURAL HISTORY. [Book XXX. 



ployed ; snails, too, taken whole from the shell, are pounded 

 and applied to fresh wounds, to heal them, and they arrest the 

 progress of cancerous sores. 



There is an insect called " herpes" 49 by the Greeks, which 

 is particularly useful for the cure of all kinds of serpiginous 50 

 sores. Snails, beaten up, shells and all, are very good for this 

 purpose ; and it is said that, with myrrh and frankincense, 

 they will unite the sinews even when cut asunder. The fat, 

 too, of a dragon, 51 dried in the sun, is remarkably useful, and 

 so are the brains of a cock or capon for recent wounds. Ey 

 taking with the food salt in which vipers have been preserved, 

 ulcers are rendered more easy of treatment, it is said, and are 

 made to heal all the sooner. Antonius 52 the physician, after 

 operating in vain upon ulcers, that were incurable with the 

 knife, used to prescribe viper's flesh to be eaten by the patient, 

 whereby a marvellously speedy cure was effected. 



The locust called " troxallis," 53 reduced to ashes and applied 

 with honey, removes the indurated margins of ulcerous sores : 

 ashes, also, of burnt pigeons' dung, with arsenic and honey, 

 are very effectual in all cases where a cautery is required. 

 The brains of a horned owl, applied with goose-grease, are 

 marvellously efficacious for uniting wounds, it is said. For 

 the malignant ulcer known as " eacoethes," 54 the ashes of a 

 ram's thigh-bones are used, mixed with woman's milk, the sores 

 being washed with linen cloths well rinsed. For the same 

 purpose, the bird known as the screech-owl 55 is boiled in oil, 

 ewe-milk butter and honey being added to the preparation, 

 when properly dissolved. An application of bees that have 

 died in the honey, acts emolliently upon the indurated margins 

 of ulcerous sores ; and for the cure of elephantiasis, the blood 

 and ashes of a weasel are employed. Wounds and weals pro- 

 duced by blows are effaced by an application of sheep-skins 

 fresh from the body. 



CHAP. 40. REMEDIES FOR BROKEN BONES. 



Eor fractures of the joints, ashes of sheep's thigh-bones are 



49 The " creeper/' It has not been identified. 



60 Which are also called "herpetic" or "creeping." 



51 The serpent so called. 



62 Antonius Castor, probably. See end of B. xx. 



See c. 16 of this Book. 54 A chronic cancer. 55 "Ulula." 



