498 PLINY'S NATURAL HISTORY. [Book XXXI. 



curative also of scab in sheep, and imparts additional softness 

 to the wool. 



CHAP. 34. HOW ARTIFICIAL SEA-WATER MAY BE MADE IN PLACES 



AT A DISTANCE FROM THE SEA. 



I am by no means unaware that these details may very 

 possibly appear superfluous to persons who live at a distance 

 from the sea ; but scientific research has made provision against 

 this objection, by discovering a method of enabling every one 

 to make sea-water 77 for himself. It is a singular fact in con- 

 nexion with this discovery, that if more than one sextarius of 

 salt is put into four sextarii of water, the liquefying proper- 

 ties of the water will be overpowered, and the salt will no 

 longer melt. On the other hand, again, a mixture of one sex- 

 tarius of salt with four sextarii of water, acts as a good substi- 

 tute for the efficacy and properties of the very saltest sea- water. 

 The most reasonable proportion, however, is generally thought 

 to be eight cyathi of salt, diluted in the quantity of water 

 above mentioned; a preparation which has been found to 

 have a warming effect upon the sinews, without in any degree 

 chafing the body. 



CHAP. 35. HOW THALASSOMELI IS MADE. 



There is also a composition made to ripen for use, known as 

 " thalassomeli," 78 and prepared with equal parts of sea- water, 

 honey, and rain-water. For this purpose, also, the water is 

 brought from out at sea, and the preparation is kept in an 

 earthen vessel well pitched. It acts most efficiently as a pur- 

 gative, and without in the least fatiguing the stomach ; the 

 taste, too, and smell of it, are very agreeable. 



CHAP. 36. HOW HYDROMELI IS MADE. 



Hydromeli, 79 also, was a mixture formerly made with pure 

 rain-water and honey, and was prescribed for patients who 

 were anxious for wine, as being a more harmless drink. For 

 these many years past, however, it has been condemned, as 

 having in reality all the inconveniences of wine, without the 

 advantages. 



77 The ancients being unable to analyze sea- water, could only imitate it 

 very clumsily. 78 " Sea-water hon-ey." 



79 See B. xiv. c. 20, and B. xxii. c. 51. He is speaking, probably, of 

 fermented hydromel, a sort of mead. 



