Chap. 41.] VARIOUS PROPERTIES OF SALT. 505 



the Acanthian salt so called from the town 19 where it is 

 found will decrepitate or crackle in the fire ; nor will the 

 froth of salt do so, or the outside scrapings, or refined salt. 

 The salt of Agrigentum 20 resists fire, but decrepitates in 

 water. 



There are differences, too, in the colour of salt : at Memphis 

 it is deep red, russet- coloured in the vicinity of the Oxus, 

 purple at Centuripa, and so remarkably bright at Gela, situate 

 also 21 in Sicily, as to reflect the image of objects. In Cappa- 

 docia there is a saffron- coloured fossil salt, transparent and 

 remarkably odoriferous. For medicinal purposes, the ancients 

 esteemed the salt of Tarentum in particular, and next to that 

 all the marine salts, those collected from sea-foam more espe- 

 cially. For maladies of the eyes in cattle and beasts of burden, 

 the salt of Tragasa and that of Bsetica are employed. For 

 made dishes 22 and ordinary food, the more easily a salt liquefies 

 and the moister it is, the more highly it is esteemed ; there 

 being less bitterness in salt of this description, that of Attica 

 and of Euboea, for example. For keeping meat, a pungent, 

 dry, salt, like that of Megara, is best. A conserve of salt is also 

 made, with the addition of various odoriferous substances, 

 which answers all the purpose of a choice sauce, 23 sharpening 

 the appetite, and imparting a relish to all kinds of food : in- 

 deed, among the innumerable condiments which we use, the 

 flavour of salt is always distinctly perceptible ; and when 

 we take garum 24 with our food, it is its salt flavour that is 

 considered so exquisite. And not only this, but sheep even, 

 cattle, and beasts of burden, are induced to graze all the bet- 

 ter 25 by giving them salt ; it having the effect, also, of con- 

 siderably augmenting the milk, and imparting a superior flavour 

 to the cheese. 



We may conclude, then, by Hercules ! that the higher en- 

 joyments of life could not exist without the use of salt : indeed, 

 so highly necessary is this substance to mankind, that the 

 pleasures of the mind, even, can be expressed by no better 

 term than the word " salt," 26 such being the name given to 



19 See B. iv. c. 17. 



20 St. Augustin mentions this marvellous kind of salt. Do Civit. Dei, 

 B. xxi. cc. 5, 7. 



21 As well as Centuripa. 22 " Opsonium." 



23 " Pulmentarii." 2i See c. 43 of this Book. 



25 This is consistent with modern experience. * 6 u Sales." 



