522 PLIKT'S NATURAL HISTORY. [Book XXXI. 



vinegar, they are curative of tertian fevers. The sponge of 

 Africa, more particularly, soaked in oxycrate, disperses tu- 

 mours. Ashes of any kind of sponge burnt with pitch, arrest 

 the discharge of blood from wounds ; though some recommend, 

 for this purpose, the sponge with large pores only, burnt with 

 pitch. For affections of the eyes, sponge is burnt in vessels of 

 unbaked earthenware ; the ashes being found highly efficacious 

 for granulations of the eyelids, fleshy excrescences, and all 

 diseases of those parts which require detergents, astringents, 

 or expletives. For all these purposes, however, it is the best 

 plan first to rinse the ashes. When the body is in a diseased 

 state, sponge acts as a substitute for body- scrapers and linen 

 towels, and it protects the head most efficiently against the 

 action of the sun. 



Medical men, in their ignorance, comprehend all sponges 

 under two names ; African sponge, the substance of which is 

 tougher and firmer ; and Ehodian sponge, which is softer and 

 better adapted for fomentations. At the present day, however, 

 the softest sponges of all are those found about the walls of the 

 city of Antiphellos. 9 Trogus informs us that the softest tent 

 sponges are found out at sea, off the coast of Lycia, upon spots 

 from which the sponge has been previously removed : we 

 learn, too, from Polybius, tbat these fine sponges, suspended 

 over a patient's bed, will ensure him additional repose at 

 night. 10 



We will now turn to the remedies derived from the marine 

 and aquatic animals. 



SUMMARY. Remedies, narratives, and observations, nine 

 hundred and twenty-four. 



BOM AN AUTHORS QUOTED. M. Yarro, 11 Cassius 12 of Parma, 

 Cicero, 13 Mucianus, 14 Caelius, 13 Celsus, 16 Trogus, 17 Ovid, 18 Poly- 

 bius, 19 Sornatius. 20 



9 See B. v. c. 28. 10 An absurdity, of course. n See end of B. ii. 



12 Called C. Cassius Severus Parmensis, according to some authorities. 

 He was one of the murderers of Caesar, and perished, the last of them 

 by a violent end, about B.C. 30. He is supposed to have written tragedies, 

 epigrams, and other works. See Horace, Epist. B. i. Ep. 4, 1. 3. 



" See end of B. vii. 14 See end of B. ii. 



15 Caelius Antipater. See end of B. ii. 16 See end of B. vii. 



17 See end of B. vii. 18 See end of B. xviii. 19 See end of B. iv. 



20 This personage is entirely unknown. It may possibly be a corruption 



