46 PLIXY'S NATURAL HISTORY. [Hook XXXII. 



CHAP. 35. REMEDIES FOR INCONTINENCE OF URINE. THE 



OPHIDION I ONE REMEDY. 



The flesh of hippocampi, 8 grilled and taken frequentlj^as^ 

 food, is a cure for incontinence of urine ; the ophidion, 9 toop 

 a little fish similar to the conger in appearance, eaten with a 

 lily root ; or the small fry found in the bellies of larger fish 

 that have swallowed them, reduced to ashes and taken in 

 water. It is recommended, too, to burn 10 African snails, both 

 shells and flesh, and to administer the ashes with wine 11 of 

 Signia. 



CIIAP. 36. REMEDIES FOR GOUT, AND FOR PAINS IN THE FEET. 



TUE BEAVER I FOUR REMEDIES. BRYON ! ONE REMEDY. 



For the cure of gout and of diseases of the joints, oil is 

 useful in which the intestines of frogs have been boiled. 

 Ashes, too, of burnt bramble- frogs 12 are similarly employed, 

 with stale grease; in addition to which, some persons use cal-' 

 cined barley, the three ingredients being mixed in equal pro- 

 portions. It is recommended too, in cases of gout, to rub the 

 parts affected with a sea-hare, 13 fresh caught, and to wear 

 shoes made of beaver's skin, Pontic beaver more particularly, 

 or else of sea-calf s 11 skin, an animal the fat of which is very 

 useful for the purpose : the same being tho case also with bryon, 

 a plant of which we have already spoken, 15 similar to the lettuce 

 in appearance, but with more wrinkled leaves, and destitute 

 of sttrin. This plant is of a styptic nature, and, applied topi-- 

 cally, it tends to modify the paroxysms of gout. The same, 

 too, with sea-weed, of which we have also spoken already ; lfi 

 due precaution being taken not to apply it dry. 



Chilblains are cured by applying the pulmo marinus; 17 ashes 



8 See 13. ix. c. 1. 



* Literally, the "little serpent." Some think that it is the Ophidium 

 barbatum of* Linnaeus. Ronuelet identities it, B. xiv. c. 2, with the small 

 fish called d^nzella by the people of JMontpcllior. See c. 31, Note do. 

 a See B. xxx. c. 22. See B. xir. c. 8. 



12 ' 4 Rubetac." See c. 18 of this Book ; also B. viii. c. 43 ; B. xi. cc. 19, 

 76, 116, and B. xxv. c. 76. 



13 See B. ix. c. 72 ; B. xxv. c. 77, and Chapter 3 of this Book. 



14 Or seal-skin. See B. viii. c. 49, and B. ix. c. 15, 



15 In B. xxvii. c. 33. In B. xxvi. c. CO. 



7 Or "sea-lungs." See B. ix. c. 71, B. xviii. c. 6, and Chapters 32, 

 4G, and 52 of the present Book. Ajasson remarks that this is still tho 

 n name of manv kinds of Mcdusse. 



