Chap. 46.] REMEDIES DERIVED FROM SCALES OF IROy. 211 



in which iron has been plunged at a white heat, is useful, as 

 a potion, in many diseases, dysentery 80 more particularly. 



CHAP. 45. - FOURTEEN REMEDIES DERIVED FROM RUST. 



Rust itself, too, is classed among the remedial substances ; 

 for it was by means of it that Achilles cured Telephus, it is 

 said, "whether it was an iron weapon or a bra/on one that ho 

 used for the purpose. So it is, however, that he is represented 

 in paintings detaching the rust with his sword. * l The rust of 

 iron is usually obtained for these purposes by scraping old nails 

 with a piece of moistened iron. It has the eliect of uniting 

 wounds, and is possessed of certain desiccative and astringent 

 properties. Applied in the form of u liniment, it is curative of 

 alopecy. Mixed with wax and myrtle-oil, it is applied to gra- 

 nulations of the eyelids, and pustules in all parts of the body j 

 with vinegar it is used for the cure of erysipelas ; and, applied 

 with lint, it is curative of itch, whitlows on the fingers, and 

 hang-nails. Used as a pessary witli wool, it arrests female 

 discharges. Diluted in wine, and kneaded with myrrh, it is 

 applied to recent wounds, and, with vinegar, to condylomatous 

 swellings. Employed in the form of a liniment, it alleviates 



CIIAr 4G. SEVENTEEN REMEDIES DERIVED FROM THE SCALES 

 OF IKON. HYGUKMI'LASTRUM. 



The scales of iron,* 3 which are procured from a fine point or 

 a sharp edge, are also made use of, being very similar in eifect 

 to rust, but more active ; for which reason they are employed 

 for delluxions of the eyes. They arrest bleeding, also, more 



80 I cannot n^rcc with Pelafosse in his remark Unit "this remedy also 

 is much in use fur ca-liac and oilier affection* at the present day." 13. Jt 

 is still recommended by old women in the country, tor children more par- 

 ticularly. 



81 There arc two versions of this story. In ft. xxv. c. 19, Pliny says 

 that Achilles cured Telephus by the application of a plant, which from 

 him received its name. According to the other account, the oracle had 

 declared, that the wound of Teh-phus, which had hern inflicted by 

 Achilles, could only be cured by means of the same weapon which had 

 caused.it. K. 



82 All the statements in this Chapter are to be found in Dioscoridts, 

 B. v. c. 03. 15. 



3 The scaly. excrescences beaten from iron in the forges, llardouinsays. 



P2 



