BOOK XXXIV. xLv. T52-XLV1. 155 



itself, and this is the way in which Achilles is stated 

 to have cured Telephus, whether he did it by means 

 of a copper javelin or an iron one ; at all events 

 Achilles is so represented in painting, knocking the 

 rust ofF a javelin with his sword. Rust of iron is 

 obtained by scraping it off old nails with an iron tool 

 dipped in water. The effect of rust is to unite 

 wounds and dry them and staunch them, and applied 

 as a liniment it relieves fox-mange. They also use 

 it with wax and oil of myrtle for scabbiness of the 

 eye-lids and pimples in all parts of the body, but 

 dipped in vinegar for erysipelas and also for scab, 

 and, applied on pieces of cloth, for hangnails on the 

 fingers and whitlows. Applied on wool it arrests 

 women's discharges and for recent wounds it is useful 

 diluted with wine and kneaded with myrrh, and for 

 swellings round the anus dipped in vinegar. Used 

 as a liniment it also relieves gout. 



XLVI. Scale of iron, obtained from a sharp edge 

 or point, is also employed, and has an effect extremely 

 like that of rust only more active, for which reason 

 it is employed even for running at the eyes. It 

 arrests haemorrhage, though it is with iron that 

 wounds are chiefiy made ! And it also arrests female 

 discharges. It is also applied against troubles of the 

 spleen, and it checks haemorrhoidal swellings and 

 creeping ulcers. Applied for a brief period in the 

 form of a powder it is good for the eyelids. But 

 its chief recommendation is its use in a wet plaster 

 for cleaning wounds and fistulas and for eating out 

 every kind of callosity and making new flesh on 

 bones that have been denuded. The foUowing are 

 the ingredients : six obols of bee-glue, six drams of 

 Cimolo earth," two drams of pounded copper, tw^o of 



239 



