VOL. XXVIII.] PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. SQ 



mended the emplastriim manus dei LeMort; others, the einplastrum diachylon 

 cum gummis Vigonis, by itself, or mixed with the oxycroceum, to mollify the 

 buboes. Some, by means of cupping glasses, or blisters, or even by incisions, 

 happily took them out, and afterwards cured themselves. But the carbuncles 

 required more pains, care, and caution. In the beginning, an emplastrum de 

 fensivum applied about the carbuncle to prevent its further progress, did much 

 good; afterwards, to ease the pain, and to bring it to a separation, they pur- 

 sued it with caustics, scarifications, unguentum ^gyptiacum, unguentum basi- 

 licon. simplex. &c. or what else the surgeon thought convenient. At last they 

 applied digestives to cleanse it, and a healing plaster. 



Carbuncles were soon cured by the following method. I ordered the part 

 round the carbuncle, as yet untouched, to be well washed with aqua calcis; 

 and then put the emplastrum apostolicum Zwelferi over the carbuncle; and over 

 that again a poultice clapped between two linen rags, and applied three times a 

 day, made of chamomile flowers, linseed, flowers of beans and barley, boiled in 

 milk to a proper consistence. This drew forth the carbuncle admirably well ; 

 so that the eschar softened and began to sweat, and also came soon to separation. 

 At last the ointment or digestive only, with a defensive plaster, cleansed it, and 

 the cure was perfected with emplastrum Voegedingianum. 



An Account of the Roman Eagles. By Dr. Musgrave. N° 337, art. 11, p. 145. 



Abstracted from the Latin. 



The eagle was the military ensign of a whole legion, glittering, and fixed to 

 the head of a long hasta or spear; which being raised aloft by the aquilifer, or 

 eagle-bearer, and beheld by the soldiers, especially those of the first cohort, 

 consisting of 1105 foot, and 132 horses, in all 1237, as appears from Vegetius, 

 lib. 2, c. 6, it might be of use to such a number of men in keeping their ranks, 

 observing their distances, and consequently, in preserving their order of battle: 

 therefore to answer this purpose, the eagle must needs be large, and stand high. 

 From coins, &c. it would seem that the eagle and spear together, were about 

 8 feet high, of which the eagle alone was about 8 inches. 



Dr. Musgrave supposes, that the Roman eagle was made either of wood, 

 cork, leather, or paper, or some such light substance, and either gilt, or laid 

 over, with plates of gold or silver, with expanded vt'ings, and sometimes with 

 thunder under its talons. And he thinks that the matter is best explained by 

 Ant. Augustinus, Dial. iii. Antiq. in Cappadocid, who says that each legion car- 

 ried a carved eagle on the end of a spear or hasta, which was incrusted or over- 

 laid with plates of gold or silver. 



