QUALITIES AND VIRTUES OF FISH. 75 



purgative in fevers. Dioscorides recommends them to be 

 externally applied as a stimulant and detergent application 

 in diseases of the eyes, and their flesh for the bites of mad 

 dogs. The Arabian writers speak likewise of their medi- 

 cinal qualities. The Silurus or Shad fish, when pickled 

 and eaten, clears the trachea when in a humid state ; and 

 cataplasm made of it, extracts sharp weapons of wood 

 from the body. Dioscorides recommends it, and the 

 Arabian Ebn Baithar gives a full account of its many 

 medicinal virtues, both from Greek writers and those of 

 his own country. 



Eels were denounced by Hippocrates to all his patients, 

 and particularly to those afflicted with pulmonary affec- 

 tions. The conger eel is considered by Galen as hard 

 and indigestible. 



The Salmon is not mentioned by any Greek author. It is 

 noticed in Pliny's Natural History (9, 12) ; and the first 

 account we have of it in any Latin classic author is con- 

 tained in the Mosella of Ausonius. Here we have the 

 three progressive stages in the growth of the salmon. 

 The salar is the sea-trout, the fario is what in Scotland 

 is called the grilse, and the salmo is the full-grown fish. 

 Of the salmon, the poet says, 



" Tu loricate squamosus pectore, frontem 

 Lubricus, et dubiee facturus fercula csense, 

 Tempora longarum fers incorrupte morarum, 

 Preesignis maculis capitis j cui prodiga nutat 

 Alvus, opiinatoque fluens abdomiue venter/' 



