BOOK VI. xii. 5-xiii. 3 



of lily-roots or squills mixed with salt, or the staunch- 

 ing plant which the Greeks call polygonum,'^ or hore- 

 hound. Almost all bodily pains, if there is no wound, 

 can in their early stages be better dissipated by 

 fomentation ; in the advanced stage they are treated 

 by cauterizations and the dropping of burnt butter 

 or goat's fat upon the place. 



XIII. The scab is alleviated if it is rubbed with Bemedieg 

 bruised garlic, and the same remedy is used for the fj'icera^ltc.^' 

 bite of a mad dog or wolf, which, however, is also 

 quite as easily cured by placing stale pickled fish 

 upon the wound. There is also a still more efficacious 

 remedy for the scab ; ox-marjoram and sulphur are 

 pounded up together and cooked in lees of olives 

 mixed with oil and vinegar ; then, when the mixture is 

 hot, split alum is ground up and sprinkled upon it. 

 This remedy is most efficacious if it is smeared on when 

 the sun is hot. Ground oak-galls are a cure for ulcers, 2 

 likewise the juice of horehound together with soot. 



There is also a dangerous plague which affects 

 cattle, called by the farmers " hide-binding," when 

 the skin adheres so closely to the back that, if it is 

 taken hold of with the hands, it cannot be drawn 

 away from the ribs. It occurs only when the ox is 

 either reduced to a lean condition as the result of some 

 illness or has become chilled when sweating in the 

 course of its labours, or if it has been drenched by 

 rain when it is carrying a load. Since these con- 3 

 ditions are dangerous, care must be taken that the 

 oxen, when they have returned from work still hot 

 and panting, are sprinkled with wine and that balls 

 of fat are thrust down their throats. If, however, the 

 above-mentioned malady has already taken hold of 



" Knotgrass {Polygonum^ aviculare). 



i6i 



VOL. II. G 



