BOOK VI. XIV. 3-7 



then when it has swollen up as a result of the blows, it is 

 opened with a lancet, and on the following day blood 

 is again drawn from the same spot and the animal is 

 given two days' rest from work. Then on the third 

 day a light task is enjoined upon it, which is gradually 

 increased until it does a full day's work. If, how- 4 

 ever, the neck does not incline to either side but is 

 swollen in the middle, blood is let from both ears. If 

 bleeding is not performed within three days after the 

 ox has got the disease, the neck swells up and the 

 sinews become taut and as a result a hard lump is 

 formed which cannot endure the pressure of the 

 yoke. For this kind of malady we have discovered 5 

 a suitable remedy composed of liquid pitch, beef- 

 marrow, goat's fat, and stale oil in equal quantities 

 and cooked together. This compound should be 

 used in the following manner : when the ox is un- 

 harnessed after its work, the swelling on its neck 

 is moistened with water in the trough from which it 

 drinks and then massaged and rubbed and smeared 

 with the medicament described above. If the animal 6 

 absolutely refuses the yoke because of the swelling on 

 its neck, it must be given a few days' rest from work ; 

 then the neck must be rubbed with cold water and 

 anointed with litharge of silver. Celsus indeed recom- 

 mends that to a swollen neck the herb called ground- 

 sel should, as I have already said, be crushed and 

 apphed. The warts which generally infest the neck 

 constitute only a minor malady ; for they can easily 

 be cured with oil dripped on them from a burning 

 lamp. A better plan, however, is to take care that 7 

 they do not form and that the necks of the oxen do 

 not become bald, for they only become hairless when 

 the neck is moistened by sweat or rain during work. 



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