Ancient Rome and Modern Italy 59 



NOTES 



1 Notable among many references is Ovid, Nux, 23-24; cf. in Pliny N. H. 

 (hereafter abbreviated N.H. with the numbers) 21.116; 24.18; 25.25; 28.81; 

 29.85; 30.142; Gell. 12.1.8-9. It is clear that the gullibility of man had no 

 limits when he was trying to circumvent Nature. The subject deserves more 

 thorough investigation than it has yet received. See, however, A. G. Roper, 

 Ancient Eugenics, which this writer reviewed in The Classical Weekly, VIII 

 (1915), 202-207. We may cite also Palmer Findley, Priests of Lucina, The 

 Story of Obstetrics, 44, where he deals with Soranus. 



2 Dig. 47.11.4; 48.8.8; for the death penalty cf. Cic. Pro Cluent. 11.32; Dig. 

 48.19.39; Paul. Sent. 5.23.14. 



3 For the attitude of Mussolini see E. Ludwig, Talks with Mussolini, 168-171; 

 cf. C. M. Hamilton, Modern Italy, 88-89; 196-197; F. Fox, Italy of Today, 

 113; 219-222. 



4 Cf., e.g., P. Sebillot, Le paganisme contemporain chez les peuples celto-latins , 

 15; M. Pasquarelli, "Medicina popolare basilicatese", Archivio per lo studio 

 delle tradizioni popolari (hereafter Archivio), XVI (1897), 52. On prolongation 

 of nursing with intent to prevent pregnancy: P. H. Williams, South Italian 

 Folkways in Europe and America, 89. 



5 See, e.g., Z. Zanetti, La medicina delle nostre donne, studio jolklorico (here- 

 after abbrev. La medicina), 116; 118; 185; M. Pasquarelli, op. cit. (see note 4) 

 XVI, 52-53; G. Finamore, Tradizioni popolari abruzzesi, 60; 118-119; cf. for 

 Ruta graveolens, N.H. 20.143; for asplenium: 27.34; and for a use of savin: 24. 

 102. 



6 Cf. G. Ferraro, "Botanica popolare di Carpeneto D'Acqui", Archivio, IV 

 (1885), 176 with N.H. 27.78 and 80. Among some Italians asparagus has a 

 similar reputation: C. Coronedi-Berti, "Appunti di medicina popolare bolognese", 

 Rivista di letteratura popolare, I (1877), 4. 



7 E. Canziani, Abruzzese Folklore, 213. 



8 Z. Zanetti, La medicina, 118; on objects introduced into the womb cf. loc. cit. 



9 Z. Zanetti, op. cit., 105; 252. 9a Among the most dreaded portents of 

 some evil coming to the nation was the birth of young to a mula. Cf., e.g., 

 Jul. Obs. Prod. 37; 55; 88; 130. Cicero commented interestingly on this 

 unnatural fecundity: De Div. 2.22.49. 



10 The classicist will not overlook the highly interesting chapters in Gellius 

 3.16, and Pliny the Elder, N.H. 7.38-40. " See, e.g., N.H. 7A7. 12 Cf. 

 e.g., Liv. 27.37.5-6; 31.12.6-8; N.H. 7.30; 7.34-35; 11.262; Val. Max. 1.6; 6.5 

 Jul. Obseq. Prod. 38; 46; 51; 66; 73; 84; 86; 94; 96; 100; 107; 108; 110; 113 

 13 Cf. N.H. 7.36; Jul. Obseq. Prod. 31; 34; Gell. 9.4.14-15; Auson. Epigr. 76 

 Phlegon Trail. De Mirabilibus, 4-9. 14 Cf. N.H. 7.33-34; Jul. Obseq. Prod. 73 

 Gell. 10.2. ™N.H. 28.97. ™N.H. 30.125. 17 N.H. 30.130. 1& N.H. 

 30.131. ™N.H. 30.142. 



20 Catullus 64.377-378; cf. C. T. Ramage, The Nooks and Byways of Italy. 

 Wanderings in Search of its Ancient Remains and Modern Superstitions, 208. 

 Comparable also here is the Italian test of either male or female virginity: 

 Notes and Queries, Ser. 3, XII (1867), 475-476. For ancient tests of virginity 



