334 
PLINY' S NATUEAL HISTOUT. [Book XXVIII. 
preparations from the field weazel.^^ But we will now return 
to the other remedies, classified according to the various diseases. 
CHAP. 46. (11.) EEMEDIES FOR DISEASES OP TILE HEAD, AKD 
FOE ALOPECY. 
Bears' grease,^^ mixed with ladanum^'^ and the plant adi- 
antum,^^ prevents the hair from falling off ; it is a cure also 
for alopecy and defects in the eyebrows, mixed with the fungus 
from the wick of a lamp, and the soot that is found in the 
nozzle. Used with wine, it is good for the cure of porrigo, a 
malady which is also treated with the ashes of deer's horns in 
wine : this last substance also prevents the growth of vermin 
in the hair. For porrigo some persons employ goat's gall, in 
combination with Cimolian chalk and vinegar, leaving the pre- 
pration to dry for a time on the head. Sow's gall, too, mixed 
with bull's urine, is employed for a similar purpose ; and when 
old, it is an effectual cure, with the addition of sulphur, for 
furfuraceous eruptions. The ashes, it is thought, of an ass's 
genitals, will make the hair grow more thickly, and prevent it 
from turning grey ; the proper method of applying it being to 
shave the head and to pound the ashes in a leaden mortar with 
oil. Similar effects are attributed to the genitals of an ass's 
foal, reduced to ashes and mixed with urine ; some nard being 
added to render the mixture less offensive. In cases of alopecy 
the part affected is rubbed with bull's gall, warmed with 
Egyptian alum. Eunning ulcers of the head are successfully, 
treated with bull's urine, or stale human urine, in combination 
with cyclaminos^^ and sulphur : but the most effectual remedy is 
calf's gall, a substance which, heated with vinegar, has also the 
effect of exterminating lice. Yeal suet, pounded with salt and 
applied to ulcers of the head, is a very useful remedy : the fat, 
too, of the fox is highly spoken of, but the greatest value is 
set upon cats' dung, applied in a similar manner with mustard. 
Powdered goats' horns, or the horns reduced to ashes, those 
of the he-goat in particular, with the addition of nitre, tama- 
risk-seed, butter, and oil, are remarkably effectual for prevent- 
ing the hair from coming off, the head being first shaved for 
the purpose. So too, the ashes of burnt goats' flesh, applied 
See B. xxix. c. 16. 
This substance still maintains its reputation, as preservative of the 
hair. 32 B. xii. c. 37, and B. xxvi. c. 30, 
33 See B. xxii. c. 30. . gee B. xxv. c. 67. 
