365 
Pliny's katueal history. 
[Book XXVIII. 
Mouse-dung, on tlie other hand, applied in the form of a 
liniment, acts as an antaphrodisiac. The lights of a wild boar or 
swine, roasted, are an effectual preservative against drunken- 
ness ; they must, however, be eaten fasting, and upon the 
same day. The lights of a kid, too, are productive of the 
same effect. 
CHAP. 81. (20.)— EEMARKABLE FACTS RELATIVE TO ANIMALS. 
In addition to those already mentioned, there are various 
other marvellous facts related, with reference to these animals. 
When a horse-shoe becomes detached from the hoof, as often 
is the case, if a person takes it up and puts it by, it will act as 
a remedy for hiccup the moment he calls to mind the spot 
where he has placed it. A wolf's liver, they say, is similar to 
a horse's hoof in appearance ; and a horse, they tell us, if 
it follows in the track of a wolf, will burst^^ asunder beneath 
its rider. The pastern-bones of swine have a certain tendency 
to promote discord, it is said. In cases of fire, if some of the 
dung can be brought away from the stalls, both sheep and 
oxen may be got out all the more easily, and will make no at- 
tempt to return. The flesh of a he-goat will lose its rank 
smell, if the animal has eaten barley-bread, or drunk an in- 
fusion of laser^^ the day on which it was killed. Meat that 
lias been salted while the moon was on the wane, will never 
be attacked by worms. In fact, so great has been the care 
taken to omit no possible researches, that a deaf hare, we find, 
will grow fat^*^ sooner than one that can hear ! 
As to the remedies for the diseases of animals — If a beast of 
burden voids blood, an injection must be used of swine's dung 
mixed with wine. For the maladies of oxen, a mixture of suet 
is used with quicksilver, and wild garlic boiled ; the whole 
beaten up and administered in wine. The fat, too, of a fox 
is employed. The liquor of boiled horse-flesh, administered in 
their drink, is recommended for the cure of diseased swine : 
and, indeed, the maladies of all four-footed beasts may be effec- 
He has already stated, in c. 44, that a horse will become torpid if it 
follows in the track of a wolf; for which statement, according to Ajasson, 
there appears to be some foundation. 
See B. xix. c. 15. 
^" This is not unlikely ; for it has no alarms to make it grow thin. 
