438 
Pliny's natural history. 
[Book XXX. 
For patients troubled with spitting of blood, they are remark- 
ably good, the shell being first removed, and the contents 
bruised and administered in water. The most esteemed kinds 
of all are those of Africa — those which come from lol,®^ in 
particular — of Astypalaea, and, after them, those of ^tna, in 
Sicily, those I mean of moderate size, for the large ones are 
hard, and destitute of juice. The Balearic snails, called ca- 
vaticse," from being found in caverns, are much esteemed ; and 
so, too, aire those from the islands of Capreae.*^'^ Those of Greece, 
on the other hand, are never used for food, either old or 
fresh . 
Eiver snails, and those with a white shell, have a strong, 
rank, juice, and forest snails are by no means good for the 
stomach, having a laxative effect upon the bowels ; the same, 
too, with all kinds of small snails. Sea-snails,^^ on the other 
hand, are more beneficial to the stomach; but it is for pains 
in that region that they are found the most efficacious : the 
best plan, it is said, is to eat them alive, of whatever kind 
they may happen to be, with vinegar. In addition to these, 
there are the snails called aceratss,''^^ with a broad shell, and 
found in numerous localities : of the uses to which they are 
put we shalP^ speak further on the appropriate occasions. The 
craw of poultry, dried and sprinkled in the drink, or else used 
fresh and grilled, has a soothing effect upon pectoral catarrhs 
and coughs attended with phlegm. Snails, beaten up raw 
and taken in three cyathi of warm water, allay cough. A 
piece of dog's skin, wrapped round any one of the fingers, af- 
fords relief to patients suffering* from catarrh. A broth made 
of boiled partridges is strengthening for the stomach. 
CHAP. 16. REMEDIES POR PAINS IN THE LIVER, AND POR SPITTING 
OP BLOOD. 
Eor the cure of pains in the liver, a wild weasel is taken 
with the food, or the liver only of that animal ; a ferret also, 
roasted like a sucking-pig. In cases of asthma, millepedes 
are used, thrice seven of them being soaked in Attic honey, 
82 See B. V. c. 20. See B. iii. c. 12. ^4 Qur periwinkles. 
8^ Dalecliamps takes this to mean "without horns and Hardouin is 
of opinion that it means " genuine " or unmixed." In either sense, 
the word is derived from the Greek. 
He has omitted to do so. 87 a Humida tussis.'* 
