442 
PLTNY'S NATFl^AL HISTOET. 
[Book XXX. 
a soothing effect upon eoeliac affections ; but it is absolutely 
necessary that neither fowl nor patient should have eaten 
corn^^ for some time before. Pigeons' dung, also, is grilled and 
taken in drink. The flesh of a ring-dove, boiled in vinegar, 
is curative of dysentery and eoeliac affections : and for the cure 
of the former, a thrush is recommended, roasted with myrtle- 
berries ; a blackbird, also ; or honey, boiled, in which the bees 
have died. 
CHAP. 20. EEMEDIES FOU THE ILIAC PASSION, AND EOR OTHER 
MALADIES OF THE BOWELS. 
One of the most dangerous of maladies is that known by the 
name of ileos it may be combatted, they say, by tearing 
a bat asunder, and taking the blood, or by rubbing the abdo- 
men with it. Diarrhoea is arrested more particularly by taking 
snails, prepared in manner already^^ mentioned for cases of 
asthma : the ashes, also, of snails burnt alive, administered in 
astringent wine ; the liver of poultry grilled ; the dried craw 
of poultry, a part that is usually thrown away, mixed with 
poppy-juice — in some cases it is used fresh, grilled, and taken 
in wine — partridge broth ; the craw of partridges beaten up by 
itself in red wine ; a wild ringdove boiled in oxy crate ; a sheep's 
milt, grilled and beaten up in wine ; or else pigeons' dung, 
applied with honey. The crop of an ossifrage, dried and taken 
in drink, is remarkably useful for patients whose digestion is 
impaired — indeed, its good effects may be felt if they only hold 
it in the hand while eating. Hence it is that some persons 
wear it attached to the body as an amulet ; a practice which 
must not be too long continued, it being apt to cause a wasting 
of the flesh. The blood, too, of a drake has an astringent 
effect. 
Elatulency is dispelled by eating snails ; and griping pains 
in the bowels, by taking a sheep's milt grilled, with wine ; a 
wild ringdove boiled in oxy crate ; the fat of an otis^^ in wine ; or 
the ashes of an ibis, burnt without the feathers, administered in 
drink. Another prescription mentioned for griping pains in 
the bowels is of a very marvellous nature : if a duck, they say, 
is applied to the abdomen, the malady will pass into the bird, 
^ See B. xxix. c. 36. The iliac passion, or ileus volvulus. 
In c. 16 of this Book. 
®3 A kind of bustard. See B. x. cc. 29, 50, and c. 45 of this Book. 
