460 
pltny's katueal histout. 
[Book XXX. 
ployed ; snails, too, taken whole from the shell, are pounded 
and applied to fresh wounds, to heal them, and they arrest the 
progress of cancerous sores. 
There is an insect called ''herpes"''^ by the Greeks, which 
is particularly useful for the cure of all kinds of serpiginous^ 
sores. Snails, beaten up, shells and all, are very good for this 
purpose ; and it is said that, with myrrh and frankincense, 
they will unite the sinews even when cut asunder. The fat, 
too, of a dragon,^^ dried in the sun, is remarkably useful, and 
so are the brains of a cock or capon for recent wounds. By 
taking with the food salt in which vipers have been preserved, 
ulcers are rendered more easy of treatment, it is said, and are 
made to heal all the sooner. Antonius^^ the physician, after 
operating in vain upon ulcers, that were incurable with the 
knife, used to prescribe viper's flesh to be eaten by the patient, 
whereby a marvellously speedy cure was effected. 
The locust called troxallis,*'" reduced to ashes and applied 
with honey, removes the indurated margins of ulcerous sores : 
ashes, also, of burnt pigeons' dung, with arsenic and honey, 
are very effectual in all cases where a cautery is required. 
The brains of a horned owl, applied with goose-grease, are 
marvellously efflcacious for uniting wounds, it is said. Eor 
the malignant ulcer known as cacoethes,"^"^ the ashes of a 
ram's thigh-bones are used, mixed with woman's milk, the sores 
being washed with linen cloths well rinsed. 'For the same 
purpose, the bird known as the screech-owl^^ is boiled in oil, 
ewe-milk butter and honey being added to the preparation, 
when properly dissolved. An application of bees that have 
died in the honey, acts emolliently upon the indurated margins 
of ulcerous sores ; and for the cure of elephantiasis, the blood 
and ashes of a weasel are employed. Wounds and weals pro- 
duced by blows are effaced by an application of sheep-skins 
fresh from the body. 
CHAP. 40. REMEDIES EOR BROKEIT BONES. 
For fractures of the joints, ashes of sheep* s thigh-bones are 
*9 The " creeper.*' It has not been identified. 
*o Which are also called herpetic " or " creeping." 
The serpent so called. 
^2 Antonius Castor, probably. See end of B. xx. 
5^ See c. 16 of this Book. * A chronic cancer. ^5 <'Ulula." 
