466 
PLTKY'S NATURAL HISTORY. [Book XXX. 
to dentition, sheep's brains are a very useful remedy. The 
inflammation called siriasis/'"^^* to whicli infants are liable, is 
cured by attaching to them the bones that are found in the 
dung of dogs. Hernia in infants is cured by letting a green 
lizard bite the child's body while asleep, after which the lizard 
is attached to a reed, and hung up in the smoke ; by the time 
the animal dies, the child will be perfectly cured, it is said. 
The slime of snails, applied to the eyes of children, straightens 
the eyelashes, and makes them grow. Ashes of burnt snails, 
applied with frankincense and juice of white grapes, are a cure 
for hernia [in infants], if applied for thirty days consecutively. 
Within the horns of snails, there are certain hard substances 
found, like grits of sand : attached to infants, they facilitate 
dentition. 
Ashes of empty snail-shells, mixed with wax, are a pre- 
ventive of procidence of the rectum ; but they must be used 
in combination with the matter that exudes from a viper's 
brains, on the head being pricked. Yipers' brains, attached to 
the infant's body in a piece of skin, facilitate dentition, a simi- 
lar effect being produced by using the larger teeth of serpents. 
Eavens' dung, attached to an infant with wool, is curative of 
cough. 
It is hardly possible to preserve one's seriousness in describing 
some of these remedies, but as they have been transmitted to 
ns, I must not pass them in silence. For the treatment of 
hernia in infants, a lizard is recommended ; but it must be a 
male lizard, a thing that may be ascertained by its having but 
one orifice beneath the tail. The method of proceeding, is for 
the lizard to bite the part affected through cloth of gold, cloth 
of silver, and cloth dyed purple ; after which it is tied fast in a 
cup that has never been used, and smoked. Incontinence of 
urine in infants is checked by giving them boiled mice with 
their food. The large indented horns of the scarabseus, attached 
to the bodies of infants, have all the virtues of an amulet. In 
the head of the boa "^^ there is a small stone, they say, which 
the serpent spits out, when it is in fear of death : if the reptile 
is taken by surprise, and the head cut off, and this stone ex- 
Supposed to be an inflammation of the membranes of tbe brain. 
See c. 8 of this Book. 
A remedy stilll used, Ajassan says, in the French provinces. 
See B. Yiii. c. 14, and B. xxix. c. 'dSt 
