522 
plint's katfeal history. 
[Book XXXI. 
vinegar, they are curative of tertian fevers. The sponge of 
Africa, more particularly, soaked in oxycrate, disperses tu- 
mours. Ashes of any kind of sponge burnt with pitch, arrest 
the discharge of blood from wounds ; though some recommend, 
for this purpose, the sponge with large pores only, burnt with 
pitch. For aifections of the eyes, sponge is burnt in vessels of 
unbaked earthenware ; the ashes being found highly efficacious 
for granulations of the eyelids, fleshy excrescences, and all 
diseases of those parts which require detergents, astringents, 
or expletives. For all these purposes, however, it is the best 
plan first to rinse the ashes. "When the body is in a diseased 
state, sponge acts as a substitute for body- scrapers and linen 
towels, and it protects the head most efficiently against the 
action of the sun. 
Medical men, in their ignorance, comprehend all sponges 
under two names ; African sponge, the substance of which is 
tougher and firmer ; and Ehodian sponge, which is softer and 
better adapted for fomentations. At the present day, however, 
the softest sponges of all are those found about the walls of the 
city of Antiphellos.^ Trogus informs us that the softest tent 
sponges are found out at sea, off the coast of Lycia, upon spots 
from which the sponge has been previously removed : we 
learn, too, from Polybius, that these fine sponges, suspended 
over a patient's bed, will ensure him additional repose at 
night.i^ 
We will now turn to the remedies derived from the marine 
and aquatic animals. 
Stjmmaet. — Eemedies, narratives, and observations, nine 
hundred and twenty-four. 
EoMAN AUTHORS QUOTED. — M. Yarro,^^ Cassius^^ of Parma, 
Cicero,^' Mucianus,^^ Caelius,^^ Celsus,^® Trogus,^' Ovid,^^ Poly- 
bius, Sornatius.^^ 
9 See B. V. c. 28. An absurdity, of course. See end of B. ii. 
^2 Called C. Cassius Severus Parmensis, according to some authorities. 
He was one of the murderers of Ceesar, and perished, the last of them 
by a violent end, about b.c. 30. He is supposed to have written tragedies, 
epigrams, and other works. See Horace, Epist. B. i. Ep. 4, 1. 3. 
^•^ See end of B. vii. See end of B. ii. 
^5 Cselius Antipater. See end of B. ii. gee end of B. vii. 
See end of B. vii. See end of B. xviii. See end of B. iv. 
2^ This personage is entirely unknown. It may possibly be a corruption 
