REMEDIES FOR SCROFULA, IMPOSTHUMES OF THE PAROTID GLANDS, QUINSY, AND DISEASES OF THE FAUCES. THE MÆNA: THIRTEEN REMEDIES. THE SEA-SCOLOPENDRA: TWO REMEDIES. THE SAURUS: ONE REMEDY. SHELL-FISH: ONE REMEDY. THE SILURUS: FIFTEEN REMEDIES

Latine · Mayhoff 1906

psoras tollit rara decocta in heminis v aquae marinae; excoqui debet, donec sit lentitudo mellis.—Fit in maria alcyoneum appellatum, e nidis, ut aliqui existumant, alcyonum et ceycum, ut alii, sordibus spumarum crassescentibus, alii e limo vel quadam maris lanugine. quattuor eius genera: cinereum, spissum, odoris asperi, alterum molle, lenius odore et fere algae, tertium candidioris vermiculi, quartum pumcosius, spongeae putri simile. paene purpureum quod optimum; hoc et Milesium vocatur. quo candidius autem, hoc minus probabile est. vis eorum ut exulcerent, purgent. usus tostis et sine oleo. mire lepras, lichenas, lentigines tollunt cum lupino et sulpuris II obolis. alcyoneo utuntur et ad oculorum cicatrices.—Andreas ad lepras cancri cinere cum oleo usus est, Attalus thynni adipe recenti.

Oris ulcera menarum muria et capitum cinis cum melle sanat. strumas pungi piscis eius, qui rana in mari appellatur, ossiculo e cauda ita, ut non volneret, prodest. faciendum id cotidie, donec percurentur. eadem vis est pastinacae radio et lepori marino inposito ita, ut celeriter removeatur, echini testis contusis et ex aceto inlitis, item scolopendrae marinae e melle, cancro fluviatili contrito vel combusto ex melle. mirifice prosunt et saepiae ossa cum axungia vetere contusa et inlita. sic et ad parotidas utuntur, et sauri piscis marini iocineribus, quin et testis cadi salsamentarii tusis cum axungia vetere, muricum cinere ex oleo ad parotidas strumasque. —Rigor cervicis mollitur et marinis, qui pediculi vocantur, drachma pota, castoreo poto cum pipere ex mulso mixto, ranis decoctis ex oleo et sale, ut sorbeatur sucus. sic et opisthotono medentur et tetano, spasticis vero pipere adiecto.—Anginas menarum salsarum e capitibus cinis ex melle inlitus abolet, ranarum decoctarum aceto sucus; hic et contra tonsillas prodest. cancri fluviatiles triti singuli in hemina aquae anginis medentur gargarizati, aut e vino et calida aqua poti. uvae medetur garum coclearibus subditum. vocem siluri recentes salsive in cibo sumpti adiuvant.

Vomitiones mulli inveterati tritique in potione concitant.—Suspiriosis castorea cum Hammoniaci exigua portione ex aceto mulso ieiunis utilissima potu. eadem potio spasmos stomachi sedat ex aceto mulso caldo.— Tussim sanare dicuntur piscium modo e iure decoctae in patinis ranae. suspensae autem pedibus, cum destillaverit in patinas saliva earum, exinterari iubentur abiectisque interaneis condiri. est rana parva arborem scandens atque ex ea vociferans; in huius os si quis expuat iosamque dimittat, tussi liberari narratur. praecipiunt et cocleae crudae carnem tritam bibere ex aqua caldam tussi cruenta.

English · Bostock & Riley 1855–57

For the cure of itch-scab, a frog is boiled in five semisextarii of sea-water, the decoction being reduced to the consistency of honey. There is a sea production called “halcyoneum,” composed, as some think, of the nests of the birds known as the “halcyon” and “ceyx,” or, according to others, of the concretion of sea-foam, or of some slime of the sea, or a certain lanuginous inflorescence thrown up by it. Of this halcyoneum there are four different kinds; the first, of an ashy colour, of a compact substance, and possessed of a pungent odour; the second, soft, of a milder nature, and with a smell almost identical with that of sea-weed; the third, whiter, and with a variegated surface; the fourth, more like pumice in appearance, and closely resembling rotten sponge. The best of all is that which nearly borders upon a purple hue, and is known as the “Milesian” kind: the whiter it is, the less highly it is esteemed.

The properties of halcyoneum are ulcerative and detergent: when required for use, it is parched and applied without oil. It is quite marvellous how efficiently it removes leprous sores, lichens, and freckles, used in combination with lupines and two oboli of sulphur. It is employed, also, for the removal of marks upon the eyes. Andreas has recommended for the cure of leprosy ashes of burnt crabs, with oil; and Attalus, fresh fat of tunny.

Ulcerations of the mouth are cured by an application of brine in which mænæ have been pickled, in combination with calcined heads of the fish, and honey. For the cure of scrofula, it is a good plan to prick the sores with the small bone that is found in the tail of the fish known as the sea-frog; care being taken to avoid making a wound, and to repeat the operation daily, until a perfect cure is effected. The same property, too, belongs to the sting of the pastinaca, and to the sea-hare, applied topically to the sores: but in both cases due care must be taken to remove them in an instant. Shells of sea-urchins are bruised, also, and applied with vinegar; shells also of sea-scolopendræ, applied with honey; and river-crabs pounded or calcined, and applied with honey. Bones, too, of the sæpia, triturated and applied with stale axle-grease, are marvellously useful for this purpose.

This last preparation is used, also, for the cure of imposthumes of the parotid glands; a purpose for which the liver of the sea-fish known as the “saurus” is employed. Nay, even more than this, fragments of earthen vessels in which salt fish have been kept are pounded with stale axle-grease, and applied to scrofulous sores and imposthumes of the parotid glands; as also calcined murex, incorporated with oil. Stiffness in the neck is allayed by taking what are known as sea-lice, in doses of one drachma in drink, taking castoreum mixed with pepper in honied wine, or making a decoction of frogs in oil and salt, and taking the liquor.

Opisthotony, too, and tetanus are treated in a similar manner; and spasms, with the addition of pepper. Ashes of burnt heads of salted mænæ are applied externally, with honey, for the cure of quinsy; as also a decoction of frogs, boiled in vinegar, a preparation which is equally good for affections of the tonsillary glands. River-crabs, pounded, one to each hemina of water, are used as a gargle for the cure of quinsy; or else they are taken with wine and hot water. Garum, put beneath the uvula with a spoon, effectually cures diseases of that part. The silurus, used as food, either fresh or salted, improves the voice.

Surmullets act as an emetic, dried and pounded, and taken in drink. Castoreum, taken fasting, with a small quantity of hammoniacum in oxymel, is extremely good for asthma: spasms, too, in the stomach are assuaged by taking a similar potion with warm oxymel. Frogs stewed in their own liquor in the saucepan, the same way in fact that fish are dressed, are good for a cough, it is said. In some cases, also, frogs are suspended by the legs, and after their juices have been received in a platter, it is recommended to gut them, and the entrails being first carefully removed, to preserve them for the above purpose. There is a small frog, also, which ascends trees, and croaks aloud there: if a person suffering from cough spits into its mouth and then lets it go, he will experience a cure, it is said. For cough attended with spitting of blood, it is recommended to beat up the raw flesh of a snail, and to drink it in hot water.