The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Natural History of Pliny, Volume 6 of 6, by Pliny the Elder This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. Title: The Natural History of Pliny, Volume 6 of 6 by Pliny, the Elder Author: Pliny the Elder Translator: John Bostock Henry T. Riley Release Date: July 19, 2020 [EBook #62704] Language: English Character set encoding: UTF-8 *** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PLINY, THE ELDER *** Produced by Turgut Dincer, Mr. Franco Sogliani, Brian Wilcox and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive) THE NATURAL HISTORY OF PLINY. TRANSLATED, WITH COPIOUS NOTES AND ILLUSTRATIONS BY THE LATE JOHN BOSTOCK, M.D., F.R.S., AND H. T. RILEY, ESQ., B.A., LATE SCHOLAR OF CLARE HALL, CAMBRIDGE. VOL. VI. WITH GENERAL INDEX. LONDON: HENRY G. BOHN, YORK STREET, COVENT GARDEN. MDCCCLVII. CONTENTS OF THE SIXTH VOLUME. BOOK XXXII. REMEDIES DERIVED FROM AQUATIC ANIMALS. Chap. Page 1. The power of Nature as manifested in antipathies. The echeneïs: two remedies 1 2. The torpedo: nine remedies 4 3. The sea-hare: five remedies ib. 4. Marvels of the Red Sea 5 5. The instincts of fishes 6 6. Marvellous properties belonging to certain fishes 8 7. Places where fish eat from the hand ib. 8. Places where fish recognize the human voice. Oracular responses given by fish ib. 9. Places where bitter fish are found, salt, or sweet 9 10. When sea-fish were first eaten by the people of Rome. The ordinance of King Numa as to fish 10 11. Coral: forty-three remedies and observations ib. 12. The antipathies and sympathies which exist between certain objects. The hatreds manifested by certain aquatic animals. The pastinaca: eight remedies. The galeos: fifteen remedies. The sur-mullet: fifteen remedies 12 13. Amphibious animals. Castoreum: sixty-six remedies and observations 13 14. The tortoise: sixty-six remedies and observations 15 15. Remedies derived from the aquatic animals, classified according to the respective diseases 18 16. Remedies for poisons, and for noxious spells. The dorade: four remedies. The sea-star: seven remedies 19 17. Remedies for the stings of serpents, for the bites of dogs, and for injuries indicted by venomous animals. The sea-dragon: three remedies. Twenty-five remedies derived from salted fish. The sarda: one remedy. Eleven remedies derived from cybium 20 18. The sea-frog: six remedies. The river-frog: fifty-two remedies. The bramble-frog: one remedy. Thirty-two observations on these animals 21 19. The enhydris: six remedies. The river-crab: fourteen remedies. The sea-crab: seven remedies. The river- snail: seven remedies. The coracinus: four remedies. The sea-pig: two remedies 23 20. The sea-calf: ten remedies. The muræna: one remedy. The hippocampus: nine remedies. The sea-urchin: eleven remedies 24 21. The various kinds of oysters: fifty-eight remedies and observations. Purples: nine remedies 25 22. Sea-weed: two remedies 28 23. Remedies for alopecy, change of colour in the hair, and ulcerations of the head. The sea-mouse: two remedies. The sea-scorpion: twelve remedies. The leech: seven remedies. The murex: thirteen remedies. The conchylium: five remedies 29 24. Remedies for diseases of the eyes and eyelids. Two remedies derived from the fat of fishes. The callionymus: three remedies. The gall of the coracinus: one remedy. The sæpia: twenty-four remedies. Ichthyocolla: five remedies ib. 25. Remedies for diseases of the ears. The batia: one remedy. The bacchus or myxon: two remedies. The sea- louse: two remedies 33 26. Remedies for tooth-ache. The dog-fish: four remedies. Whale’s flesh 34 27. Remedies for lichens, and for spots upon the face. The dolphin: nine remedies. Coluthia or coryphia: three remedies. Halcyoneum: seven remedies. The tunny: five remedies 35 28. Remedies for scrofula, imposthumes of the parotid glands, quinzy, 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 37 29. Remedies for cough and diseases of the chest 38 30. Remedies for pains in the liver and side. The elongated conch: six remedies. The tethea: five remedies 39 31. Remedies for diseases of the bowels. Sea-wort: one remedy The myax: twenty-five remedies. The mitulus: eight remedies. Pelorides: one remedy. Seriphum: two remedies. The erythinus: two remedies ib. 32. Remedies for diseases of the spleen, for urinary calculi, and for affections of the bladder. The sole: one remedy. The turbot: one remedy. The blendius: one remedy. The sea-nettle; seven remedies. The pulmo marinus: six remedies. Onyches: four remedies 42 iv 33. Remedies for intestinal hernia, and for diseases of the rectum. The water-snake: one remedy. The hydrus: one remedy. The mullet: one remedy. The pelamis: three remedies 44 34. Remedies for inflamed tumours, and for diseases of the generative organs. The sciæna: one remedy. The perch: four remedies. The squatina: three remedies. The smaris: three remedies ib. 35. Remedies for incontinence of urine. The ophidion: one remedy 46 36. Remedies for gout, and for pains in the feet. The beaver: four remedies. Bryon: one remedy ib. 37. Remedies for epilepsy 47 38. Remedies for fevers. The fish called asellus: one remedy. The phagrus: one remedy ib. 39. Remedies for lethargy, cachexy, and dropsy 49 40. Remedies for burns and for erysipelas ib. 41. Remedies for diseases of the sinews 50 42. Methods of arresting hæmorrhage and of letting blood. The polyp: one remedy ib. 43. Methods of extracting foreign bodies from the flesh 51 44. Remedies for ulcers, carcinomata, and carbuncle 52 45. Remedies for warts, and for malformed nails. The glanis: one remedy 53 46. Remedies for female diseases. The glauciscus: one remedy ib. 47. Methods of removing superfluous hair. Depilatories 55 48. Remedies for the diseases of infants 56 49. Methods of preventing intoxication. The fish called rubellio: one remedy. The eel: one remedy. The grape- fish: one remedy 57 50. Antaphrodisiacs and aphrodisiacs. The hippopotamus: one remedy. The crocodile: one remedy ib. 51. Remedies for the diseases of animals ib. 52. Other aquatic productions. Adarca or calamochnos: three remedies. Reeds: eight remedies. The ink of the sæpia 58 53. The names of all the animals that exist in the sea, one hundred and seventy-six in number 59 54. Additional names of fishes found in the poem of Ovid 65 BOOK XXXIII. THE NATURAL HISTORY OF METALS. 1. Metals 68 2. Gold 69 3. What was the first recommendation of gold 71 4. The origin of gold rings ib. 5. The quantity of gold possessed by the ancients 75 6. The right or wearing gold rings 76 7. The decuries of the judges 82 8. Particulars connected with the equestrian order 83 9. How often the name of the equestrian order has been changed 85 10. Gifts for military services, in gold and silver 86 11. At what period the first crown of gold was presented ib. 12. Other uses made of gold, by females 87 13. Coins of gold. At what periods copper, gold, and silver, were first impressed. How copper was used before gold and silver were coined. What was the largest sum of money possessed by any one at the time of our first census. How often, and at what periods, the value of copper and of coined money has been changed 88 14. Considerations on man’s cupidity for gold 91 15. The persons who have possessed the greatest quantity of gold and silver 93 16. At what period silver first made its appearance upon the arena and upon the stage 94 17. At what periods there was the greatest quantity of gold and silver in the treasury of the Roman people 95 18. At what period ceilings were first gilded ib. 19. For what reasons the highest value is set upon gold 96 20. The method of gilding 98 21. How gold is found 99 22. Orpiment 104 23. Electrum 105 24. The first statues of gold ib. 25. Eight remedies derived from gold 106 26. Chrysocolla 107 v vi 27. The use made of chrysocolla in painting 108 28. Seven remedies derived from chrysocolla 110 29. The chrysocolla of the goldsmiths, known also as santerna ib. 30. The marvellous operations of nature in soldering metallic substances, and bringing them to a state of perfection 111 31. Silver ib. 32. Quicksilver 113 33. Stimmi, stibi, alabastrum, larbasis, or platy-ophthalmon 115 34. Seven remedies derived from stimmi ib. 35. The scoria of silver. Six remedies derived from it 116 36. Minium: for what religious purposes it was used by the ancients 119 37. The discovery and origin of minium 120 38. Cinnabaris ib. 39. The employment of cinnabaris in painting 121 40. The various kinds of minium. The use made of it in painting ib. 41. Hydrargyros. Remedies derived from minium 124 42. The method of gilding silver ib. 43. Touchstones for testing gold 125 44. The different kinds of silver, and the modes of testing it ib. 45. Mirrors 126 46. Egyptian silver 128 47. Instances of immense wealth. Persons who have possessed the greatest sums of money 129 48. At what period the Roman people first made voluntary contributions 131 49. Instances of luxury in silver plate ib. 50. Instances of the frugality of the ancients in reference to silver plate 132 51. At what period silver was first used as an ornament for couches 134 52. At what period silver chargers of enormous size were first made. When silver was first used as a material for sideboards. When the sideboards called tympana were first introduced ib. 53. The enormous price of silver plate 135 54. Statues of silver 136 55. The most remarkable works in silver, and the names of the most famous artists in silver 138 56. Sil: The persons who first used it in painting and the method they adopted 140 57. Cæruleum 141 58. Two remedies derived from cæruleum 143 BOOK XXXIV. THE NATURAL HISTORY OF METALS. 1. The ores of brass 147 2. The different kinds of copper 148 3. The Corinthian brass 149 4. The Delian brass 151 5. The Æginetan brass ib. 6. Stands for lamps 152 7. Ornaments of the temples made of brass 153 8. Couches of brass ib. 9. Which was the first statue of a god made of brass at Rome. The origin of statues, and the respect paid to them 154 10. The different kinds and forms of statues. Statues at Rome with cuirasses 155 11. In honour of whom public statues were first erected: in honour of whom they were first placed on pillars: when the rostra were first erected 156 12. In honour of what foreigners public statues were erected at Rome 159 13. The first equestrian statues publicly erected at Rome, and in honour of what females statues were publicly erected there 160 14. At what period all the statues erected by private individuals were removed from the public places ib. 15. The first statues publicly erected by foreigners 161 16. That there were statuaries in Italy also at an early period 162 17. The immoderate prices of statues 163 18. The most celebrated colossal statues in the city 164 vii viii 19. An account of the most celebrated works in brass, and of the artists, 366 in number 168 20. The different kinds of copper and its combinations. Pyropus. Campanian copper 189 21. The method of preserving copper 191 22. Cadmia ib. 23. Fifteen remedies derived from cadmia. Ten medicinal effects of calcined copper 193 24. The scoria of copper 194 25. Stomoma of copper: forty-seven remedies ib. 26. Verdigris: Eighteen remedies 195 27. Hieracium 197 28. Scolex of copper: eighteen remedies ib. 29. Chalcitis: seven remedies 198 30. Sory: three remedies 199 31. Misy: thirteen remedies ib. 32. Chalcanthum, or shoemakers’ black: sixteen remedies 200 33. Pompholyx 202 34. Spodos: five remedies ib. 35. Fifteen varieties of antispodos 203 36. Smegma 204 37. Diphryx ib. 38. Particulars relative to the Servilian triens 205 39. Iron ores ib. 40. Statues of iron; chased works in iron 206 41. The different kinds of iron, and the mode of tempering it ib. 42. The metal called live iron 209 43. Methods of preventing rust ib. 44. Seven remedies derived from iron 210 45. Fourteen remedies derived from rust 211 46. Seventeen remedies derived from the scales of iron. Hygremplastrum ib. 47. The ores of lead 212 48. Stannum. Argentarium 214 49. Black lead 215 50. Fifteen remedies derived from lead 216 51. Fifteen remedies derived from the scoria of lead 218 52. Spodium of lead ib. 53. Molybdæna: fifteen remedies ib. 54. Psimithium, or ceruse; six remedies 219 55. Sandarach: eleven remedies 220 56. Arrhenicum ib. BOOK XXXV. AN ACCOUNT OF PAINTINGS AND COLOURS. 1. The honour attached to painting 223 2. The honour attached to portraits 224 3. When shields were first invented with portraits upon them; and when they were first erected in public 227 4. When these shields were first placed in private houses ib. 5. The commencement of the art of painting. Monochrome paintings. The earliest painters 228 6. The antiquity of painting in Italy 229 7. Roman painters 230 8. At what period foreign paintings were first introduced at Rome 232 9. At what period painting was first held in high esteem at Rome, and from what causes ib. 10. What pictures the Emperors have exhibited in public 233 11. The art of painting 234 12. Pigments other than those of a metallic origin. Artificial colours 235 13. Sinopis: eleven remedies ib. 14. Rubrica; Lemnian earth: four remedies 236 15. Egyptian earth 237 16. Ochra: remedies derived from rubrica ib. 17. Leucophoron ib. ix 18. Parætonium 238 19. Melinum: six remedies. Ceruse ib. 20. Usta 239 21. Eretria ib. 22. Sandarach ib. 23. Sandyx 240 24. Syricum ib. 25. Atramentum ib. 26. Purpurissum 242 27. Indicum ib. 28. Armenium: one remedy 243 29. Appianum ib. 30. Anularian white 244 31. Which colours do not admit of being laid on a wet coating ib. 32. What colours were used by the ancients in painting 245 33. At what time combats of gladiators were first painted and publicly exhibited 246 34. The age of painting; with the names of the more celebrated works and artists, four hundred and five in number ib. 35. The first contest for excellence in the pictorial art 248 36. Artists who painted with the pencil 249 37. Various other kinds of painting 268 38. An effectual way of putting a stop to the singing of birds 272 39. Artists who have painted in eucaustics or wax, with either the cestrum or the pencil ib. 40. The first inventors of various kinds of painting. The greatest difficulties in the art of painting. The several varieties of painting. The first artist that painted ceilings. When arched roofs were first painted. The marvellous price of some pictures ib. 41. Encaustic painting 282 42. The colouring of tissues ib. 43. The inventors of the art of modelling 283 44. Who was the first to mould figures in imitation of the features of living persons, or of statues 284 45. The most famous modellers ib. 46. Works in pottery 286 47. Various kinds of earth. The Puteolan dust, and other earths of which cements like stone are made 288 48. Formacean walls 289 49. Walls of brick. The method of making bricks 290 50. Sulphur, and the several varieties of it: fourteen remedies 291 51. Bitumen, and the several varieties of it: twenty-seven remedies 293 52. Alumen, and the several varieties of it: thirty-eight remedies 294 53. Samian earth: three remedies 298 54. The various kinds of eretria ib. 55. The method of washing earths for medicinal purposes ib. 56. Chian earth: three remedies. Selinusian earth: three remedies. Pnigitis: nine remedies. Ampelitis: four remedies 299 57. Cretaceous earths used for scouring cloth. Cimolian earth: nine remedies. Sardinian earth. Umbrian earth. Suxum ib. 58. Argentaria. Names of freedmen who have either risen to power themselves, or have belonged to men of influence 301 59. The earth of Galata; of Clypea; of the Baleares; and of Ebusus 303 BOOK XXXVI. THE NATURAL HISTORY OF STONES. 1. Luxury displayed in the use of various kinds of marble 305 2. Who was the first to employ marble in public buildings 306 3. Who was the first to erect columns of foreign marble at Rome 307 4. The first artists who excelled in the sculpture of marble, and the various periods at which they flourished. The Mausoleum in Caria. The most celebrated sculptors and works in marble, two hundred and twenty-five in number 308 5. At what period marble was first used in buildings 323 x 6. Who were the first to cut marble into slabs, and at what period 324 7. Who was the first to encrust the walls of houses at Rome with marble ib. 8. At what period the various kinds of marble came into use at Rome 325 9. The method of cutting marble into slabs. The sand used in cutting marble ib. 10. Stone of Naxos. Stone of Armenia 327 11. The marbles of Alexandria ib. 12. Onyx and alabastrites: six remedies 329 13. Lygdinus; corallitic stone; stone of Alabanda; stone of Thebais; stone of Syene 330 14. Obelisks 331 15. The obelisk which serves as a dial in the Campus Martius 334 16. Marvellous works in Egypt. The pyramids 335 17. The Egyptian Sphinx 336 18. The Pharos 339 19. Labyrinths ib. 20. Hanging gardens. A hanging city 343 21. The Temple of Diana at Ephesus ib. 22. Marvels connected with other temples 344 23. The fugitive stone. The seven-fold echo. Buildings erected without the use of nails ib. 24. Marvellous buildings at Rome, eighteen in number 345 25. The magnet: three remedies 355 26. Stone of Scyros 357 27. Sarcophagus, or stone of Assos: ten remedies ib. 28. Chernites ib. 29. Osseous stones. Palm stones. Corani. Black stones 358 30. Molar stones. Pyrites: seven remedies 359 31. Ostrocites: four remedies. Amianthus: two remedies 360 32. Geodes: three remedies ib. 33. Melitinus: six remedies ib. 34. Gagates: six remedies 361 35. Spongites: two remedies 362 36. Phrygian stone ib. 37. Hæmatites: five remedies. Schistos: seven remedies ib. 38. Æthiopic hæmatites. Androdamas: two remedies. Arabian hæmatites. Miltites or hepatites. Anthracites 363 39. Aëtites. Taphiusian stone. Callimus 364 40. Samian stone: eight remedies 365 41. Arabian stone: six remedies ib. 42. Pumice: nine remedies 366 43. Stones for mortars used for medicinal and other purposes. Etesian stone. Thebaic stone. Chalazian stone 367 44. Stone of Siphnos. Soft stones 368 45. Specular stones ib. 46. Phengites 369 47. Whetstones 370 48. Tophus 371 49. The various kinds of silex ib. 50. Other stones used for building 372 51. The various methods of building ib. 52. Cisterns 373 53. Quick-lime ib. 54. The various kinds of sand. The combinations of sand with lime ib. 55. Defects in building. Plasters for walls 374 56. Columns. The several kinds of columns ib. 57. Five remedies derived from lime 375 58. Maltha ib. 59. Gypsum 376 60. Pavements. The Asarotos œcos ib. 61. The first pavements in use at Rome 377 62. Terrace-roof pavements ib. xi xii 63. Græcanic pavements 378 64. At what period mosaic pavements were first invented. At what period arched roofs were first decorated with glass ib. 65. The origin of glass 379 66. The various kinds of glass, and the mode of making it 380 67. Obsian glass and Obsian stone 381 68. Marvellous facts connected with fire 383 69. Three remedies derived from fire and from ashes ib. 70. Prodigies connected with the hearth 384 BOOK XXXVII. THE NATURAL HISTORY OF PRECIOUS STONES. 1. The first use of precious stones 386 2. The jewel of Polycrates ib. 3. The jewel of Pyrrhus 387 4. Who were the most skilful lapidaries. The finest specimens of engraving on precious stones 389 5. The first dactyliothecæ at Rome 390 6. Jewels displayed at Rome in the triumph of Pompeius Magnus ib. 7. At what period murrhine vessels were first introduced at Rome. Instances of luxury in reference to them 392 8. The nature of murrhine vessels 393 9. The nature of crystal 394 10. Luxury displayed in the use of crystal. Remedies derived from crystal 395 11. Amber: the many falsehoods that have been told about it 397 12. The several kinds of amber: the remedies derived from it 402 13. Lyncurium: two asserted remedies 404 14. The various precious stones, classified according to their principal colours 405 15. Adamas: six varieties of it. Two remedies ib. 16. Smaragdus 408 17. Twelve varieties of the smaragdus 410 18. Defects in the smaragdus 411 19. The precious stone called tanos. Chalcosmaragdos 413 20. Beryls: eight varieties of them. Defects in beryls 414 21. Opals: seven varieties of them 415 22. Defects in opals: the modes of testing them 416 23. Sardonyx; the several varieties of it. Defects in the sardonyx 417 24. Onyx: the several varieties of it 419 25. Carbunculus: twelve varieties of it 420 26. Defects in carbunculus, and the mode of testing it 422 27. Anthracitis 423 28. Sandastros. Sandaresos ib. 29. Lychnis: four varieties of it 424 30. Carchedonia 425 31. Sarda: five varieties of it ib. 32. Topazos: two varieties of it 426 33. Callaina 427 34. Prasius: three varieties of it 429 35. Nilion ib. 36. Molochitis ib. 37. Iaspis: fourteen varieties of it. Defects found in iaspis 430 38. Cyanos: the several varieties of it 432 39. Sapphiros ib. 40. Amethystos: four varieties of it. Socondion. Sapenos. Pharanitis. Aphrodites blepharon, anteros, or hæderos ib. 41. Hyacinthos 434 42. Chrysolithos: seven varieties of it ib. 43. Chryselectrum 435 44. Leucochrysos: four varieties of it ib. 45. Melichrysos. Xuthon 436 xiii 46. Pæderos, sangenon, or tenites ib. 47. Asteria 437 48. Astrion ib. 49. Astriotes ib. 50. Astrobolos 438 51. Ceraunia: four varieties of it ib. 52. Iris: two varieties of it ib. 53. Leros 439 54. Achates: the several varieties of it. Acopos: the remedies derived from it. Alabastritis: the remedies derived from it. Alectoria. Androdamas. Argyrodamas. Antipathes. Arabica. Aromatitis. Asbestos. Aspisatis. Atizöe. Augetis. Amphidanes or chrysocolla. Aphrodisiaca. Apsyctos. Ægyptilla ib. 55. Balanites. Batrachitis. Baptes. Beli oculus. Belus. Baroptenus or barippe. Botryitis. Bostrychitis. Bucardia. Brontea. Bolos 443 56. Cadmitis. Callais. Capnitis. Cappadocia. Callaica. Catochitis. Catoptritis. Cepitis or Cepolatitis. Ceramitis. Cinædia. Ceritis. Circos. Corsoïdes. Coralloachates. Corallis. Crateritis. Crocallis. Cyitis. Chalcophonos. Chelidonia. Chelonia. Chelonitis. Chloritis. Choaspitis. Chrysolampis. Chrysopis. Ceponides 444 57. Daphnea. Diadochos. Diphyes. Dionysias. Draconitis 447 58. Encardia or ariste. Enorchis. Exebenus. Erythallis. Erotylos, amphicomos, or hieromnemon. Eumeces. Enmithres. Eupetalos. Eureos. Eurotias. Eusebes. Epimelas 448 59. Galaxias. Galactitis, leucogæa, leucographitis, or synnephitis. Gallaica. Gassinade. Glossopetra. Gorgonia. Goniæa 449 60. Heliotropium. Hephæstitis. Hermuaidoion. Hexecontalithos. Hieracitis. Hammitis. Hammonis cornu. Hormiscion. Hyænia. Hæmatitis 450 61. Idæi dactyli. Icterias. Jovis gemma. Indica. Ion 452 62. Lepidotis. Lesbias. Leucophthalmos. Leucopœcilos. Libanochrus. Limoniatis. Liparea. Lysimachos. Leucochrysos ib. 63. Memnonia. Media. Meconitis. Mithrax. Morochthos. Mormorion or promnion. Murrhitis. Myrmecias. Myrsinitis. Mesoleucos. Mesomelas 453 64. Nasamonitis. Nebritis. Nipparene 454 65. Oica. Ombria or notia. Onocardia. Oritis or sideritis. Ostracias. Ostritis. Ophicardelon. Obsian stone ib. 66. Panchrus. Pangonus. Paneros or panerastos. Pontica: four varieties of it. Phloginos or chrysitis. Phœnicitis. Phycitis. Perileucos. Pæanitis or gæanis 455 67. Solis gemma. Sagda. Samothracia. Sauritis. Sarcitis. Selenitis. Sideritis. Sideropœcilos. Spongitis. Synodontitis. Syrtitis. Syringitis 456 68. Trichrus. Thelyrrhizos. Thelycardios or mule. Thracia: three varieties of it. Tephritis. Tecolithos 457 69. Veneris crines. Veientana 458 70. Zathene. Zmilampis. Zoraniscæa ib. 71. Precious stones which derive their names from various parts of the human body. Hepatitis. Steatitis. Adadunephros. Adaduophthalmos. Adadudactylos. Triophthalmos ib. 72. Precious stones which derive their names from animals. Carcinias. Echitis. Scorpitis. Scaritis. Triglitis. Ægophthalmos. Hyophthalmos. Geranitis. Hieracitis. Aëtitis. Myrmecitis. Cantharias. Lycophthalmos. Taos. Timictonia 459 73. Precious stones which derive their names from other objects. Hammochrysos. Cenchritis. Dryitis. Cissitis. Narcissitis. Cyamias. Pyren. Phœnicitis. Chalazias. Pyritis. Polyzonos Astrapæa. Phlogitis. Anthracitis. Enhygros. Polythrix. Leontios. Pardalios. Drosolithos. Melichrus. Melichloros. Crocias. Polias. Spartopolias. Rhoditis. Chalcitis. Sycitis. Bostrychitis. Chernitie. Anancitis. Synochitis. Dendritis ib. 74. Precious stones that suddenly make their appearance. Cochlides 461 75. The various forms of precious stones 462 76. The methods of testing precious stones 463 77. A comparative view of Nature as she appears in different countries. The comparative values of things 464 General Index 469 xiv NATURAL HISTORY OF PLINY. BOOK XXXII.1 REMEDIES DERIVED FROM AQUATIC ANIMALS. CHAP. 1. (1.)—THE POWER OF NATURE AS MANIFESTED IN ANTIPATHIES. THE ECHENEÏS: TWO REMEDIES. Following the proper order of things, we have now arrived at the culminating point of the wonders manifested to us by the operations of Nature. And even at the very outset, we find spontaneously presented to us an incomparable illustration of her mysterious powers: so much so, in fact, that beyond it we feel ourselves bound to forbear extending our enquiries, there being nothing to be found either equal or analogous to an element in which Nature quite triumphs over herself, and that, too, in such numberless ways. For what is there more unruly than the sea, with its winds, its tornadoes, and its tempests? And yet in what department of her works has Nature been more seconded by the ingenuity of man, than in this, by his inventions of sails and of oars? In addition to this, we are struck with the ineffable might displayed by the Ocean’s tides, as they constantly ebb and flow, and so regulate the currents of the sea as though they were the waters of one vast river. And yet all these forces, though acting in unison, and impelling in the same direction, a single fish, and that of a very diminutive size—the fish known as the “echeneïs”2—possesses the power of counteracting. Winds may blow and storms may rage, and yet the echeneïs controls their fury, restrains their mighty force, and bids ships stand still in their career; a result which no cables, no anchors, from their ponderousness quite incapable of being weighed, could ever have produced! A fish bridles the impetuous violence of the deep, and subdues the frantic rage of the universe—and all this by no effort of its own, no act of resistance on its part, no act at all, in fact, but that of adhering to the bark! Trifling as this object would appear, it suffices to counteract all these forces combined, and to forbid the ship to pass onward in its way! Fleets, armed for war, pile up towers and bulwarks on their decks, in order that, upon the deep even, men may fight from behind ramparts as it were. But alas for human vanity!—when their prows, beaked as they are with brass and with iron,3 and armed for the onset, can thus be arrested and rivetted to the spot by a little fish, no more than some half foot in length! At the battle of Actium, it is said, a fish of this kind stopped the prætorian ship4 of Antonius in its course, at the moment that he was hastening from ship to ship to encourage and exhort his men, and so compelled him to leave it and go on board another. Hence it was, that the fleet of Cæsar gained the advantage5 in the onset, and charged with a redoubled impetuosity. In our own time, too, one of these fish arrested the ship of the Emperor6 Caius in its course, when he was returning from Astura to Antium:7 and thus, as the result proved, did an insignificant fish give presage of great events; for no sooner had the emperor returned to Rome than he was pierced by the weapons of his own soldiers. Nor did this sudden stoppage of the ship long remain a mystery, the cause being perceived upon finding that, out of the whole fleet, the emperor’s five-banked galley was the only one that was making no way. The moment this was discovered, some of the sailors plunged into the sea, and, on making search about the ship’s sides, they found an echeneïs adhering to the rudder. Upon its being shown to the emperor, he strongly expressed his indignation that such an obstacle as this should have impeded his progress, and have rendered powerless the hearty endeavours of some four hundred men. One thing, too, it is well known, more particularly surprised8 him, how it was possible that the fish, while adhering to the ship, should arrest its progress, and yet should have no such power when brought on board. According to the persons who examined it on that occasion, and who have seen it since, the echeneïs bears a strong resemblance to a large slug.9 The various opinions entertained respecting it we have already10 noticed, when speaking of it in the Natural History of Fishes. There is no doubt, too, that all fish of this kind are possessed of a similar power; witness, for example, the well-known instance of the shells11 which are still preserved and consecrated in the Temple of Venus at Cnidos, and which, we are bound to believe, once gave such striking evidence of the possession of similar properties. Some of our own authors have given this fish the Latin name of “mora.”12 It is a singular thing, but among the Greeks we find writers who state that, worn as an amulet, the echeneïs has the property,13 as already mentioned, of preventing miscarriage, and of reducing procidence of the uterus, and so permitting the fœtus to reach maturity: while others, again, assert that, if it is preserved in salt and worn as an amulet, it will facilitate parturition; a fact to which it is indebted for another name which it bears, “odinolytes.”14 Be all this as it may, considering this most remarkable fact of a ship being thus stopped in its course, who can entertain a doubt as to the possibility of any manifestation of her power by Nature, or as to the effectual operation of the remedies which she has centred in her spontaneous productions? 1 2 3 4 CHAP. 2.—THE TORPEDO: NINE REMEDIES. And then, besides, even if we had not this illustration by the agency of the echeneïs, would it not have been quite sufficient only to cite the instance of the torpedo,15 another inhabitant also of the sea, as a manifestation of the mighty powers of Nature? From a considerable distance even, and if only touched with the end of a spear or staff, this fish has the property of benumbing even the most vigorous arm, and of rivetting the feet of the runner, however swift he may be in the race. If, upon considering this fresh illustration, we find ourselves compelled to admit that there is in existence a certain power which, by the very exhalations16 and, as it were, emanations therefrom, is enabled to affect the members of the human body,17 what are we not to hope for from the remedial influences which Nature has centred in all animated beings? CHAP. 3.—THE SEA HARE: FIVE REMEDIES. No less wonderful, too, are the particulars which we find stated relative to the sea-hare.18 Taken with the food or drink, it is a poison to some persons; while to others, again, the very sight of it is venomous.19 Indeed, if a woman in a state of pregnancy so much as looks upon one of these fishes, she is immediately seized with nausea and vomiting—a proof that the injury has reached the stomach—and abortion is the ultimate result. The proper preservative against these baneful effects is the male fish, which is kept dried for the purpose in salt, and worn in a bracelet upon the arm. And yet this same fish, while in the sea, is not injurious, by its contact even. The only animal that eats it without fatal consequences, is the mullet;20 the sole perceptible result being that its flesh is rendered more tender thereby, but deteriorated in flavour, and consequently not so highly esteemed. Persons when poisoned21 by the sea-hare smell strongly of the fish—the first sign, indeed, by which the fact of their having been so poisoned is detected. Death also ensues at the end of as many days as the fish has lived: hence it is that, as Licinius Macer informs us, this is one of those poisons which have no definite time for their operation. In India,22 we are assured, the sea-hare is never taken alive; and, we are told that, in those parts of the world, man, in his turn, acts as a poison upon the fish, which dies instantly in the sea, if it is only touched with the human finger. There, like the rest of the animals, it attains a much larger size than it does with us. 5 CHAP. 4.—MARVELS OF THE RED SEA. Juba, in those books descriptive of Arabia, which he has dedicated to Caius Cæsar, the son of Augustus, informs us that there are mussels23 on those coasts, the shells of which are capable of holding three semisextarii; and that, on one occasion, a whale,24 six hundred feet in length and three hundred and sixty feet broad,25 made its way up a river of Arabia, the blubber of which was bought up by the merchants there. He tells us, too, that in those parts they anoint their camels with the grease of all kinds of fish, for the purpose of keeping off the gad-flies26 by the smell. 6 CHAP. 5. (2.)—THE INSTINCTS OF FISHES. The statements which Ovid has made as to the instincts of fish, in the work27 of his known as the “Halieuticon,”28 appear to me truly marvellous. The scarus,29 for instance, when enclosed in the wicker kype, makes no effort to escape with its head, nor does it attempt to thrust its muzzle between the oziers; but turning its tail towards them, it enlarges the orifices with repeated blows therefrom, and so makes its escape backwards. Should,30 too, another scarus, from without, chance to see it thus struggling within the kype, it will take the tail of the other in its mouth, and so aid it in its efforts to escape. The lupus,31 again, when surrounded with the net, furrows32 the sand with its tail, and so conceals itself, until the net has passed over it. The muræna,33 trusting in the slippery smoothness34 of its rounded back, boldly faces the meshes of the net, and by repeatedly wriggling its body, makes its escape. The polyp35 makes for the hooks, and, without swallowing the bait, clasps it with its feelers; nor does it quit its hold until it has eaten off the bait, or perceives itself being drawn out of the water by the rod. The mullet,36 too, is aware37 that within the bait there is a hook concealed, and is on its guard against the ambush; still however, so great is its voracity, that it beats the hook with its tail, and strikes away from it the bait. The lupus,38 again, shows less foresight and address, but repentance at its imprudence arms it with mighty strength; for, when caught by the hook, it flounders from side to side, and so widens the wound, till at last the insidious hook falls from its mouth. The muræna39 not only swallows the hook, but catches at the line with its teeth, and so gnaws it asunder. The anthias,40 Ovid says, the moment it finds itself caught by the hook, turns its body with its back downwards, upon which there is a sharp knife-like fin, and so cuts the line asunder. According to Licinius Macer, the muræna is of the female sex only, and is impregnated by serpents, as already41 mentioned; and hence it is that the fishermen, to entice it from its retreat, and catch it, make a hissing noise in imitation of the hissing of a serpent. He states, also, that by frequently beating the water it is made to grow fat, that a blow with a stout stick will not kill it, but that a touch with a stalk of fennel-giant42 is instantly fatal. That in the case of this animal, the life is centred in the tail, there can be no doubt, as also that it dies immediately on that part of the body being struck; while, on the other hand, there is considerable difficulty in killing it with a blow upon the head. Persons who have come in contact with the razor-fish43 smell of iron.44 The hardest of all fishes, beyond a doubt, is that known as the “orbis:”45 it is spherical, destitute46 of scales, and all head.47 7 8