CHAP. 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.
For the cure of spleen diseases, the fish known as the sole1 is applied to that part; the torpedo,2 also, or else a live turbot;3 it being then set at liberty in the sea. The seascorpion,4 killed in wine, is a cure for diseases of the bladder and for urinary calculi; the stone, also, that is found in the tail5 of this last fish, taken in drink, in doses of one obolus; the liver of the enhydris;6 and the ashes of the fish called "blendius;7 taken with rue. In the head, too, of the fish called "bacchus,"8 there are found certain small stones, as it were: these, taken in water, six in number, are an excellent cure for urinary calculi. They say, too, that the sea-nettle,9 taken in wine, is very useful for this purpose, as also the pulmo marinus,10 boiled in water, The eggs of the sæpia have a diuretic effect, and carry off pituitous humours from the kidneys. Ruptures and convulsions are very effectually treated by taking river-crabs,11 bruised in asses' milk more particularly; and urinary calculi by drinking sea-urchins pounded, spines and all, in wine; the due proportion being one semisextarius of wine for each urchin, and the treatment being continued till its good effects are visible. The flesh, too, of the sea-urchin, taken as food, is very useful as a remedy for the same malady.Scallops12 also, taken as food, act detergently upon the bladder: the male fish is by some persons called "donax," and by others "aulos," the female being known as "onyx."13 The male scallop has a diuretic effect: the flesh of the female is sweeter than that of the male, and of an uniform colour. The eggs, too, of the sæpia promote the urinary secretions, and act detergently upon the kidneys.
