SECT. LII.—THOSE THINGS WHICH EXTRACT SHAFTS, JAVELINS, THORNS, AND THE LIKE.
Javelins, reeds, and shafts, and thorns, are extracted by the two pimpernels, the round birthwort, ammoniac with honey, the fruit of henbane triturated and sprinkled upon the part. Mix the pounded root of calamus with honey, put it into a piece of linen, and use in great quantity; it will speedily extract them.
Commentary. This subject will be more fully treated of in the [Sixth Book].
Our author copies from Oribasius. (Synops. vii, 17.)
Most of the articles here enumerated are mentioned by Dioscorides as possessing strongly attractive properties. Avicenna, Rhases, and Haly Abbas, speak of similar articles, without any new remedies of consequence. See in particular Haly. (Pract. iv, 24.)
The applications mentioned by Pliny are ridiculous. (H. N. xxx, 42, and xxxii, 43.)