[87] Pliny, Hist. Nat. Bk. XXVI. chs. 1, 2, 3.
[88] Galen, De comp. med. secundum locos, edit. Kühn Vol. XII. p. 841. προσχαριζόμενον τῇ ἐξωτάτῳ γραμμῇ τοῦ λειχῆνος μικρόν τι τῶν ἀπαθῶν σωμάτων. (giving up to the external mark of the scab yet another small part of the bodies hitherto unaffected).
[89] Galen, (De comp. med. secundum locos bk. V., edit. Kühn Vol. XII. p. 830.) quotes from Criton the following description in further confirmation: Πρὸς δὲ τοὺς ἐπὶ τῶν γενείων λειχῆνας πάθος ἀηδέστατον, καὶ γὰρ κνησμοὺς ἐπιφέρει καὶ περίστασιν τῶν πεπονθότων καὶ κίνδυνον οὐκ ὀλίγον, ἕρπει γὰρ ἔστιν ὅτε καθ’ ὅλου τοῦ προσώπου, καὶ ὀφθαλμῶν ἅπτεται, καὶ σχεδὸν τῆς ἀνωτάτω δυσμορφίας ἐστὶν αἴτιον, καὶ διὰ τοῦτο χρηστέον ἂν εἴη ἐπιμελέστερον τῇ θεραπείᾳ, ἐφορῶντα τοὺς παροξυσμοὺς καὶ τὰ διαλείμματα καὶ συγκρίνοντα ἀπὸ τῶν κεχρονισμένων τὰ νεοσύστατα, ἐφ’ ὧν ἁρμόσει χρῆσθαι τοῖς ξηραίνουσι φαρμάκοις· ὅταν δ’εἰς ψώραν ἢ λέπραν μεταπέσῃ πρὸς τοῖς ξηραίνουσι χρῆσθαι καὶ τοῖς ῥύπουσιν. (But in the case of lichenes, scabs, on the chin the malady is most troublesome. Now it brings on itchings and a critical condition of the afflicted and no small danger; for it creeps sometimes over the whole face, and attacks the eyes, and generally is productive of the most utter disfigurement. Wherefore physicians should devote more than ordinary care to its treatment, watching the crises of the malady, and the intervals, and judging from the symptoms that have become chronic such as have but just broken out, on the appearance of which it will be expedient to exhibit siccative medicines. On the other hand when it has resolved itself into the itch or leprosy, exhibit cathartics in combination with the siccatives). The same is contributed also by Aëtius, Tetrab. II. serm. 4. ch. 16. Besides the discrepant statement to the effect that the eyes are attacked as well, the most noteworthy points are the crises and intervals Mentagra went through, and its passing over into Psora and Lepra (Itch and Leprosy).
[90] Galen and Aëtius, loco citato, give particulars of the composition of a number of these.
[91] Gruner, Morborum antiquitates pp. 162-171.
[92] J. C. Dieterich, Iatreum Hippocraticum, continens Narthecium medicinae veteris et novae (Hippocratic Remedies, containing a Treasury of Ancient and Modern Medicine), Ulm 1661. 4to., p. 692.
[93] Hence also Diogenes Laertius, VI. 2. 6., ἅλα λείχειν (to lick up salt).
[94] The explanation of Galen, De simpl. medicam. temperam. et facult. bk. VII. ch. 11. 6. (edit. Kühn, XII. p. 57.): λειχὴν ὠνομάσθαι δ’οὕτω δοκεῖ διὰ τὸ λειχῆνας θεραπεύειν (and it seems lichen,—moss, is so called because it cures lichenes,—scabs), is hardly likely to find any one else to subscribe to it.
[95] Aristophanes, Knights 1280-1283. In the Wasps, 1280-1283, Aristophanes says, speaking of the same Ariphrades:
Εἶτ’Ἀριφράδην πολύ τι θυμοσοφικώτατον,