CHAP. 120.—MALADIES PECULIAR TO VARIOUS NATIONS.
There are certain differences, also, by no means inconsiderable, in the predispositions of the various nations of the earth. I have been informed, for instance, that the people of Egypt, Arabia, Syria, and Cilicia, are subject to tapeworm and maw-worm, while those of Thracia and Phrygia, on the other hand, are totally exempt from them. This, however, is less surprising than the fact that, although Attica and Bœotia are adjoining territories, the Thebans are troubled with these inflictions, while among the people of Athens they are unknown.
Considerations of this description lead me now to turn my attention to the nature of the animated beings themselves, and the medicinal properties which are inborn in them, the most assured remedies, perhaps, for all diseases.
For Nature, in fact, that parent of all things, has produced no animated being for the purpose solely of eating; she has willed that it should be born to satisfy the wants of others, and in its very vitals has implanted medicaments conducive to health. While she has implanted them in mute[2030] and inanimate objects even, she has equally willed that these, the most invaluable aids of life, should be also derived from the life of another—a subject for contemplation, marvellous in the highest degree![2031]
Summary.—Remedies, narratives, and observations, six hundred and two.
Roman authors quoted.—Caius Valgius,[2032] Pompeius Lenæus,[2033] Sextius Niger[2034] who wrote in Greek, Julius Bassus[2035] who wrote in Greek, Antonius Castor,[2036] Cornelius Celsus.[2037]
Foreign authors quoted.—Theophrastus,[2038] Apollodorus,[2039] Democritus,[2040] Aristogiton,[2041] Orpheus,[2042] Pythagoras,[2043] Mago,[2044] Menander[2045] who wrote the “Biochresta,” Nicander.[2046]
Medical authors quoted.—Mnesitheus,[2047] Timaristus,[2048] Simus,[2049] Hippocrates,[2050] Chrysippus,[2051] Diocles,[2052] Ophelion,[2053] Heraclides,[2054] Hicesius,[2055] Dionysius,[2056] Apollodorus[2057] of Citium, Apollodorus[2058] of Tarentum, Praxagoras,[2059] Plistonicus,[2060] Medius,[2061] Dieuches,[2062] Cleophantus,[2063] Philistion,[2064] Asclepiades,[2065] Crateuas,[2066] Petronius Diodotus,[2067] Iollas,[2068] Erasistratus,[2069] Diagoras,[2070] Andreas,[2071] Mnesides,[2072] Epicharmus,[2073] Damion,[2074] Tlepolemus,[2075] Metrodorus,[2076] Solo,[2077] Lycus,[2078] Olympias[2079] of Thebes, Philinus,[2080] Petrichus,[2081] Micton,[2082] Glaucias,[2083] Xenocrates.[2084]
⁂ Before quitting the Botanical Books of Pliny, it is a duty both to our author and to the reader, to call attention to the illustrations of a few passages in this work, which will be found in the Textrinum Antiquorum, by Dr. James Yates, F.R.S., a book characterized by learning, equally profound and extensive, and the most indefatigable research: it being but recently, we are sorry to say, that we have been made acquainted with its valuable contents.
The following are selected as among the most useful and interesting results of his enquiries.