Fire even has certain medicinal virtues of its own. When pestilences prevail, in consequence of the obscuration[2849] of the sun, it is a well-known fact, that if fires are lighted, they are productive of beneficial results in numerous ways. Empedocles and Hippocrates have proved this in several passages.
“For convulsions or contusions of the viscera,” says M. Varro—for it is his own words that I use—“let the hearth be your medicine-box; for lie of ashes,[2850] taken from thence, mixed with your drink, will effect a cure. Witness the gladiators, for example, who, when disabled at the Games, refresh themselves with this drink.” Carbuncle too, a kind of disease which, as already[2851] stated, has recently carried off two persons of consular rank, admits of being successfully treated with oak-charcoal,[2852] triturated with honey. So true is it that things which are despised even, and looked upon as so utterly destitute of all virtues, have still their own remedial properties, charcoal and ashes for example.
CHAP. 70.—PRODIGIES CONNECTED WITH THE HEARTH.
I must not omit too, one portentous fact connected with the hearth, and famous in Roman history. In the reign of Tarquinius Priscus, it is said, there appeared upon his hearth a resemblance of the male generative organ in the midst of the ashes. The captive Ocrisia, a servant of Queen Tanaquil, who happened to be sitting there, arose from her seat in a state of pregnancy, and became the mother of Servius Tullius, who eventually succeeded to the throne.[2853] It is stated, too, that while the child was sleeping in the palace, a flame was seen playing round his head; the consequence of which was, that it was believed that the Lar of the household was his progenitor. It was owing to this circumstance, we are informed, that the Compitalia,[2854] games in honour of the Lares, were instituted.
Summary.—Remedies mentioned, eighty-nine. Facts and narratives, four hundred and thirty-four.
Roman Authors quoted.—M. Varro,[2855] Cælius,[2856] Galba,[2857] Cincius,[2858] Mucianus,[2859] Nepos Cornelius,[2860] L. Piso,[2861] Q. Tubero,[2862] Fabius Vestalis,[2863] Annius Fetialis,[2864] Fabianus,[2865] Seneca,[2866] Cato the Censor,[2867] Vitruvius.[2868]
Foreign Authors quoted.—Theophrastus,[2869] Pasiteles,[2870] King Juba,[2871] Nicander,[2872] Sotacus,[2873] Sudines,[2874] Alexander[2875] Polyhistor, Apion,[2876] Plistonicus,[2877] Duris,[2878] Herodotus,[2879] Euhemerus,[2880] Aristagoras,[2881] Dionysius,[2882] Artemidorus,[2883] Butoridas,[2884] Antisthenes,[2885] Demetrius,[2886] Demoteles,[2887] Lyceas.[2888]