It is not so long since that indicum[1168] was first imported to Rome, the price being seventeen[1169] denarii per pound. Painters make use of it for incisures, or in other words, the division of shadows from light. There is also a lomentum of very inferior quality, known to us as “ground” lomentum, and valued at only five asses per pound.
The mode of testing the genuineness of cæruleum, is to see whether it emits a flame, on being laid upon burning coals. One method of adulterating it is to boil dried violets in water, and then to strain the liquor through linen into Eretrian[1170] clay.
CHAP. 58.—TWO REMEDIES DERIVED FROM CÆRULEUM.
Cæruleum has the medicinal property of acting as a detergent upon ulcers. Hence it is, that it is used as an ingredient in plasters, as also in cauteries. As to sil, it is pounded with the greatest difficulty: viewed as a medicament, it is slightly mordent and astringent, and fills up the cavities left by ulcers. To make it the more serviceable, it is burnt in earthen vessels.
The prices of things, which I have in different places annexed, vary, I am well aware, according to the locality, and experience a change almost every year: variations dependent upon the opportunities afforded for navigation, and the terms upon which the merchant may have purchased the article. It may so happen, too, that some wealthy dealer has engrossed the market, and so enhanced the price: for I am by no means forgetful of the case of Demetrius, who in the reign of the Emperor Nero was accused before the consuls by the whole community of the Seplasia.[1171] Still, however, I have thought it necessary to annex the usual price of each commodity at Rome, in order to give some idea of their relative values.
Summary.—Remedies, narratives, and observations, one thousand one hundred and twenty-five.
Roman Authors quoted.—Domitianus Cæsar,[1172] Junius Gracchanus,[1173] L. Piso,[1174] Verrius,[1175] M. Varro,[1176] Corvinus,[1177] Atticus Pomponius,[1178] Calvus Licinius,[1179] Cornelius Nepos,[1180] Mucianus,[1181] Bocchus,[1182] Fetialis,[1183] Fenestella,[1184] Valerius Maximus,[1185] Julius Bassus[1186] who wrote on Medicine in Greek, Sextius Niger[1187] who did the same.
Foreign Authors quoted.—Theophrastus,[1188] Democritus,[1189] Juba,[1190] Timæus[1191] the historian, who wrote on Metallic Medicines, Heraclides,[1192] Andreas,[1193] Diagoras,[1194] Botrys,[1195] Archidemus,[1196] Dionysius,[1197] Aristogenes,[1198] Democles,[1199] Mnesides,[1200] Attalus[1201] the physician, Xenocrates[1202] the son of Zeno, Theomnestus,[1203] Nymphodorus,[1204] Iollas,[1205] Apollodorus,[1206] Pasiteles[1207] who wrote on Wonderful Works, Antigonus[1208] who wrote on the Toreutic art, Menæchmus[1209] who did the same, Xenocrates[1210] who did the same, Duris[1211] who did the same, Menander[1212] who wrote on Toreutics, Heliodorus[1213] who wrote on the Votive Offerings of the Athenians, Metrodorus[1214] of Scepsis.