The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Natural History of Pliny, Volume V., by Pliny the Elder.

2956 Ἄλφος; from which the lake probably derived its name. It has been suggested that the source of the river Anigrus in Elis is meant. Its waters had an offensive smell, and its fish were not eatable; and near it were caverns sacred to the Nymphs Anigrides, where persons with cutaneous diseases were cured. The water of these caverns is impregnated with sulphur.

2957 Possibly the M. Titius who was proscribed by the Triumvirs, B.C. 43, and escaped to Sex. Pompeius in Sicily.

2958 See B. v. c. 22.

2959 “Cassius Parmensis.” See the end of this Book.

2960 According to some authorities, he alludes to the still famous waters of Spa; but it is more probable that he alludes to the spring still in existence at the adjacent town of Tongres, which was evidently well known to the Romans, and is still called the “Fountain of Pliny.”

2961 The springs on the present Monte Posilippo.

2962 This work is lost. Chifflet suggests that “Varro” should be read. See, however, B. vii. c. 2, B. xxix. c. 16 and c. 28 of this Book. It was a common-place book, probably, of curious facts.

2963 See B. ii. c. 106, where a growing rock in the marsh of Reate is mentioned.

2964 In Thessaly. A mere fable, no doubt.

2965 Ovid, Met. xv. 315, et seq., tells very nearly the same fabulous story about the rivers Crathis and Sybaris.

2966 This marvellous story appears to have been derived from the works of Aristotle.

2967 Near the town of Lebadea, now Livadhia.

2968 One called “Mnemosyne” or Memory, and the other “Lethe,” or Forgetfulness.

2969 From the Greek νοῦς “spirit,” “mind,” or “intelligence.” Ajasson thinks it possible that its water may have assuaged vertigo, or accelerated the circulation of the blood, and that thence its reputation.

2970 A fable invented by the priests, Ajasson thinks.

2971 See Ovid, Met. xv. 322. It seems to be uncertain whether it was at this lake or the adjoining spring of Lusi above-mentioned, that the daughters of Prœtus were purified by Melampus. See the “Eliaca” of Pausanias.

2972 In B. ii. c. 106.

2973 See B. ii. c. 106. As Ajasson remarks, Mucianus should have had the sense to see that it was only a juggle of the priests of Bacchus. He compares it to the miracle of the blood of St. Januarius at Naples. The contrivance of the priests of Bel was not very dissimilar; but in their case, they themselves were the real recipients of what the god was supposed to devour.

2974 He no doubt alludes to “petroleum,” rock-oil, or Barbadoes tar.

2975 So called from the Greek λιπαρὸς, “unctuous.”

2976 A new reading given by Sillig in place of “India,” the former one. Tasitia is the name of a district mentioned by Ptolemy, iv. 7, 15, as being in Æthiopia. He alludes to a burning spring, probably, of naphtha or of petroleum. The burning springs of Bakou in the East are well known. Genoa is lighted with naphtha from the village of Amiano, in Parma.

2978 “Lacum insanum.”

2979 Juba has been deceived, Ajasson remarks, by the tales of travellers, there being no serpents of this length in Africa, except boas. He thinks that large congers, and other similar fishes, may be the animals really alluded to.

2980 From κλαίειν, “to weep,” and γελᾷν, “to laugh.”

2981 His credulity, we have seen already, was pretty extensive.

2983 At the town called “Aquæ Mattiacæ,” the modern Wiesbaden.

2984 In B. ii. c. 106.

2985 Sotion, professing to quote from Ctesias, says that it rejected everything placed on its waters, and hurled it back upon dry land.

2986 Whence, as it was said, its name, ἄορνος, “Without birds.” Strabo ridicules this story.

2987 M. Douville says that in the interior of Africa there is a lake called Kalonga Kouffoua, or the Dead Lake, the surface of which is covered with bitumen and naphtha, which contains no fish, has oleaginous waters, and presents all the phænomena of the Dead Sea.

2989 Hardouin is of opinion that a river also was so called. See B. v. c. 43. Of the divinity of this name, nothing further is known.

2990 A story evidently connected with a kind of ordeal.

2991 See B. iv. c. 34. Intermittent springs are not uncommon. See B. ii. c. 106.

2992 See B. xix. c. 11.

2993 According to Elias of Thisbe this river was the Goza; but Holstenius says that it was the Eleutherus, or one of its tributaries. Josephus says that it flowed on the Sabbath day, and was dry the other six.

2994 Ajasson thinks that he means, grey. He remarks also, that it is a matter of doubt whether there are any fishes that are poisonous.

2996 In B. ii. c. 106, see also B. xxx. c. 53.

2997 See B. iii. c. 14, and B. xviii. c. 21.

2998 In B. iv. c. 15.

2999 He alludes, according to Dalechamps, to the Eurotas, a tributary, and not the source, of the Peneus. See B. iv. c. 8.

3000 “Siliquà.”

3001 A town of Mysia, south of Adramyttium.

3002 As Ajasson remarks, numerous instances are known of this at the present day. Pliny, however, does not distinguish the incrusting springs from the petrifying springs.

3003 In Thessaly, according to Hecatæus.

3004 “Lateres.” He means unburnt bricks, probably.

3005 He alludes to stalactites and stalagmites.

3006 Both on the roof and on the floor.

3007 In Caria, opposite Rhodes.

3008 Rain-water really is the lightest, but the reason here given is frivolous, for it does not ascend as water, but as vapour.

3009 See B. ii. c. 38. Before venturing on this argument, he should have been certain as to the circumstances under which aërolites are generated, a question which still remains hidden in mystery.

3010 Ajasson remarks that this is only the case in the water of heavy falls of rain after long drought.

3011 “Calefiat.”

3012 Snow-water is pernicious in a very high degree, being the fruitful source of goitre and cretinism.

3013 See B. xvii. c. 44, and B. xviii. c. 68.

3014 This is somewhat similar to what is said of the putrefaction and purification of Thames water, on a voyage.

3015 “Inutilis alvo duritia faucibusque.” The passage is probably corrupt.

3016 See B. vi. c. 27.

3017 Or “mud”—“limus.” All rivers of necessity have it, in a greater or less degree.

3018 On the contrary, the more the mud and slime, the more numerous the eels.

3020 Waters, probably, impregnated with mineral alkali. As to the “nitrum” of Pliny, see c. 46 of this Book.

3021 “Salmacidas.”

3023 Also, Ajasson says, to observe whether soap will melt in it. If it will not, it is indicative of the presence of selenite.

3024 As drinking water.

3025 As Plautus says of women, Mostell, A. i. S. 3—“They smell best, when they smell of nothing at all.”

3026 See B. xv. c. 32.

3027 In purity and tastelessness. As Ajasson observes, Pliny could hardly appreciate the correctness of this remark, composed as water is of two gases, oxygen and hydrogen.

3028 Pausanias and Athenæus mention also the well of Mothone in Peloponnesus, the water of which exhaled the odour of the perfumes of Cyzicus. Such water, however, must of necessity be impure.

3029 More probably Astarte, Fée thinks, Juno being unknown in Mesopotamia.

3030 “Statera.” Ajasson remarks that it does not require an instrument very nicely adjusted to indicate the difference in weight between pure and very impure water. Synesius, Ep. xv., gives an account of the “hydroscopium” used by the ancients for ascertaining the weight of water. Beckmann enters into a lengthy examination of it, as also an enquiry into the question whether the ancients, and among them Pliny, were acquainted with the hydrometer. See his Hist. Inv. Vol. II. pp. 163-169. Bohn’s Ed.

3031 “Ne manus pendeant.” These words, which Hardouin pronounces to be full of obscurity, have caused considerable discussion. The passage appears to be imperfect, but it is not improbable that he alludes to the use of the balance or scales for ascertaining the comparative wholesomeness of water.

3032 “Corripiat.”

3033 The thread of his reasoning is not very perceptible; but he seems to mean that the more air there is in a body the colder it is. If the air is inhaled by a person when eating peppermint, he will be sensible of a cold feeling in the mouth.

3034 Galen believes this method to have been known to Hippocrates, and Aristotle was undoubtedly acquainted with it. See Beckmann’s Hist. Inv. Vol. II. pp. 143-4. Bohn’s Ed.

3035 This is not at all the opinion at the present day.

3036 “Magis refrigerari.” The experiments made by Mariotte, Perrault, the Academy del Cimento, Mariana, and others, showed no perceptible difference in the time of freezing, between boiled and unboiled water; but the former produced ice harder and clearer, the latter ice more full of blisters. In later times, Dr. Black, of Edinburgh, has from his experiments asserted the contrary. “Boiled water,” he says, “becomes ice sooner than unboiled, if the latter be left at perfect rest.” Beckmann’s Hist. Inv. Vol. II. p. 145. Bohn’s Ed.

3037 “Subtilissimo invento.”

3038 Or perhaps, as we say, “to the touch, and vice versâ.” The original is “Alternante hoc bono.”

3039 A considerable number of its arches are yet standing, and it still in part supplies Rome with water.

3040 At Sublaqueum, now Subiaco.

3041 “Primus auspicatus est.” In obedience to the “auspices,” probably.

3042 In A.U.C. 720. See B. xxxvi. c. 24.

3043 “Aqua Virgo.” This aqueduct, erected A.U.C. 735, still exists, and bears the name of “Aqua Vergine.”

3044 Another story was, that it had this name from the circumstance that the spring was first pointed out by a girl to some soldiers in search of water.

3045 In c. 23 of this Book.

3046 This was only temporarily, in all probability.

3047 There seems, as he says below, to be no general rule as to this point.

3048 So called from the snow on their summit.

3049 In B. xxvi. c. 16.

3050 “Salix erratica.”

3051 Surely not the reed, as he has mentioned it above as one of the indications to be depended upon. In one MS. it appears to be omitted, and with justice, probably.

3054 “Sabulum masculum.” Coarse, reddish sand, Dalechamps says.

3056 See B. xvii. c. 3.

3057 An inconvenience neutralized in a considerable degree by Davy’s invention of the safety-lamp.

3058 “Arenatum.” Properly a mortar, which consisted of one part lime and two parts sand.

3060 See B. iv. c. 11. At Bisley, in Surrey, there is a spring, Aubrey says, that is cold in summer and warm in winter.

3061 See B. xviii. c. 7.

3062 The sandy soil being dried in hot weather into masses of mud or clay, which become loosened when rain falls.

3063 See B. ii. c. 106.

3064 Ajasson remarks, that just the converse of this has been proved by modern experience to be the case.

3065 The son of Antipater, then acting for Alexander during his absence in the East.

3066 See B. ii. c. 84.

3068 Whether he means the district of Thessaly so called, or one of the two cities of that name in Lydia, does not appear to be known.

3069 Its locality is unknown, but it was probably near the sea-shore.

3070 In Elis in Peloponnesus.

3071 His credulity is influenced by the popular story that the river Alpheus in Peloponnesus, in its love for the Fountain Nymph Arethusa, penetrated beneath the bed of the sea, and reappeared in Sicily. See B. iii. c. 14.

3073 The modern Dnieper.

3075 See B. xviii. c. 3, and the Introduction to Vol. III.

3076 In jets, he means.

3077 “Si quinariæ erunt.”

3079 “Quinaria.”

3080 The name given to these reservoirs was “castellum” or “dividiculum:” in French the name is “regard.” Vitruvius describes them, B. vii. c. 7.

3081 Pliny appears to have forgotten the warm springs of the Scamander, mentioned by Homer in the Iliad, B. xxii. l. 147, et seq.

3082 Or rather, as Ajasson says, for cutaneous diseases.

3083 See B. iii. c. 17.

3084 In conformity with Sillig’s suggestion, we reject “atque” as an interpolation.

3086 In spite of what Pliny says, in some cases the use of a mineral bath is recommended for a long period of time together. At Leuk or Læch, for instance, in the Valais, the patients, Ajasson says, remain in the bath as much as eight hours together.

3087 To promote expectoration, Dalechamps says; or rather vomiting, according to Holland.

3088 This substance, Ajasson says, is still used in medicine; that of the waters of Silvanez, for example, in the department of Aveyron, is highly celebrated for the cure of inveterate ulcers and sciatica. The mud baths, too, of Saint Amand, enjoy an European reputation.

3089 See B. ii c. 106.

3090 In B. xxiv. c. 19, and B. xxviii. c. 14.

3091 An elder brother of the philosopher Seneca. His original name was M. Annæus Noratus; but upon being adopted by the rhetorician Junius Gallio, he changed his name into L. Junius Annæus—or Annæanus—Gallio. He destroyed himself, A.D. 65.

3092 He was “Consul subrogatus” only.

3093 “Malagmatis.”

3094 It acts in most cases as an emetic, and is highly dangerous if taken in considerable quantities.

3095 It is still considered useful, Ajasson says, for the treatment of lymphatic diseases.

3097 Or “spitter.” See B. xxviii. c. 18.

3098 “Mammas sororiantes.” A malady, according to Dalechamps, in which the mamillæ are so distended with milk that they kiss, like sisters—“sorores.”

3099 The ancients being unable to analyze sea-water, could only imitate it very clumsily.

3100 “Sea-water honey.”

3101 See B. xiv. c. 20, and B. xxii. c. 51. He is speaking, probably, of fermented hydromel, a sort of mead.

3102 The joints being rendered more supple thereby.

3103 He probably means sea-water, alluding to certain kinds of sea-weed. Dioscorides speaks of it, in B. iv. c. 99, as being good for gout. It is, in reality, of some small utility in such cases.