The stamp itself is, as usual, formed out of a greenish-coloured steatite. The stone is of the figure of a parallelogram, nearly two and a half inches in length, and with inscriptions cut upon two of its sides. There is a roundish projection at either extremity of the stone, as seen in the accompanying lithograph (Plate I., No. I., Figs. 1, 2, 3), where the stone and letters of the two inscriptions are, in every respect, faithfully copied from the original as to form and size. The letters are, as in all other similar medicine-stamps, cut incuse and reversed, so as to read from left to right when the inscription was stamped upon any impressible material. Fig. 2 shows one of the inscriptions as it appears cut intagliate upon the stone. Fig. 3 presents an accurate copy of this inscription as it is seen when stamped upon wax. Fig. 1 is an equally faithful copy of the second inscription placed on the opposite side of the stone. It will be observed that, as in the original, the size of the lettering varies on the two sides. The lettering on the two sides (1 and 2) runs thus, as it stands inscribed upon the stone:— 1. LVALLATINIEVODESADCI CATRICESETASPRITUDIN 2. LVALLATINIAPALOCRO CODESADDIATHESIS The two inscriptions read as follows, when we separate the individual words composing them from each other:— 1. L VALLATINI EVODES AD CI- CATRICES ET ASPRITUDIN 2. L VALLATINI APALOCRO- CODES AD DIATHESIS. Let us endeavour to interpret each of these inscriptions in detail, supplying the elisions and contractions which exist in almost all Roman inscriptions; but which are less in this seal than in most others. 1. L(_ucii?_) VALLATINI EVODES AD CICATRICES ET ASP_e_RITUDIN_es_.—_Lucius Vallatinus’ Evodes for cicatrices and granulations._ Several of the collyria derived, as I have already observed, their designation from some special physical character. The present instance is an example in point, the appellation _Evodes_ (εὐώδες) being derived from the pleasant odour (εὐ, well, and ὄζω, I smell) of the composition. Marcellus, in his work _De Medicamentis_, specially praises the collyrium known under the name of _Evodes_; and that too in the class of eye-diseases mentioned on the Tranent seal. For, in his collection of remedies for removing ulcers, cicatrices, etc., of the eyes and eyelids, he recommends (to use his own words) “præcipue hoc quod quidam Diasmyrnon, nonnulli _Evodes_, quia boni odoris est, nominant.” And he directs the _Evodes_ to be dissolved and diluted in water, and introduced into the eyes with a probe, or after inverting the eyelid, when it was used with the view of extenuating recent cicatrices of the eyes, and removing granulations of the eyelids,—“ex aqua autem ad cicatrices recentes extenuendas, et palpebrarum asperitudinem tollendam teri debet, et subjecto specillo aut inversa palpebra, oculis inseri.”[444]