Here is the preceding sentence, “which will better elucidate Galen’s meaning: To drink sweat, urine or menses is an abominable and detestable practice; human excrements still more so, in spite of what Xenocrates has written about their beneficial action when applied in lieu of ointment about the mouth or throat, or when swallowed. He has also spoken of the absorption through the mouth of ear-wax. I myself could not make up my mind to eat of them, though it were to cure my sickness right off. Of all abominable things the most abominable, I think, are human excrements.” Footnote 65: Tacitus, _Annals_, XI., 26. Footnote 66: We will here reproduce the curious passage of Jean Burchard, to whom we owe this story. It is taken from his _Diarium_, edited by Leibnitz, in 1696, p. 77: “On the last Sunday in October the Duke of Valentinois had invited to supper in his chamber” (the chamber of Alexander VI), “in the Apostolical palace, fifty beautiful prostitutes, called courtesans, who, after supper danced with the valets and other persons present, first in their clothes, and then naked. After this the table, chandeliers were placed on the floor here and there, with lighted candles, and chestnuts were thrown about, which the courtesans collected moving on their hands and knees quite naked among the chandeliers, the Pope, the Duke and his sister Lucrezia being present and looking on. Finally presents were brought in: silk mantles, pairs of shoes, head-dresses, and other objects, to be given to those who had copulated with the greatest number of these courtesans: they were publicly enjoyed in the room there, the lookers-on acting as umpires, and awarding the prizes to the victors.” Footnote 67: Nola was a city in the territory of the Campanians. It is for this reason that the _Campanian malady_, mentioned by Horace (_Sat. I._, V., 62), has been connected with debauchery, but without sufficient reason. Footnote 68: Varro, is his _Marcipor_, according to Nonius: “He introduced afterwards into his gullet the virile verge: he offends the mouth of Volumnus.” Footnote 69: Martial, III., 75: “You make it your work to corrupt pure lips for gold.” And Again II., 28: “Not even Vetustilla’s warm mouth give you more pleasure.” Footnote 70: “How accustomed he was to assault the heads of the most illustrious women, is plainly evidenced by the adventure of Mallonia, who, debauched by him, refused to submit to him again. He caused her to be accused by his informers, and kept asking her during her trial, whether she had anything to reproach herself with. Without waiting for the verdict, she ran home and transfixed herself with a poniard, upbraiding loudly the foul, hairy dotard for having wanted to abuse her mouth.” (Suetonius, _Tiberius_, ch. 45). Footnote 71: