referred to, while describing the method of treating haemorrhoids by the ligature: 'By means of the forceps for applying caustic to haemorrhoids, or the forceps for applying caustic to the uvula (τῷ αἱμορροϊδοκαύστῃ ἢ τῷ σταφυλοκαύστῃ), we surround them close to the jaws of the instrument (πρὸς τὰ χείλη) with a five-ply thread of lint, and strangle the haemorrhoids separately with this ligature.' It would seem then that, just as there was a long instrument for crushing the uvula and a short one for crushing haemorrhoids, there were corresponding instruments for cauterizing these parts, probably differing from each other only in the length of the handle. The passage above quoted has given much trouble to the scribes and commentators apparently from a lack of knowledge of the instrument referred to. About a third of the codices omit τῷ αἱμορροϊδοκαύστῃ, and Cornarius and Dalechamps reject the words τῷ αἱμορροϊδοκαύστῃ ἢ τῷ σταφυλοκαύστῃ as superfluous and interpolated. Apparently they were unaware that both instruments were forceps of similar principle but different lengths, and quite suitable for putting a haemorrhoid on the stretch. The reason why these instruments are preferred, for this purpose, to the staphylagra is apparently that not being toothed like the latter instrument they would be both less painful and less likely to cause bleeding. _Pharyngeal Forceps._ Greek, ὁ ἀκανθοβόλος. Paul (VI. xxxii) describes a forceps for removing foreign bodies from the pharynx: 'Prickles, fish-bones and other substances are swallowed in eating and stick in different places. Wherefore such as can be seen we are to extract with the special fish-bone forceps' (τοῖς ἰδίως ἀκανθοβόλοις προσαγορευομένοις ἐξέλκομεν). This is the only reference to the acanthobolus I have met with, and it gives us no information as to the appearance of the instrument. It is noteworthy, however, that Paul in his chapter on the removal of spiny bodies from the pharynx is copying Aetius, and the instrument Aetius names is an epilation forceps. He says 'bones stick near the tonsil or back of the pharynx and can be seen, and if a considerable part projects out of the tonsil it can be removed with an epilation forceps (τριχολαβίῳ)'. A forceps of the epilation type, but angled in its length, is figured by Védrènes. It was found in Pompeii. This forceps is eminently suitable for pharyngeal work (Pl. XXXII, fig. 1). Albucasis figures an acanthobolus with an up-and-down, not lateral, movement. CHAPTER VI BLEEDING CUPS, CLYSTERS, ETC. _Bleeding Cups._ Greek, σικύα, κύαθος; Latin, _cucurbitula_.