The seven books of Paulus Ægineta, volume 1 (of 3) : $b translated from the Greek: with a commentary embracing a complete view of the knowledge possessed by the Greeks, Romans, and Arabians on all subjects connected with medicine and surgeryPaulus, Aegineta
History
The seven books of Paulus Ægineta, volume 1 (of 3) : $b translated from the Greek: with a commentary embracing a complete view of the knowledge possessed by the Greeks, Romans, and Arabians on all subjects connected with medicine and surgery
Paulus, Aegineta
Medicine; Medicine, Arab; Medicine, Greek and Roman
The labrax, or lupus, has been taken for the pike. But Aristotle,
Oppian, and Cassidorus describe it as being a cunning fish, which does
not accord with the character of the pike. Bochart concludes that it is
the fish called λαύρακι, by the modern Greeks; _varolo_, by the Italians;
and _bar_, by the French. It seems indisputable that it was the bass, i.
e. _labrax lupus_ Cuvier. Icesius, as quoted by Athenæus, says of it,
that it contains good juices, but is not very nutritious, nor readily
evacuated, but is the most delicious of all fishes. Archestratus calls it
“the offspring of the gods.” All the authorities, in a word, speak highly
of it. Lupi caught in the Tiber were esteemed the best. See Horace (Sat.
ii, 2,) and Macrobius (Saturn. iii, 16.) There were two species, the
lanatus and the varius, of which the former was in most esteem.
The pike is unquestionably the “_lucius_” of Ausonius (_Mosella_); but it
seems doubtful whether it be noticed by the Greek writers. The _hepatus_
would seem to be a congener. Galen says its flesh is intermediate between
the soft and the hard.
The barb (_cyprinus barbus_ L.) is not described by the Greeks, but is
mentioned by the Latin poet Ausonius (l. c.) who says of it that it is
the only fish which is improved by age.
The rhombus was esteemed a remarkable delicacy. The classical reader will
recollect the ludicrous importance attached to the capture of one by the
flatterers of Domitian, as described in the 4th Satire of Juvenal. It is
frequently made honorable mention of by Horace and Martial. According to
Harduin and Nonnius, it was the turbot, yet not the common turbot of this
country (_pleuronectus maximus_), but the species called _carrelet_ in
French (_P. rhombus_ L.) Athenæus calls it sweet and nutritious. Celsus
ranks it among “res boni succi.” According to Athenæus, it is the same as
the ψήττα of Aristotle. It is, we suppose, the ψίσσα of Alexander (ii,
6.) It is the ψίσιον of Seth (V. Notæ Bogdani). He calls it wholesome and
of easy digestion.
The cephalus was a species of the mullet, as is stated by Harduin (ad
Plinii Hist. Nat. ix, 26); Schneider (ad Æliani Nat. Anim. i, 12); and
Ludovicus Nonnius. It is the _mugil cephalus_ L. Oppian describes the
fishing of it in the most striking manner. Galen remarks that the flesh
of it differs much in quality, according to the nature of the place in
which it is found. Athenæus ranks it among the fishes which are sweet
and nutritious. Simeon Seth and Aëtius say that the river mullet is
bad for the stomach, indigestible, and apt to form phlegm. It appears
from Anaxilas, as quoted by Athenæus, that its head was in most repute.
Archestratus says that it is best in the winter season.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account