Plinius über den Käse als Heilmittel

 

Pliny the Elder: Naturalis Historia, 79 AD

 

Latin text by Bill Thayer

http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Pliny_the_Elder/home.html

 

English translation by John Bostock and H. T. Riley, 1855

http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?lookup=Plin.+Nat.+toc

 

 

Liber 11

xcvii

240-242

 

240. Laus caseo Romae, ubi omnium gentium bona comminus iudicantur, e provinciis Nemausensi praecipua, Lesurae Gabalicoque pagis, sed brevis ac musteo tantum commendatio.

duobus Alpes generibus pabula sua adprobant: Delmaticae Docleatem mittunt, Ceutronicae Vatusicum.

241. numerosior Appennino: Cebanum hic e Liguria mittit ovium maxime lacte, Sassinatem ex Umbria mixtoque Etruriae atque Liguriae confinio Luniensem magnitudine conspicuum, quippe et ad singula milia pondo premitur, proximum autem urbi Vestinum eumque a Caedicio campo laudatissimum. et caprarum gregibus sua laus est, in recenti maxime augente gratiam fumo, qualis in ipsa urbe conficitur cunctis praeferendus; nam Galliarum sapor medicamenti vim optinet.

242. trans maria vero Bithynus fere in gloria est. inesse pabulis salem, etiam ubi non detur, ita maxime intellegitur, omni in salem caseo senescente, quales redire in musteum saporem aceto et thymo maceratos certum est. tradunt Zoroastren in desertis caseo vixisse annis XX ita temperato, ut vetustatem non sentiret.

 

English translation

Chap 97 (42)

 

Various kinds of cheese

 

The kinds of cheese that are most esteemed at Rome, where the various good things of all nations are to be judged of by comparison, are those which come from the provinces of Nemausus [1], and more especially the villages there of Lesura and Gabalis [2]; but its excellence is only very short-lived, and it must be eaten while it is fresh.

The pastures of the Alps recommend themselves by two sorts of cheese; the Dalmatic Alps send us the Docleatian [3] cheese, and the Centronian [4] Alps the Vatusican.

The kinds produced in the Apennines are more numerous; from Liguria we have the cheese of Ceba [5], which is mostly made from the milk of sheep; from Umbria we have that of Æsina, and from the frontiers of Etruria and Liguria those of Luna, remarkable for their vast size, a single cheese weighing as much as a thousand pounds. Nearer the City, again, we have the cheese of Vestinum, the best of this kind being that which comes from the territory of Ceditium [6].

Goats also produce a cheese which has been of late held in the highest esteem, its flavour being heightened by smoking it. The cheese of this kind which is made at Rome is considered preferable to any other; for that which is made in Gaul has a strong taste, like that of medicine.

Of the cheeses that are made beyond sea, that of  Bithynia [7] is usually considered the first in quality.

That salt exists in pasture-lands is pretty evident, from the fact that all cheese as it grows old contracts a saltish flavour, even where it does not appear to any great extent [8]; while at the same time it is equally well known that cheese soaked in a mixture of thyme and vinegar will regain its original fresh flavour. It is said that Zoroaster lived thirty years in the wilderness upon cheese, prepared in such a peculiar manner, that he was insensible to the advances of old age.

 

1 Nismes, in France. Hardouin speaks of goats'-milk cheeses made in its neighbourhood, and known as fromages de Baux.

2 Probably the modern Losere and Gevaudan. See B. iv. c. 19.

3 For the Docleatæ, see B. iii. c. 26.

4 For the Centrones see B. iii. c. 24. He perhaps refers to the modern fromage de Passi.

5 The modern Marquisat de Cive, which still produces excellent cheese.

6 See B. xiv. c. 8.

7 And more especially at Salona in Bythinia.

8 "Etiam ubi non videtur major." This is probably corrupt.

 

 

Liber 28

 

xxxiv

131-132

De generibus caseorum diximus, cum de uberibus singulisque animalium diceremus. Sextius eosdem effectus equino quos bubulo tradit; hunc vocant hippacen. stomacho utiles qui non sunt salsi, id est recentes. veteres alvum sistunt corpusque minuunt, stomacho inutiliores; et in totum salsa minuunt corpus, alunt mollia.

 

caseus recens cum melle suggillata emendat, mollis alvum sistit, sedat tormina pastillis in vino austero decoctis rursusque in patina tostis cum melle. saprum vocant qui cum sale et sorbis siccis e vino tritus potusque medetur coeliacis. genitalium carbunculis caprinus tritus inpositus, item acidus cum oxymelite maculis in balineo inlitus oleo interlinitur.

 

We have already spoken of the different kinds of cheese when treating of the mamillæ and other parts of animals. Sextius attributes the same properties to mares' milk cheese that he does to cheese made of cows' milk: to the former he gives the names of "hippace." Cheese is best for the stomach when not salted, or, in other words, when new cheese is used. Old [salted] cheese has a binding effect upon the bowels, and reduces the flesh, but is more wholesome to the stomach [than new salted cheese].

(Indeed, we may pronounce of aliments in general, that salt meats reduce the system, while fresh food has a tendency to make flesh. Fresh cheese, applied with honey, effaces the marks of bruises. It acts, also, emolliently upon the bowels; and, taken in the form of tablets, boiled in astringent wine and then toasted with honey on a platter, it modifies and alleviates griping pains in the bowels.)

 

The cheese known as "saprum," is beaten up, in wine, with salt and dried sorb apples, and taken in drink, for the cure of celiac affections. Goats' milk cheese, pounded and applied to the part affected, is a cure for carbuncle of the generative organs; sour cheese, also, with oxymel, is productive of a similar effect. In the bath it is used as a friction, alternately with oil, for the removal of spots.

 

xlii

152

Apri quoque cerebrum contra eas laudatur cum sanguine, iocur etiam inveteratum cum ruta potum ex vino, item adips cum melle resinaque, simili modo verrinum iocur et fellis dumtaxat fibra denarius IIII pondere vel cerebrum in vino potum. — Caprarum cornu vel pilis accensis fugari serpentes dicunt, cineremque e cornu potum vel inlitum contra ictus valere, item lactis haustus cum uva taminia vel urinae cum aceto scillite, caseum caprinum cum origano inpositum vel sebum cum cera.

 

As a preservative against the attacks of serpents, the brains and blood of the wild boar are held in high esteem: the liver also, dried and taken in wine with rue; and the fat, used with honey and resin. Similar properties are attributed to the liver of the domesticated boar and the outer filaments, and those only, of the gall, these last being taken in doses of four denarii; the brains also, taken in wine, are equally ef- fectual. The fumes of the burning horns or hair of a she-goat will repel serpents, they say: the ashes, too, of the horns, used either internally or externally, are thought to be an antidote to their poison. A similar effect is attributed to goats' milk, taken with Taminian grapes; to the urine of those animals, taken with squill vinegar; to goats' milk cheese, applied with origanum; and to goat suet, used with wax.

 

xliii

156

Canis rabiosi morsu facta volnera circumcidunt ad vivas usque partes quidam carnemaque vituli admovent et ius ex eodem carnis decoctae dant potui aut axungiam cum calce tusam, hirci iocur, quo inposito ne temptari quidem aquae metu addfirmant. laudant et caprae fimum ex vino inlitum, melis et cuculi et hirundinis decoctum et potum.

ad reliquos bestiarum morsus caprinum caseum siccum cum origano inponunt et bibi iubent, ad hominis morsus carnem bubulam coctam, efficacius vituli, si non ante quintum diem solvant.

 

When a person has been bitten by a mad dog, it is the practice to make an incision round the wound to the quick, and then to apply raw veal to it, and to make the patient take either veal broth or hogs' lard, mixed with lime internally. Some persons recommend a he-goat's liver, and maintain that if it is applied to the wound the patient will never be attacked with hydrophobia. She-goat's dung, too, is highly spoken of, applied with wine, as also the dung of the badger, cuckoo, and swallow, boiled and taken in drink.

For bites inflicted by other animals, dried goats' milk cheese is applied with origanum and taken with the drink; and for injuries caused by the human1 teeth, boiled beef is applied; veal, however, is still more efficacious for the purpose, provided it is not removed before the end of four days.

 

xlv

161

omasi quoque iure poto venena supra dicta expugnari putant, privatim vero aconita et cicutas, itemque vitulino sebo. — Caprinus caseus recens iis, qui viscum biberint, lac contra cantharidas remedio est, contra ephemeri potum cum taminia uva. sanguis caprinus decoctus cum medulla contra toxica venena sumitur, haedinus contra reliqua,

 

The broth of boiled tripe, it is thought, is an effectual repellent of the above-mentioned poisons, aconite and hemlock more particularly; veal-suet also has a similar repute.

Fresh goats' milk cheese is given to persons who have taken mistletoe, and goats' milk itself is a remedy for cantharides. Taken with Taminian grapes, goats' milk is an antidote to the effects of ephemeron. Goats' blood, boiled down with the marrow, is used as a remedy for the narcotic poisons, and kids' blood for the other poisons.

 

lviii

205

item polea supra dicta, equi coagulum, quod aliqui hippacen appellant, etiam si sanguinem detrahant, vel fimi cinis dentiumque eiusdem tusorum farina salutares et bubuli lactis decocti potus. dysintericis addi mellis exiguum praecipiunt et, si tormina sint, cornus cervini cinerem aut fel taurinum cumino mixtum et cucurbitae carnes umbilico inponere. caseus recens vaccinus inmittitur ad utrumque vitium, item butyrum heminis IIII cum resinae terebinthinae sextante aut cum malva decocta aut cum rosaceo.

 

In such cases, even when attended with a discharge of blood, we find a horse's rennet recommended, by some persons known as "hippace;" ashes of burnt horse-dung; horses' teeth pounded; and boiled cows' milk. In cases of dysentery, it is recommended to add a little honey; and, for the cure of griping pains, ashes of deer's horns, bull's gall mixed with cum-min, or the flesh of a gourd, should be applied to the navel. For both complaints new cheese made of cows' milk is used, as an injection; butter also, in the proportion of four semisextarii to two ounces of turpentine, or else employed with a decoction of mallows or with oil of roses.

 

207

ad omnes epiphoras ventris inlini caseum mollem suadent, veterem autem in farinam tritum coeliacis et dysintericis dari, cyatho casei in cyathis vini cibarii III. sanguis caprinus decoctus cum medulla dysintericis, iocur assum caprae coeliacis subvenit, magsique etiam hirci, in vino austero decoctum potumque vel ex oleo myrteo umbilico inpositum. quidam decocunt a III sextariis aquae ad heminam addita ruta.

 

For all defluxions of the bowels it is recommended to apply soft cheese, and for cœliac affections and dysentery old cheese, powdered, one cyathus of cheese being taken in three cyathi of ordinary wine. Goats' blood is boiled down with the marrow of those animals for the cure of dysentery; and the cœliac flux is effectually treated with the roasted liver of a she-goat, or, what is still better, the liver of a he-goat boiled in astringent wine, and administered in the drink, or else applied to the navel with oil of myrtle. Some persons boil down the liver in three sextarii of water to half a sextarius, and then add rue to it.

 

lxvi

229

quis hoc, quaeso, invenire potuit? quae est ista mixtura? cur digitus potissimum bubonis electus est?

modestiores iocur felis decrescente luna occisae inveteratum sale ex vino bibendum ante accessiones quartanae dixere. iidem Magi fimi bubuli cinere consperso puerorum urina inlinunt digitos pedum manuumque. leporis cor adalligant, coagulum ante accessiones propinant. datur et caseus caprinus recens cum melle diligenter sero expresso.

 

Who, pray, could have ever made such a discovery as this? And what, too, can be the meaning of this combination? Why, of all things in the world, was the toe of a horned owl made choice of?

Other adepts in this art, who are more moderate in their suggestions, recommend for quartan fever, the salted liver of a cat that has been killed while the moon was on the wane, to be taken in wine just before the paroxysms come on. The magicians recommend, too, that the toes of the patient should be rubbed with the ashes of burnt cow-dung, diluted with a boy's urine, and that a hare's heart should be attached to the hands; they prescribe, also, hare's rennet, to be taken in drink just before the paroxysms come on. New goats' milk cheese is also given with honey, the whey being carefully extracted first.

 

lxix

233

Igni sacro ursinus adips inlinitur, maxime qui est ad renes, vitulinum fimum recens vel bubulum, caseus caprinus siccus cum porro, ramenta pellis cervinae delecta pumice ex aceto trita; rubori prurigine equi spuma aut ungulae cinis;

eruptionibus pituitae asinini fimi cinis cum butyro; papulis nigris caseus caprinus siccus ex melle et aceto in balneis, oleo remoto; pusulus suilli fimi cinis aqua inlitus vel cornus cervini cinis,

 

For erysipelas a liniment of bears' grease is used, that from the kidneys in particular; fresh calves' dung also, or cow-dung; dried goats' milk cheese, with leeks; or else the fine scrapings of a deer's skin, brought off with pumice-stone and beaten up in vinegar. Where there is redness of the skin attended with itching, the foam from a horse's mouth is used, or the hoof, reduced to ashes.

For the cure of purulent eruptions ashes of burnt asses' dung are applied, with butter; and for the removal of swarthy pimples, dried goats' milk cheese, steeped in honey and vinegar, is applied in the bath, no oil being used. Pustules are treated with ashes of swine's dung, applied with water, or else ashes of deer's antlers.

 

lxxiv

243

fimi vitulini cinis sordida ulcera et quae cacoëthe vocant et lacte mulieris sanant; recentes plagas ferro inlatas glutinum taurinum liquefactum, tertio die solutum.

caseus caprinus siccus ex aceto ac melle purgat ulcera; quae vero serpant, cohibet sebum cum cera, idem addita pice ac sulpure percurat. similiter proficit ad cacoëthe haedi feminum cinis e lacte mulieris, et adversus carbunculos suis feminae cerebrum tostum inlitumque.

 

The ashes of a leg of veal, applied with woman's milk, are a cure for sordid ulcers, and the malignant sore known s "cacoëthes:" bull-glue, melted, is applied to recent wounds inflicted with edged weapons, the application being removed before the end of three days.

Dried goats' milk cheese, applied with vinegar and honey, acts as a detergent upon ulcers; and goat suet, used in combination with wax, arrests the spread of serpiginous sores if employed with pitch and sulphur, it will effect a thorough cure. The ashes of a kid's leg, applied with woman's milk, have a similar effect upon malignant ulcers; for the cure, too, of carbuncles, a sow's brains are roasted and applied.