Chapter XXXI.—Method of Poisoning Goats.

And if one smear²⁴³²⁴³    Or, “close up.” the ears of goats over with cerate, they say that they expire a little afterwards, by having their breathing obstructed. For this to them is the way—as these affirm—of their drawing their breath in an act of respiration. And a ram, they assert, dies,²⁴⁴²⁴⁴    The words “death of a goat” occur on the margin of the ms. if one bends back (its neck)²⁴⁵²⁴⁵    A similar statement is made, on the authority of Alcmæon, by Aristotle in his Histor. Animal., i. 2. opposite the sun. And they accomplish the burning of a house, by daubing it over with the juice of a certain fish called dactylus. And this effect, which it has by reason of the sea-water, is very useful. Likewise foam of the ocean is boiled in an earthen jar along with some sweet ingredients; and if you apply a lighted candle to this while in a seething state, it catches the fire and is consumed; and (yet though the mixture) be poured upon the head, it does not burn it at all. If, however, you also smear it over with heated resin,²⁴⁶²⁴⁶    Μαννῇ is the word in the text. But manna in the ordinary acceptation of the term can scarcely be intended. Pliny, however, mentions it as a proper name of grains of incense and resin. The Abbe Cruice suggests the very probable emendation of μάλθῃ, which signifies a mixture of wax and resin for caulking ships. it is consumed far more effectually.  But he accomplishes his object better still, if also he takes some sulphur.