Conrad Gessner
Historiae animalium liber III qui est de Avium natura - 1555
De Gallo Gallinaceo
transcribed by Fernando Civardi - translated by Elio Corti
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Gallinaceus
tamen calidior et [396] siccior est quam suum, et tenuior, ac minimum
terrestris, idque magis etiam si e gallinis sylvestribus fuerit. et
tenuitatis ratione profundius penetrat, Galenus 11. de simplicibus, et de compositione med. sec. genera, et
Methodi lib. 14. Indurata iuvat, Idem. Anserinus adeps maxime tenuium
partium est, ob id in volucrum genere praestat ad scirrhi curationem,
gallinacei illi proximus, Iac. Sylvius. Galenus lib. 3. de compos. sec.
loc. cum Apollonii ad aurium dolores verba haec recitasset, Anserinum
aut gallinaceum adipem liquefactum sensim instilla, subdit: Adeps harum
alitum maxime mitigat omnes affectiones dolores inducentes, simulque
ipsarum aliquibus magnifice auxiliatur, etc. ut in Anserino scripsi, cum
quo hic pleraque communia habet. Adeps pullorum calidior est quam
adultarum gallinarum: et galli quam gallinae, Obscurus. |
Nevertheless
the fat of chicken is more warm and dry than that of pig and less thick,
and very little earthy, and much more if it is coming from wild hens.
And because of its scarce density it penetrates more in depth, Galen |
¶ Myricae
semen cum altilium (gallinarum, ut conijcio) pingui furunculis imponitur,
Plin.[1]
Ad ambusta: Lardum et adipem gallinaceum adhibito candelae lumine super
aquam liqua, et collectum ex aquae superficie pingue inungito,
Innominatus. Varos (Varices, Marcellus) adeps gallinaceus cum caepa
tritus et subactus (impositus vel perductus adsidue, Marcel.) sanat,
Plinius[2].
Idem remedium maculas rubeas delere Rasis annotavit. |
¶
The seed of tamarisk |
¶ Cutem in
facie adeps anseris vel gallinae custodit, Plinius[3].
Adeps anseris et gallinaceus utilis est ad nitorem vultus, εἰς
προσώπων
ἐπιμέλειαν,
Dioscorides, ut Marcellus vertit: ad mangonizandam[4]
faciem, ut Ruellius. ego cum Plinio potius verterim ad faciei custodiam,
adversus ventos scilicet, frigora et Solem. Fissuras in facie sanat, et
faciem reddit lucidam, Rasis. |
¶
The fat of goose or hen protects the skin of the face Pliny. The fat of
goose and that of chicken is useful in making the face to be shining, eis
prosøpøn epiméleian, Dioscorides |
¶ Adiuvat
adeps gallinae mirifice ruptas oculorum tuniculas admixtis schisto et
haematite lapidibus, Plinius[5].
Eundem praecipue laudant contra pustulas oculorum in pupillis. Has (gallinas)
<nec>[6]
scilicet eius rei gratia saginant, Idem. Gallinarum adeps pustulas
oculorum reprimit, Aesculapius et Constantinus. Si oculus iumenti
dissectus sit, adeps anseris vel gallinae prodest, ut scripsi in Ansere. |
¶
The fat of hen helps in amazing way the lacerations of the conjunctiva
by mixing the minerals limonite |
¶ Gallinae
adeps liquefacta et tepide instillata, quodlibet vitium aurium sanat,
Marcellus. Adipem anserinum et alios auricularibus medicamentis Nicol.
Myrepsus admiscet. Gliris pingue et gallinae adeps, et medulla bubula
liquefacta tepensque infusa auribus plurimum prodest, Marcellus.
Apollonius (ut et Rasis) anserinum aut gallinaceum adipem liquefactum
dolentibus auribus sensim instillari iubet, ut superius retuli[7].
Adeps gall. cum nardo liquefacta ad dolorem aurium utilis est, et contra
nervorum passiones, Kiranides. Eundem instillatum tepidum etiam adversus
difficultatem auditus proficere obscurus quidam scripsit. Gallinarum
adeps auribus purulentis calida infunditur, Plin.[8]
Ad aurium nocumenta ex aqua confert adeps tum anserinus tum vulpinus,
tum gallinaceus, Galenus Euporiston 1. 16. |
¶
The fat of hen liquefied and instilled lukewarm recovers whatever
illness of ears, Marcellus Empiricus. Nicolaus Myrepsus |
¶ Adeps ans.
aut gall. rimas labiorum egregie curat impositus, Plinius[9]
et Marcellus. |
¶
The fat of goose or chicken locally applied cures in an excellent way
the chapping of lips, Pliny and Marcellus. |
¶ Adeps
gallinae asperitati linguae confert, Obscurus. |
¶
The fat of hen is useful against the wrinkledness of the tongue, an
unknown fellow. |
¶
Dentientium puerorum gingivas gallinaceorum pingui molliendas Aegineta
consulit. |
¶
Paul of Aegina |
¶ Laudant et
gallinarum adipem contra pustulas in papillis: has scilicet eius rei
gratia saginant, Vvotton. |
¶
They also praise the fat of hen against the pimples of nipples: it is
obvious that they fatten up them for this reason, Edward Wotton |
¶ Adeps
anser. aut gall. recens et sine sale conditus, ad vulvae vitia proficit,
(vel, ut alibi, mulieribus malis convenit:) sale inveteratus, et qui
temporis spatio acrimoniam concepit, vulvae inimicus est, Dioscor.
Anserini vel gall. adipis usum ad foetum pellendum in Ansere diximus.
Recens laudatur ad dolorem matricis: et in eiusdem apostemate instar
emplastri imponitur, Rasis. Cum nardo liquefacta ad muliebria pessaria
facit, Kiranides. |
¶
The fresh fat of goose or chicken, and without the addition of salt,
turns out useful against the diseases of vulva (or, as he says elsewhere,
turns out useful in gynecological diseases): that one seasoned with salt
and which by running of time became rancid, is enemy of the vulva,
Dioscorides. In the chapter of the goose I spoke about the use of fat of
goose or chicken for the expulsion of the fetus. The fresh one is
extolled against the pain of the uterus: and in case of uterine abscess
it is applied as poultice, Razi. Liquefied with matgrass acts as
pessarium |
¶ Galli
cristam contritam morsibus canis rabidi efficaciter imponi aiunt,
Plinius[10]
et Kiranides. Gallinae cristam aridam da in cibo ei qui mingit in lecto
nescienti: curabitur, Rasis. alii hoc remedium ex gula et larynge
promittunt. Capitis doloribus remedio est gallinaceus, si inclusus
abstineatur die ac nocte, pari inedia eius qui doleat, evulsis collo
plumis circumligatisque, vel cristis, Plinius[11],
et Marcellus sed paulo aliter. |
¶
They say that against the bites of a rabid dog is applied with
very good results the minced comb of a rooster, Pliny and Kiranides.
Place a dried comb of hen in the food for a person who unaware is
urinating in bed: he will recover, Razi. Others vouch for this remedy
using throat and larynx. A remedy for headache is represented by a
rooster who, if kept locked up, is fasting one day and night, making him
fasting as much as he who has pain, and if after the feathers from his
neck have been removed they are wound around the head of the patient, or
using the combs, Pliny and Marcellus, but in a little different way. |
¶ Ossiculis
gallinarum in pariete servatis, fistula salva, {adacto} <tacto>
dente, vel gingiva scarificata, proiectoque ossiculo, statim dolorem
abire tradunt, Plinius[12].
Inguinibus mirabile exhibet remedium, ex gallinacea ala ossiculum
extremum, cochleario terebratum, nodisque septem licio ligatum, atque
ita brachio vel cruri eius partis quae inguina habet suspensum,
Marcellus. |
¶
They report that pain immediately disappears if the tooth is touched or
if the gum is lanced with little bones of hen preserved in a wall with
their intact medullar hollow, and if the little bone is thrown away,
Pliny. The most peripheral little bone of the wing of a chicken
perforated with the pointed tool for eating snails - or with a gimlet -
and tied with seven knots to a thread, and so suspended either to the
arm or to the leg of that side showing inguinal swellings, it turns out
a marvelous remedy for them, Marcellus. |
¶ Gallinae
tibiae cum pedibus coctae, et cum sale, oleo acetoque comestae, coli
(alias colli) sedant dolorem, Constantinus et Aesculapius. Ego coli
legendum puto ex Marcello Empirico, cuius haec sunt verba: Gallinam per
totum diem a cibo abstineto. dein postero die cum eam occideris, crura
eius cum sale et oleo inassato, et ieiuno colico qui se pridie cibo
abstinuerit manducanda dato, mirifice profueris. |
¶
The legs of hen cooked with feet and eaten with salt, oil and vinegar
make the pain of the colon to ease (or, of the neck), Constantinus and
Aesculapius. I think that we have to read of the colon from
Marcellus Empiricus whose words are as follows: Make a hen to abstain
from food for the whole day. Then the following day, when you will have
killed her, roast her legs with salt and oil, and give them to be eaten
on empty stomach to a patient suffering from pains of the colon, who the
day before abstained from food, and you will help him in an amazing way. |
¶ Gallinacei
cerebellum recentibus plagis prodest, Plin.[13]
Dioscorides animalia theriaca, id est quae vim morsibus venenatis
contrariam habeant enumerans, gallinaceorum etiam cerebella in cibo
commendat. Gallinarum cerebellum in vino bibendum datur contra
serpentium morsus, Idem. Aesculapius et Constantinus. contra scorpionum
ictus, Kiranides. Idem galli cerebrum cum aceto (alias condito) adversus
serpentium morsus bibendum consulit. Venena serpentium domantur
gallinaceorum cerebro in vino poto: Parthi gallinae malunt cerebrum
plagis (morsibus serpentium) imponere, Plinius[14].
Gallinacea cerebella cum vino pota medentur viperarum morsibus,
Dioscorid. ex Erasistrato et Aegineta. Ἠὲ σὺ γ’ἐγκεφάλοιο
πέριξ
μήνιγγας
ἀραιὰς |
Ὄρνιθος
λάζοιο
κατοικίδος,
Nicander[15].
Petrichus etiam, ut Nicandri Scholiastes refert, contra serpentium
morsus gallinae cerebrum commendat. Ad viperae morsum: Galli cerebrum
cum posca adiecto pipere, his qui a vipera percussi sunt vel morsi,
potui dabis. auxilium maximum experieris, Sextus. |
¶
The brain of chicken is useful in case of recent wounds, Pliny.
Dioscorides, when listing the animals protecting from poisons, that is,
those endowed with a power against poisonous bites, recommends as food
also the brain of chickens. The brain of hens is given to be drunk with
wine against the bite of snakes, still Dioscorides. Aesculapius and
Constantinus recommend it against the sting of scorpions, Kiranides.
Still he, in his opinion against the bite of snakes the brain of the
rooster has to be drunk with vinegar (or with spiced wine flavored with
pepper and honey). The poisons of snakes are made harmless with brain of
chickens drunk with wine: the Parts |
[1] Naturalis historia XXIV,71: Semen drachmae pondere adversus phalangia et araneos bibitur, cum altilium vero pingui furunculis inponitur, efficax et contra serpentium ictus praeterquam aspidum.
[2] Naturalis historia XXX,30: Vulturinus sanguis cum chamaeleontos albae, quam herbam esse diximus, radice et cedria tritus contectusque brassica lepras sanat, item pedes locustarum cum sebo hircino triti, varos adeps gallinaceus cum cepa subactus. utilissimum et in facie mel, in quo apes sint inmortuae, praecipue tamen faciem purgat atque erugat cygni adeps. Stigmata delentur columbino fimo ex aceto.
[3] Naturalis historia XXX,29: Cutem in facie custodit adeps anseris vel gallinae.
[4] Il sostantivo neutro greco mágganon significa incantesimo, sortilegio, magia. Il verbo magganeúø significa fare magie o incantesimi, abbellire con artifizi, falsificare. Ne deriva il sostantivo maschile latino mango, che designa quel mercante che con mezzi artificiali abbellisce la sua merce o la falsifica, soprattutto se è rappresentata da pietre preziose, balsami o unguenti, vino, e anche da schiavi, in quanto il mango doveva eccellere nell’arte di renderne più attraenti volto e fattezze per nasconderne i difetti.
[5] Naturalis historia XXIX,124: Laudant et gallinae fel et praecipue adipem contra pusulas in pupillis, nec scilicet eius rei gratia saginant. Adiuvat mirifice et ruptas oculorum tuniculas admixtis schisto et haematite lapidibus.
[6] L’aver tralasciato nec sovverte ciò che Plinio magari voleva esprimere, per esempio, che ingrassavano le galline soprattutto per mangiarsele.
[7] All’inizio di questa pagina.
[8] Naturalis historia XXIX,139: Ventris gallinaceorum membrana, quae abici solet, inveterata et in vino trita auribus purulentis calida infunditur, gallinarum adeps. – Il gallinarum adeps, messo da Plinio come una postilla esplicativa di cosa sia la membrana che abitualmente si getta via, è invece un ulteriore rimedio contro l’otite purulenta. – Certo è che i testi di Plinio potrebbero essere abbondantemente utilizzati per confezionare i rebus della Settimana Enigmistica!
[9] Naturalis historia XXX,27: Linguae ulcera et labrorum hirundines in mulso decoctae sanant, adeps anseris aut gallinae rimas, oesypum cum galla, araneorum telae candidae et quae in trabibus parvae texuntur.
[10] Naturalis historia XXIX,100: Aiunt et cristam galli contritam efficaciter inponi et anseris adipem cum melle.
[11] Naturalis historia XXIX,113: Cornicis cerebrum coctum in cibo sumptum vel noctuae, gallinaceus, si inclusus abstineatur die ac nocte, pari inedia eius, cuius doleat, evulsis collo plumis circumligatisque vel cristis, mustelae cinis inlitus, surculus ex nido milui pulvino subiectus, murina pellis cremata ex aceto inlito cinere, limacis inter duas orbitas inventae ossiculum per aurum, argentum, ebur traiectum in pellicula canina adalligatum, quod remedium pluribus semperque prodest.
[12] Naturalis historia XXX,26: Ossiculi gallinarum in pariete servati fistula salva tacto dente vel gingiva scariphata proiectoque ossiculo statim dolorem abire tradunt, [...].
[13] Naturalis historia XXX,117: Draconum quoque adeps siccatus in sole magnopere prodest, item gallinacei cerebrum recentibus plagis.
[14] Naturalis historia XXIX,78: Carnibus gallinaceorum ita, ut tepebunt avulsae, adpositis venena serpentium domantur, item cerebro in vino poto. Parthi gallinae malunt cerebrum plagis inponere. Ius quoque ex iis potum praeclare medetur, et in multis aliis usibus mirabile. Pantherae, leones non attingunt perunctos eo, praecipue si et alium fuerit incoctum.
[15] Theriaca versi 557-558 (Jacques, Paris, 2002) – Così suona nella traduzione latina di Jean de Gorris (1505-1577): Quaeque cohortalis gallinae parva cerebrum | membrana involvit, [...]. (Parigi, 1557)