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On this chapter see T. Weidlich, Die Sympathie in Altertum, p. 42. Yet perhaps it is ridiculous for us to make a parade of animals distinguished for learning when DemocritusDiels-Kranz, Frag. der Vorsok. ii, p. 173, frag. 154; Cf. Bailey on Lucretius, v. 1379 (vol. iii, p. 1540 of his edition); Aelian, De Natura Animal. xii. 16. declares that we have been their pupils in matters of fundamental importance: of the spider in weaving and mending, of the swallow in homebuilding, of the sweet-voiced swan and nightingale Cf. 973 a supra. in our imitation of their song. Further, of the three divisions of medicine,As given here, cure by (1) drugs, (2) diet, (3) surgery. There are five divisions in Diogenes Laertius, iii. 85; al. we can discern in animals a generous portion of each; for it is not cure by drugs alone of wrhich they make use. After devouring a serpent tortoises Cf. Mor. 918 c, 991 e; Aelian, De Natura Animal. vi. 12 and Thompson on Aristotle, Historia Animal. ix. 6 (612 a 24); of wounded partridges and storks and doves in Aelian, op. cit. v. 46 (Aristotle, op. cit. 612 a 32). take a dessert of marjoram, and weaselsAristotle, Historia Animal. ix. 6 (612 a 28). of rue. DogsSee Thompson on Aristotle, Historia Animal. ix. 6 (612 a 6); add Sextus Empiricus, Outlines of Pyrrhonism, i. 71. purge themselves when bilious by a certain kind of grass. The snakePliny, Nat. Hist. xx. 254. Other details of snake diet in Aelian, De Natura Animal. vi. 4. sharpens and restores its fading sight with fennel. When the she-bear comes forth from her lair,As in 971 d-e supra. the first thing she eats is wild arumProbably the Adam-and-Eve (Arum maculatum L.), since the Italian arum (Arum italicum Mill.) was cultivated. See Aristotle, Historia Animal. viii. 17 (600 b 11); ix. 6 (611 b 34); Pliny, Nat. Hist. viii. 129; Aelian, De Natura Animal. vi. 3. Oribasius (Coll. Med. iii. 24. 5) characterizes wild arum as an aperient.; for its acridity opens her gut which has become constricted. At other times, when she suffers from nausea,When she has swallowed the fruit of the mandrake, according to Pliny, Nat. Hist. viii. 101. she resorts to anthills and sits, holding out her tongue all running and juicy with sweet liquor until it is covered with ants; these she swallowsAristotle, Historia Animal. viii. 4 (594 b 9); Aelian, De Natura Animal. vi. 3; Sextus Empiricus, op. cit. i. 57. and is alleviated. The Egyptians Cf. Aelian, De Natura Animal. ii. 35; vii. 45; Pliny, Nat. Hist. viii. 97; Cicero, De Natura Deorum, ii. 50. declare that they have observed and imitated the ibis’ clyster-like purging of herself with brine; and the priests make use of water from which an ibis has drunk to purify themselves; for if the water is tainted or unhealthy in any way, the ibis will not approach it.
