Note (78) — BOOK V. (continued 2)

78. Pastinaca fish was of the plani kind, and had a cartilage instead of a spine. The aculeus, or κεντρὸν of this fish is a remedy for the tooth-ach, as Dioscorides informs us, and Celsus himself mentions, lib. vi. cap 9. Dale calls it the poison fish, fire, or fierce flaw. The liver is said to be good against itching; in oil it removes lichens and lepras.—This cleansing quality attributed to it, makes it probable our author intends it here, for no such virtue is attributed to the water, or sea-parsnip.