Saliva: indicazioni terapeutiche, modalità di impiego e lessico nella Naturalis Historia di Plinio tra fonti e ricezione

Abstract

In this report the testimonies of Pliny concerning the term saliva (28, 35, 1-39, 8) are examined. Moreover at this «monographic» moment, which presents about 19 cases of therapeutic or magical application of human saliva, the other passages in the treatise on the subject have been added. The complete collection of these materials made it possible to analyze the sources, the contexts and the lexicon, which not only clarifies the texts of Pliny under the point of view of the knowledges present in Greek and Latin Literature (Hippocrates, Galenus, Celsus, Columella, Scribonius Largus), but it also tends to illuminate the use of saliva in ancient therapy. The overall result is even more useful, since the corresponding lemma saliua has not yet been enlisted in the Thesaurus linguae Latinae.

Keywords

• bodily fluids
• saliva
• spit
• magical remedies
• venoms
• Pliny the Elder