Rx Century One

ROMAN DOCTORS in Jesus’ day served up bizarre treatment for common afflictions.

No wonder Jesus the healer became popular so quickly.

Here’s some of the treatment pulled from a first-century book by a Roman science writer, Pliny (AD 23-79), Natural History.

• Human bite, snake bite: Apply ear wax.
• Toothache: Rub with wood that has been struck by lightning.
• Intermittent fever (malaria): Wrap in wool a piece of nail used in a crucifixion and apply to neck of patient.
• Stiff, inflamed joints: Apply mud mixed with body oil sweat from a wrestler.
• Water in ear: If right ear, tilt waterlogged ear onto right shoulder and hop around on left foot. If left ear, do the opposite.
• Ringing ears: Mix one spoonful each of breast milk, Attic honey (gourmet honey from Athens area), and urine of child who hasn’t reached puberty. No indication whether this goes in ears or mouth.
• Crusty secretions from the eyes: Wash eyes with the gravy of a hyena’s freshly roasted liver.
• Ugly bruises: Rub with cheese and honey to reduce color.
• Broken bone: Wrap bone with ashes of the jawbone of a wild boar or pig. Boiled bacon works, too. The bone will heal more quickly.
• Itching: Apply mud mixed with donkey urine or donkey bone marrow.
• Insomnia: Eat rabbit meat.
• Depression: Boil calf excrement in wine; drink.
• Pain in the neck: Rub neck with butter or bear grease.
• Stomachache: Eat beef stew cooked in vinegar and wine.

Excerpt from Steve’s new release: Understanding Jesus: A Guide to His Life and Times.

A free Kindle download of this book is scheduled for one day only: Valentine’s Day, February 14, 2013. Think of it as the publisher’s marketing team blowing you a kiss.