“Crito’s sweet-smelling, summer-time poultice useful for whole body:

‘When there’s a lot of sweat troubling the body, it is going to be disgusting—especially during the summer-time, since the sweat comes on with a great deal of nausea and stench. That’s why this prescription is not just for women, but for men as well. In fact, the time is right to make a mental note of these soaps:

Sweet-smelling summer-time deodorant for the whole body

• Up to three ounces* each of dried roses and cassia

• Up to two drachmes* each of black cardamom, costus root and spikenard

• Two ounces* of moistened alum

Dissolve in a fragrant, aged wine, form into pills and dry in the shade. To use: after crumbling and sifting, sprinkle on liberally while bathing and give it a good rub into the body. Rinse thoroughly with cold water.’”

Καταπλάσματα θερινὰ εὐωδίαν ποιοῦντα τῷ παντὶ σώματι Κρίτωνος. ἱδρώτων δ' ἐνοχλούντων τῷ σώματι πολλὴ ἔσται ἡ ἐκ τούτων ἀηδία, καὶ μάλιστα θέρους· καὶ γὰρ πολλὴν ἄσην ἐπιφέρει καὶ δυσωδίαν καὶ διὰ τοῦτο χρηστέον τοῖς ὑπογεγραμμένοις οὐ μόνον ἐπὶ τῶν γυναικῶν ἀλλὰ κἀπὶ τῶν ἀνδρῶν· καιρὸς γὰρ καὶ τούτων μνήμην ποιεῖσθαι σὺν τοῖς σμήγμασι. Καταπαστὸν ὅλου τοῦ σώματος εὐῶδες θερινόν. ῥόδων ξηρῶν κασσίας ἀνὰ Γο γ’ ἀμώμου κόστου ναρδοστάχυος ἀνὰ ⋖ β’ στυπτηρίας ὑγρᾶς Γο β’, οἴνῳ παλαιῷ εὐώδει διαλύσας, ἀνάπλασσε τροχίσκους καὶ ξήραινε ἐν σκιᾷ· ἐπὶ δὲ τῆς χρείας κόψας σήσας δίδου διαπάσσεσθαι λουομένους καὶ ἀνατριβέσθωσαν ἐπιμελῶς καὶ τότε ψυχρῷ ὕδατι περιχείσθωσαν.

Aetius of Amida, Libri medicinales 8.7, 410,23–411,9 Olivieri

*Units:

1 Γο (ounce) = 27.3 g

1 ⋖ (drachme) = 3.4g