Acētum
(
ὄξος). Vinegar. The kinds most in repute among the
ancients were the Ægyptian and Cnidian. Pliny gives a full account of the medical
properties of vinegar. Among other applications, it was employed when leeches had been
introduced into the stomach, or adhered to the larynx. Vinegar was also given in long-standing
coughs, just as modern practitioners give oxymels in chronic catarrhs, and it appears to have
been thought useful in affections of the ear.
Acetum Italĭcum
is the proverbial expression for the rude humor of the old Italian, just as
sal
Atticum is used of Greek wit.