Natural History of Pliny the Elder

Jones, W. H. S. and Rackham, H. (1938-63). Natural History of Pliny the Elder (English translation). 10 vols. (London W. Heinemann) (1938-63)... 

Bostock J, Riley HT (1855) The natural history of Pliny the elder. Taylor and Francis, London... 

In his Natural History (1826), Pliny the Elder stated that those persons who are dieted npon fermented bread are stronger in body , which is an early statement on the health benefits of sourdough breads. Whole meals of cereals are a good source of minerals. Their bioavailability is limited, as they are often bound to phytic acid (myo-inositol-hexophospate). Wheat and rye contain about 1.2% of dry matter (Fretzdorff Briimmer, 1992). With the drop in pH during sourdough fermentation, endogenous phytases of the cereals are activated and the bound minerals are released (Fretzdorff Briimmer, 1992). Lactic acid bacteria and yeasts also possess phytase... 

In Ancient Rome, Pliny the Elder (c. a.d. 23-79) dedicated 37 volumes of Natural History to the emperor Titus. In the last of these books, dealing with gems and precious stones, he describes the properties of the fossil resin, amber. The ability of amber to attract dust was recognised and in fact the word electricity is derived from elektron, the Greek for amber. 

Pliny the Elder, 23-79 A.D. Roman philosopher. Author of a Natural History in 37 books, in which he discussed the astronomy, geology, zoology, botany, agriculture, mineralogy, and medicine of his time. 

A considerable number of chanicals used as insecticides were early recommended by Pliny the Elder (23-79 A. D.) in his Natural History. These were largely collected from folklore and Greek literature of the previous three or four centuries. 

The historic interest in this dye is evidenced by the fact that Pliny the Elder (A.D. 23-79) devotes six chapters of his celebrated Natural History to its production, including treatises on the nature and kinds of shellfish, the history of its appearance in Roman outerwear, the high cost of the dye, and the methods used to obtain and process it (7). Furthermore, volumes, and indeed, doctoral dissertations have been written on its role in the production of the Biblical blue, or tekhelet, but the nature of this mysterious blue remains doubtful to this day (5). 

Patterson, C.C., Ericson, J., Shirahata, H., 1987. Lead in ancient human bones and its relevance to historical developments of social problems with lead. Sci. Total Environ. 61, 167—200. Rackham, H. (Ed. and Trans.), 1962. Pliny the Elder. Natural History, 10 vols. Harvard University Press, Cambridge, MA. 

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