De digiti quarti apud Alexandrum Trallianum mentione (II, 475 .23 Puschmann)

Alex. Trall. (II, 475.19–24 Puschmann) prescribes on a certain amulet ring: … φόρει παρὰ τῷ μικρῷ ἰατρικῷ δακτύλῳ (μικρῷ <ἢ> ἰατρικῷ Puschmann). However, the expression “little medicinal finger” is unattested, and more importantly, παρά with the dative does not mean “(wear it) on a finger,” but rather “wear it near a finger.” Elsewhere in Alexander’s text the ring finger is referred to as ἰατρικός (II, 585.8–9 Puschmann) and as παραμικρός (or ὁ παρὰ <τῷ> μικρῷ: II, 583.18–19 Puschmann). Thus, the passage in question concerns one and the same finger (the ring finger), named twice due to a gloss. The proposed emendation is: φόρει <τῷ> παρα[τῷ]μικρῷ [ἰατρικῷ] δακτύλῳ.