The seven books of Paulus Ægineta, volume 3 (of 3) (part 3 of 3)

The seven books of Paulus Ægineta, volume 3 (of 3) (part 3 of 3)

Persons in health have recourse to emetics when the system is loaded with too much food or humours, and those in acute diseases, when troubled with phlegm or the like. But neither persons in health nor those in acute diseases should be permitted to use emetics, but only in chronic affections, more especially in cases of indurations, and for such matters as require to be dislodged by forcible means, as in gout, epilepsy from the stomach, elephantiasis, dropsy, melancholy, and the like. They are improper in spittings of blood, weakness of the stomach, and suffocative complaints. The readiest of the emetics is the oil of privet (oleum Cyprinum), the fingers or some feathers being dipped in it and pushed down the throat. And dr. vij of Celtic nard taken in honeyed water evacuate upwards powerfully. In like manner v or vj dr. of betony drunk in honeyed water, and three green leaves of the daphnoides pounded and eaten. And an obolus of elaterium taken in a draught of water, purges phlegm and bile upwards; and fifteen grains of stavesacre with thick honeyed water. Of plants with bulbous roots, those usually eaten if taken raw, and the boiled roots of narcissus purge upwards. And the upper part of the root of parsley, namely, that which is exposed to the air, when eaten, purges upwards. Some call it chamæraphanum. The under part of the root purges downwards. When the whole is eaten it purges both upwards and downwards. Radishes purge less than the aforementioned, but more usefully. They are to be taken when very acrid and fresh, and cut into small parts; and having allowed them to soak in oxymel for two or three hours, as many of the pieces as possible are to be swallowed, so that one may vomit three or four times after supper, and once if fasting. But after, large draughts of oxymel are to be swallowed; and after walking about for two hours, and drinking tepid water, one may compel one’s self to vomit by inserting the fingers or some feathers into the throat.

Modes of administering hellebore. Hellebore is to be given in protracted and severe complaints, and when all hope from other remedies is precluded, because the disease has proved stronger than them all. It is to be given in continued diseases, as dropsy, elephantiasis, cachexia, paralysis, and the like; and in certain complaints which attack at intervals, as epilepsy and gout. There being many modes of administering hellebore, the simplest, and rather the preparative for a course of hellebore, is this method: having perforated radishes with a reed, pieces of the dried roots of the finest white hellebore are to be inserted into the perforations, and having been allowed to remain for one night they are to be removed. Having cut the radishes in pieces they are to be given with oxymel, in the manner described, to the patient who has been accustomed before to emetics, and after an interval of the number of hours mentioned, he is to be forced to vomit. The established mode of administering hellebore is as follows: having allowed two ounces of the best hellebore to macerate in a hemina of water for five days, boil until only a third part of the water remain, and having expressed the hellebore, mix with the water an equal quantity of honey, and boil it until it thicken; and after the patient has been exercised with vomits in the manner described, give it to him when fasting, and after digestion has been performed, and the contents of the bowels evacuated, either spontaneously or by one or two injections, according to his strength. But the most efficacious mode is this: having cut the roots of the hellebore into pieces resembling the seeds of Indian corn (for when reduced to a downy powder it occasions suffocation by its powerful action), give to those who are of a weaker constitution dr. ij, at most, or, at least, dr. j of the hellebore, in the juice of ptisan, of halica, or the like; but to those who are stronger, it is to be given in hot water or honeyed water. The purging begins after three or four hours; but when it is longer of commencing, it operates more effectually. When the vomiting is slow of beginning, give honeyed water to drink, and let the patient be compelled to vomit by inserting feathers dipped in oil into the throat. If even thus he will not vomit, let him be put into the bath. When vomiting commences, if it go on properly, we need not interfere; but if lancinating pains or convulsions supervene, we must give a mixture of water and oil to drink. For thus is an evacuation downwards occasioned (which otherwise sometimes takes place when hellebore has been administered), and they bear the concentration of the medicine better. When the patient falls into deliquium animi he is to be resuscitated by strong-smelling things and the like. Any other symptoms which may happen to occur are to be treated in a suitable manner. When the purging is excessive, they are to be allowed to take food and sleep, and do otherwise as mentioned in describing the treatment of hypercatharsis. But if it continue, cupping-instruments are to be applied over the stomach, and ligatures tied round the limbs. When the evacuation proceeds properly we must give to drink a moderate quantity of honeyed water, in order to wash away the superfluous particles of the medicine. After a little while, give some food of easy digestion. When apprehensions are entertained of the administration of hellebore by the mouth, and the medicine is by all means required, Antyllus uses the following injection: having allowed two drachms of white hellebore to macerate in a sextarius of water for a day and a night, on the day following we are to boil the hellebore in the water until but a half remain. Then we are to inject it by the anus so as to produce vomiting. It purges upwards somewhat more feebly than when the medicine is drank. After sufficient purging, an acrid suppository is to be introduced so as to occasion the discharge of the injection and stop the vomiting. After the discharge of it, an injection of honeyed water is to be given once or twice in order to wash out the gut. The same person says: A suppository is made of white hellebore, pounded and strained, and mixed with boiled honey, which purges like the injection of hellebore. But the following is a better method; for we have it in our power to regulate the purging: The quantity is to be dr. ij of hellebore, and the suppository is to be wrapped round, or bound with some flocks of wool firmly. The head of this ball of wool is to be allowed to hang out of the anus, in order that after sufficient purging it may be in our power to remove the suppository. This method purges effectually, and neither occasions convulsive suffocation nor any other dangerous symptom.

* * * * *

COMMENTARY. The gentle emetics used by the ancients on ordinary occasions have been treated of in Book I. We have now to give some account of the more drastic emetics.

Galen and Oribasius recommend, as effectual emetics, the bulb of the narcissus, the seed of the anagyrus, and the fleshy part of nut ben. The Unguentum irinum and the U. cyprinum are stated by Aëtius and most of the other authorities to be safe and effectual emetics. Aëtius also commends the decoctions of hyssop and of thyme, the seed of bastard saffron pounded with oily grain, the oils of sesame, radishes, and narcissus, and the leaves of the daphnoides. Nitre or an impure carbonate of soda was also a medicine in general use as an emetic. The Lemnian earth was often given as an emetic, being a sort of red ochre. Avicenna and Rhases make mention of a species of black turbith, called gilbenec, which they describe as an effectual emetic, but somewhat unsafe. See the Appendix. Avicenna says that tickling the throat with a feather, smeared in the oil of sesame, readily excites vomiting. He remarks that vomiting is promoted by motion and stopped by rest. The bulbus emeticus was in general use to produce vomiting. Serapion directs us to give it boiled along with honey. He also commends the nux vomica as an emetic when given along with a small quantity of salt. We need scarcely say that it is now seldom or never given for this purpose, although it still holds a place in some of the continental systems of Materia Medica. The earlier modern writers on medicine recommend it freely as an emetic. See Guido de Cauliaco. (vii, 1.)

But of all the medicines of this class the white hellebore was undoubtedly the most powerful, and in important cases was the most generally used. We must, therefore, take this opportunity of describing the forms in which it was administered. Hippocrates appears to have been familiarly acquainted with it as a medicine, and to have administered it very freely. Aretæus concludes his work with a spirited eulogium on hellebore; “But in all inveterate chronic diseases, when other remedies have failed to produce the effect, this alone is to be depended upon for the cure. For, in power, white hellebore resembles fire, and with still greater powers hellebore, by pervading the inward parts, produces freedom of respiration from obstruction, a healthy colour from paleness, and plumpness of body, in place of emaciation.” But on the modes of administering hellebore, the fullest and most accurate of the ancient authorities is Oribasius, whose interesting account of it we shall now attempt to give in an abridged form. His description is mostly taken from Archigenes, Herodotus, and Antyllus. He sets out, then, with giving directions about preparing the patient for entering upon a course of hellebore. This consists principally in putting him upon a regulated diet, and administering occasionally some of the gentler emetics, especially the one from radishes. He, then, describes at considerable length the marks by which good hellebore may be recognised. When broken, he says, it ought to be white in the inside; and when taken into the mouth it ought to be felt hot and acrid, but at first of a sweetish taste; thereafter gradually becoming more stimulant, and provoking a great flow of saliva, and that frequently attended with vomiting. He recommends the following preparation of hellebore as being efficacious and perfectly safe: A pound of hellebore is to be macerated for three days in six heminæ of water, which we are to boil at a gentle fire until a third part of the water is consumed, when the hellebore is to be expressed; then two heminæ of honey are to be added to the decoction, which is to be again boiled until it no longer stain the finger. Of this preparation, the dose, to those who do not require strong purging, is two cochlearia, but to robust persons, the quantity called a mystrum. Another of his authorities, Antyllus, directs us to allow five drachms of the shavings of hellebore to macerate for three days in half a hemina of rain-water, after which it is to be strained and heated in a double vessel. Oribasius also mentions that the medicine may be given in a coarse powder. He afterwards lays down the rules of treatment when the action of the medicine superinduces dangerous symptoms. We need not go over this part minutely. Suffice it to say that, according to circumstances, he directs us to provoke vomiting by tickling the throat with feathers dipped in one of the emetic oils; to open the bowels with oily clysters; and to rouse the patient when in a state of stupor, by stimulants, restoratives, shaking him, pinching him, or tossing him in a garment. He recommends hellebore in cases of mania, melancholy, inveterate pains of the hip and other joints, epilepsy, catalepsy, vertigo, chronic headache, lethargy, leprosy, and other cutaneous diseases. He also praises it as a remedy in hydrophobia. (Med. Collect. viii.)

Aëtius states that hellebore is given in infusion, in decoction, and in substance, either cut into pieces or pounded and sifted. When administered in pieces it soon begins to act as a purgative, generally within two hours, bringing away bile and phlegm without much trouble, and after four or five hours the medicine itself is generally vomited up, and the purging stops. When given in a fine powder it acts violently but slowly, so that four or five hours have generally elapsed before its operation commences. He adds that in all its forms it evacuates bile and phlegm, but that it is attended with danger of bringing on convulsions or hypercatharsis. On the infusion he remarks, that it suits with old persons and children, to those who have a feeble constitution, and for the cure of elephantiasis. Five drachms of cut hellebore are to be allowed to macerate for three days in half a hemina of rain-water, after which it is to be strained and heated, when the whole of the infusion is to be taken. The decoction he recommends to be given to persons of a firmer habit of body, and in cases of mania and melancholy. It is to be thus prepared: A pound of hellebore, cut into pieces, is to be allowed to macerate for three days in two sext. of rain-water; after which it is to be boiled gently upon the coals until only a third remain; then, having strained it, we add to the decoction two pounds of scummed honey, and boil to the consistence of honey. It may be given as a linctus to the amount of a large spoonful, or mixed with hot water in a draught, when it will not superinduce spasms, contractions, or hypercatharsis. To those who stand in need of more violent concussion, who are of a strong habit of body and possess fortitude, and vomit readily, it is given cut into pieces; and to persons of still greater determination, or who have been accustomed to it, in the form of a sifted powder. It is to be cut into pieces of the size of malt or bran, and taken in ptisan or barley-water, a draught of mead or plain water being swallowed after to wash it away. The maximum close of it is dr. iiss. Hellebore may also be pounded and sifted in a fine sieve, when the larger particles may be given in halica (barley-water?) or pottage; but the smaller particles may be formed into pills with boiled honey. (iii, 131.) Macer Floridus concludes that scr. ij. is a sufficient dose of the white hellebore. (De Herb. vir.)

The Arabians give this medicine in the same forms and under the same circumstances as the Greeks. They estimate the dose of it at from dr. j to dr. ij. Mesue forbids it to be given in the form of a powder. He and Haly Abbas, however, recommend it in pills with hiera, colocynth, agaric, and various aromatics for the cure of elephantiasis and melancholy. Serapion states that there is great danger of its inducing convulsions if improperly administered. Avicenna’s account of the modes of giving it is very interesting.

Upon this subject we shall give the observations of the celebrated Prosper Alpinus: “Elleborus albus inter medicamenta vomitoria perpetuo apud omnes gentes præcipuum locum obtinet, fuitque in usu elleborismus, id est, purgatio per elleborum album, admodum familiaris apud antiquos, ad morbos sanatu difficillimos tollendos, cujus quidem usu complures ab affectibus ferè prorsus insanabilibus sanabantur, atque ita cito, et probè, ut eæ sanationes miracula viderentur; unde olim antiquorum illorum medicorum laus insigniter augebatur. Nunc vero non sine ægrotantium damno, atque magno artis medicæ dedecore, ipsius usus apud omnes ferè medicos obsolevit, qui nunc neque audent, neque sciunt, quomodo veratrum album exhibendum est.” (Med. Meth. iii, 10.) He gives the following prescription for making a preparation of hellebore: “Nonnulli ex recentioribus parant elleborum accipientes, ʒiss; vini dulcis aromatici, lb. j; turis, ʒiss; hyperici, ʒj; sacchari, ʒij; bulliant ad consumptionem mediatatis. Cujus decocti dant uncias tres.” He likewise approves of giving hellebore by boiling it in oil. (Ibid.)

The following is a very simple receipt for the preparation of the mel helleboratum or honey of hellebore: “Take of the roots of white hellebore, dried and sliced, one pound; of clarified honey, three pounds; of water four pints. After steeping the roots three days in the water, boil them a little while, then boil the liquor, well pressed out and strained, with the honey to a due consistence.” Dr. Pemberton (London Dispensatory, A. D. 1746.) By due consistence is meant the consistence of honey.

SECT. XI.—ON THE DIFFERENT KINDS OF ANTIDOTES.

The Preface of Galen’s work on Antidotes. Those compositions which cure affections not when they are applied externally, but when taken internally, are named antidotes by the ancients. There are three different kinds of them. The first are those which are administered for deleterious substances; the second, for those animals called venomous; and the third are the remedies for affections occasioned by bad articles of food. Some antidotes profess to fulfil all these three purposes, such as the one called theriac.

The preparation of the hedychroum, which forms an ingredient of the theriac. Of the bark of the root of aspalathus, of calamus aromaticus, of costus, of asarabacca, of xylobalsam, of valerian, of amaracus, of mastich, of each, dr. vj; of carpobalsam, dr. ij; of marum, dr. xvj; of the flower of the rush, dr. ij; of cinnamon, dr. xxiv; of amomum, of cassia, of rheum, of each, dr. viij; of Indian nard, of the cassia leaf (malabathrum), dr. xij; of myrrh, dr. xxiv; of saffron, dr. xij; mix with fine wine, and form into trochisks, having smeared the finger with opobalsam.

The preparation of trochisks of squills. Having covered over the squills with clay or dough, roast it moderately, and taking of the inner parts of it, p. ij; and of the flour of tares, p. j; and having triturated in like manner, form trochisks.

The preparation of the theriac trochisks. Having chosen four or five vipers of a tawny colour, and recently taken, cut off their heads, and four fingers’ breadth of the part next the tail, and having removed the skins and entrails, boil the rest in a new pot, with dill and a moderate quantity of salts, until the spines be separated from the flesh. Then removing and cleaning away properly the flesh from the spines, and having mixed with them an equal quantity of clean bread, and triturated them in like manner, form into small balls, having your fingers smeared with opobalsam, and cool in the shade.

The preparation of the theriac antidote. Of the trochisks of squills, dr. lxviij; of the theriac trochisks, dr. xxiv; of hedychroum, dr. xxiv; of cinnamon, dr. xxiv; of common pepper, dr. xxiv; of the juice of poppies, dr. xxiv; of dried roses, dr. xv; of water-germander, of rape-seed, of Illyrian iris, of agaric, of liquorice, of opobalsam, of each, dr. xij; of myrrh, of saffron, of ginger, of rhaponticum, of the root of cinquefoil, of calamint, of horehound, of stone-parsley, of cassidony, of costus, of white and long pepper, of dittany, of the flower of sweet rush, of male frankincense, of turpentine, of mastich, of black cassia, of spikenard, of each, dr. vj; of the flower of poley, of storax, of parsley-seed, of seseli, of shepherd’s pouch, of bishop’s weed, of germander, of ground pine, of the juice of hypocistis, of Indian leaf (malabathrum), of Celtic nard, of spignel, of gentian, of anise, of fennel-seed, of Lemnian earth, of roasted chalcitis, of amomum, of sweet-flag, of balsamum, of Pontic valerian, of St. John’s wort, of acacia, of gum, of cardamom, of each, dr. iv; of carrot-seed, of galbanum, of sagapen, of bitumen, of opoponax, of castor, of centaury, of the species of birthwort called clematis, of each, dr. ij; of Attic honey, lb. x; of Falernian wine, oz. ij. Put into a mortar the opium, hypocistis, myrrh, sagapen, liquorice, storax, acacia, and opoponax, and having poured in some honey pound and dissolve: then pouring in wine so as to cover them, macerate for three days; then having pounded the others, unite them, and scum the honey. It is to be laid up in vessels of silver or glass, not quite full, and the covers taken off every day. In case of need it may be used for persons bitten by venomous animals, and those who have taken anything poisonous, after seven years, a quantity of it, to the size of a filbert, being drunk twice a day, in three cyathi of wine. In like manner, to those who are in a dangerous state from some obscure cause, when the disorder in the body imitates the quality of a mortal poison, as is the case particularly in pestilential diseases, it is to be given once a day. But in all other affections, it is to be used from the tenth to the twentieth year. For coughs, pains of the chest or side, it is to be given at night, if free from fever, with wine and honey; but if feverish, with hydromel, to the extent of an Egyptian bean. In all cases of hæmoptysis, it is to be given morning and evening, to the size of an Egyptian bean; if recent, in oxycrate; or, if chronic, in the decoction of comfrey. In cases of flatulence, tormina, or cæliac affections, it is to be taken in the morning, to the size of an Egyptian bean, in hot water. It excites an intense appetite, and removes rigors, coldness, and vomiting of bile when drunk before the attack. It promotes menstruation, and expels the fœtus when dead, if drunk to the size of an Egyptian nut with honeyed water, or sweet wine, in which rue or dittany has been boiled. In the case of loss of voice, it is drunk alone, and with double the quantity of tragacanth in wine and honey, or sweet wine, being retained under the tongue and allowed to melt. For diseases of the spleen or liver, it is given with oxycrate; but if they are in a scirrhous state, with a cyathus and a half of oxymel, or vinegar of squills. For nephritic complaints, it is given with oxymel to the size of an Egyptian bean. In dysenteric cases it is given to the same amount, with the decoction of sumach, morning and evening. For dimness of vision it answers excellently thus: Mix oz. ij of the antidote, and of opobalsam, with one cyathus of honey, and after a little anoint with it. It is also used as a dentifrice. Many, for the sake of prophylaxis, take it at new moon to the size of a Grecian bean, after digestion, with a cochleare of honey and two cyathi of water. In like manner they use it when upon a journey they suspect that the air or water is bad.

Theriac salts. Take four female vipers recently caught; and then putting into a mortar one Italian modius of ammoniac or common salt, pound into thick pieces, along with it, of gentian, lb. iss; of round birthwort, lb. iss; of the hair of the small centaury, lb. ij; of cardamom, of horehound, of each, oz. vj; of water germander, of parsley, of Cretan germander, of each, lb. j; of the seed of garden rue, sext. ij: unite these with a sufficient quantity of Attic honey, and throwing the half of them into a new pot, and then the four vipers alive, add to them fresh tender squills, cut into small pieces, and then join to them the remaining half of the mixture formerly mentioned. Then having covered up the pot carefully, make three or four perforations in its lid to allow the vapour to escape, that it may indicate to you the progress of the operation of roasting. At first much smoke will be seen issuing, fuliginous and very turbid, indicating that the fire is acting upon the animals. You must then take care lest you inhale any of this smoke, which is infected with the exhalation from the vipers. When this vapour has ceased, you may see a fine flame issuing through the holes, by which you may know that they are properly roasted. Then having removed the pot from the fire, and allowed it to cool for a whole day and night, take out the ashes, pound them carefully, and sift them along with these mixtures: of the seed of wild rue, of Cretan hyssop, of each, oz. ix; of the seed of fennel, of Celtic nard, of Scythian base horehound, of each, oz. vj; of Macedonian stone-parsley, of Indian leaf, of each, oz. iv; of amomum, of grapes, of the seed of horminum toasted, of each, oz. iij; of the shoots of marjoram, of the shoots of thyme, of each, oz. ij; of juniper berries, of white and of long pepper, of each, lb. j; of the root of laserwort, oz. x; of coriander seed, of ginger not perforated, of the seed or root of satyrium, of pennyroyal, of the seseli of Marseilles, of mint, of each, oz. vj; of cassia fistula, oz. ij; of cinnamon, oz. j. I, however, have made the preparation, so that I did not burn the animals, but mixed the trochisks from them, as related under the theriac, with those things which are burnt along with the vipers, that the bitterness which they have in them may be laid aside during the burning. I added just such a proportion of the trochisks as I conjectured to agree with the contents of the four vipers. And truly in this way they turned out excellent.

The Mithridatic antidote from scinks. Of troglodytic myrrh, of ginger, of cinnamon, of each, dr. x; of spikenard, of frankincense, of shepherd’s pouch, of opobalsam, of schœnanth, of costus, of cassidony, of seseli, of galbanum, of turpentine, of long pepper, of castor, of hypocistis juice, of storax, of the leaves of malabathrum, of each, dr. iv; of black cassia, of poley, of white pepper, of water germander, of carrot-seed, of carpobalsam, of cyphi, of bdellium, of Celtic nard, of gum, of stone-parsley, of opium, of cardamom, of the seeds of fennel, of gentian, of rose-leaves, of each, dr. viij; of dittany, of anise, of sweet flag, of valerian, of each, dr. iij; of Athamantic spignel, of acacia, of the belly of a scink, of the seed of St. John’s wort, of each, dr. iss; of wine and honey, q. s. Prepare it in like manner as the theriac. Galen says, that it applies to the same cases as the theriac, with the exception of those who have been bitten by the viper, for there the theriac is more efficacious.

The antidote from different kinds of blood being a remedy against all venomous animals and deadly poisons. Of white and long pepper, of costus, of sweet flag, of valerian, of anise, of Cretan dittany, of each, dr. ij; of amomum, of opobalsam, of the seed of wild rue, of the seed of fennel, of Ethiopian cumin, of dill, of the dried blood of a male duck, of the blood of a kid, of the blood of a goose, of the blood of a female duck, of the seed of the wild rape, of each, dr. iij; of gentian root, of trefoil, of the schœnanth, of frankincense, of dried roses, of each, dr. iv; of cinnamon, dr. ij; of water germander, dr. viij; of stone-parsley, of poley, of myrrh, of nard, of each, dr. vj; of cassia, dr. iij; of Cyrenaic juice, dr. iij; of cassidony, dr. v; of asarabacca, dr. ij; of ammoniac perfume, dr. iij; of Athamantic spignel, dr. ij; of agaric, dr. ij; of carpobalsam, gr. xx; of boiled honey, q. s.

Simple oxymel. Of the most acrid white vinegar, sextar. j; of water, sextar. ij; of honey, sextar. j; boil to the consistence of the most liquid honey, despumating the honey.

The vinegar of squills. Of white squills cut into pieces, dried in the shade for forty days, and again cleaned, one mina; of good vinegar, sextar. xij. Put them into a vessel, cover it up, and allow to remain in the sun for sixty days; after which the squill is to be expressed and thrown away, and the strained vinegar laid up in a vessel. Some add one mina of squills to sextar. vj; others add the same quantity of green squills to the vinegar, and allow them to remain in the vessel six months; and it becomes more penetrative. It is applicable for defluxions of the mouth, as a gargle, and when drunk, for many internal affections, excepting when there is ulceration, and for many other purposes.

The oxymel of squills. Of the internal tender parts of squills, lb. ij; of strong white vinegar, sext. xv; of pepper, of Macedonian stone-parsley, of each, dr. ij; of Cretan carrot, of bishop’s weed, of anise, of Celtic nard, of lovage, of asarabacca, of cardamom, of spikenard, of amomum, of rha Ponticum, of each, oz. ss; of the seed of fennel, of cumin, of laserwort, of ginger, of pellitory, of Cretan hyssop, of costus, of pennyroyal, of each, oz. j; of green mint, one fasciculus; of green rue, five branches; of Attic honey, one sextarius; of rob, sext. ij; of green parsley, one fasciculus. Put the white inner parts of the squills bruised into the vinegar, and allow it to macerate seven days during the heat of the dog-days: then taking out the squills, which, if dried, are to be pounded, but if green, not pounded, add to the vinegar, and again, after seven days, having strained all, add the honey and rob to the vinegar, and having boiled to a proper consistence, lay them up in a glass vessel. This remedy is to be taken as a potion before food, or along with food for a sauce. It is much used.

Galen’s medicine from squills, answering particularly with epileptics. Having broken down squills with your hands into small pieces, put into a vessel used for containing honey, and having covered it up properly, put it in a place exposed to the midday during the heat of the dog-star; forty days after the rising of the dog-star loose it, and you will find that the body of the squill is melted down. Taking, then, its juice, sweeten it with some very fine honey, and give every day a spoonful of it, if to children, a small one, but if to adults, a large one. But triturate the body of the squill itself with honey and give a spoonful of it. It is inferior in power to the juice.

The antidote of Philo. Of white pepper, dr. xx; of hyoscyamus, dr. xx; of the juice of poppies, dr. x; of saffron, dr. v; of pellitory, of euphorbium, of spikenard, of each dr. j; of Attic or any other fine, well-boiled honey, q. s. Give to adults the size of a filbert, to smaller persons, that of a bean, and to children, the size of a chick-pea. It is an excellent anodyne and soporific medicine.

The Athanasian anodyne and pleuritic antidote, from Oribasius. Of cassia, dr. viij; of spikenard, of amomum, of saffron, of opium, of storax, of myrrh, of costus, of each, dr. iv; of despumated honey, q. s. The dose the same as that of the antidote of Philo.

The antidote from two peppers of similar powers. Of cardamom, of castor, of opium, of each, dr. iij; of myrrh, of costus, of white and of long pepper, of galbanum, of each, dr. iij; of saffron, dr. iij. Mix with well-boiled honey, and give to the size of a bean.

The antidote from poppy-heads and rob. Having macerated, in a sextarius of rob, eight or ten green, but not watery heads of poppy the day after they are gathered, and an ounce of liquorice for one day, boil until they are dissolved; and after they have acquired a moderate consistence, take from the fire, and put into a vessel, and use in the case of watchfulness, accompanied with fever, and when there is a thin defluxion from the head upon the chest.

The antidote from poppy-heads and honey. Boil the poppy-heads, as mentioned above, and the ounce of liquorice in oz. j of rain-water or spring-water until dissolved; and having squeezed it out, add to the decoction half a sextarius of honey and boil until it acquire consistence. Give it in those cases which, along with a mitigation of pain and the production of sleep, require purgative and detergent medicines, for the parts within the thorax, or about the lungs and kidneys.

The compound antidote from poppy-heads. Take of the water in which poppy-heads have been boiled, according to the above-mentioned proportion, sext. j; of sweet wine, two heminæ; of honey, lb. j; of saffron, of the juice of hypocistis, of each, dr. iv; boil to a proper consistence. That which is prepared from honey, poppy-heads, and quinces is more grateful to the stomach. It becomes more efficacious if along with the poppy-heads some melilot and liquorice be also boiled in the water.

A simple linctus or lohock from horehound, principally for consumptions. Boil a pound of the hair of horehound in six heminæ of water until but a third remain; then throw away the herb, and adding to the water an equal quantity of honey, boil to the consistence of honey, and give one cochleare (spoonful).

A compound lohock from horehound. Of the hairy parts of horehound, of Illyrian iris, of hyssop, of pennyroyal, of liquorice, of parsley, of each, oz. ij; of fatty dried figs, oz iij; of the kernels of the pine containing rosin, oz. iij; bruise the dry things into large pieces, and macerate with the figs in sextar. iij of water, and boil to a third part. Then having strained the water, add of honey, lb. ij, and boil to the consistence of honey.

The lohock from tares. Of bitter almonds, oz. ij; of the flour of tares, oz. iv; of hyssop, oz. iv; of iris, oz. ss; of toasted pine-nuts, oz. ij; of honey, sextar. j, or q. s.

The lohock called Dodecatheon. Of Illyrian iris, oz. iv; of tares, oz. iv; of hyssop, oz. ij; of nettle-seed, oz. ij; of liquorice, oz. ij; of fenugreek, oz. ij; of the bulbi, oz. iv; of toasted linseed, oz. iv; of gith, scr. xviij; of pennyroyal, scr. viij; of toasted pine-nuts, oz. ij; of pepper, scr. vj; of honey, q. s.

The antidote Sotira. Of spikenard, scr. xxxix; of myrrh, scr. xxvij; of saffron, scr. xxxvij; of castor, scr. xxxix; of opium, scr. xxxvj; of stone-parsley, scr. xlv; of anise, scr. ix; of parsley, scr. vij; of the schœnanth, scr. xxxvj; of cassia, scr. xij; of long pepper, scr. xij; of the seed of sinon, scr. vj; of storax, scr. xviij; of amomum, scr. xij; of seseli, scr. xij; of hedychroum, scr. xviij; of costus, scr. xviij; of asarabacca, scr. xviij; of honey, q. s.

The cough medicine from storax. Of amomum, of cassia, of each, oz. ij; of storax, of spikenard, of each, oz. iss; of saffron, of white pepper, of each oz. j; of honey, sext. j; give a spoonful.

The medicine of Philoxenus for empyema and chronic defluxions. Of turpentine, dr. xxviij; of nard, dr. xvj; of the oil of myrrh, dr. vj; of cardamom, of the bulbi, dr. vj; of saffron, dr. xij; of galbanum, dr. xvj; bitter almonds, lxxx; of honey, a hemina. It is given in water to drink to the size of an Egyptian bean.

The much-used antidote of Esdra; it is very desiccative. Of amomum, scr. vj; of saffron, scr. xviij; of the seed of carrot, scr. iss; of the seed of fennel, scr. iij; of cassia, scr. iss; of schœnanth, scr. iiiss; of cinnamon, scr. iij; of the juice of hypocistis, scr. ivss; of sulphur, scr. v; of poppy-seeds, scr. v; of pellitory, scr. iij; of stone-parsley, scr. iss; of Illyrian iris, scr. vijss; of the seeds of henbane, gr. xiijss; of spikenard, scr. vijss; of the seeds of rue, scr. iss; of dill, scr. iij; of cardamom, scr. iij; of dried roses, scr. ivss; of the flower of nerium (it is, as it were, the flower-cup from which the rose of the rose-bay emerges), and of the rose of it, of each, scr. iij; of Pontic rhubarb, scr. vj; of gentian, scr. vj; of hedychroum, scr. iss; of tragacanth, scr. xv; of buckthorn, scr. vj; of the leaves of citron, scr. vj; of the seed of basil, scr. iss; of anise, scr. iij; of euphorbium, scr. iij; of Indian leaf, scr. ij; of Celtic nard, scr. vj; of spignel, scr. iij; of costus, of myrrh, of each, scr. vj; of bdellium, scr. xvj; of the juice of southernwood, scr. xiij; of Syriac sumach, scr. xxvss; of asarabacca, of the belly of a cormorant, of the jasper-stone, of each, scr. iij; of pepper, scr. xv; of castor, scr. iss; of Cimolian earth, scr. vj; of sison (bishop’s weed?), scr. ix; of storax, scr. ix; of opobalsam, scr. xij; of the herb seseli, scr. iss; of honey, oz. xxviij; of wine, q. s.

The medicine from the flesh of quinces. Three pounds of clean quinces are boiled in three sextarii of old wine, then pounded, and there is added to them, of pepper, of anise, of lovage, of each, when triturated, oz. j. Some also add, of ginger, oz. ss; and others, instead of the wine, use vinegar.

The medicine from the juice of quinces of approved efficacy for anorexia and dyspepsia. Of the juice of ripe quinces, sext. ij; of fine honey, sext. ij; of vinegar, sext. j; of ginger, oz. iij; of white pepper, oz. ij: boil to a proper consistence. Galen prepares it for those affected with cold. But, he says, when bile prevails, prepare it without the pepper and ginger.

The preparation of a tablet from quinces. Six pounds of clean quinces are boiled in wine until they become soft. Then being strained and triturated, some add, of honey, lb. viij, and boil at a slow fire, stirring with a piece of reed until the whole will not stain the hand; and then they add the following things bruised: of pepper, oz. iij; of anise, oz. iij; of stone-parsley, oz. j. Some also add of ginger, oz. j, and of mastich, oz. j. When mixed, they are formed into cakes of half an ounce each, and are composed along with bay-leaves.

Another medicine from quinces, having the pieces bruised, but entire. Of clean quinces cut into pieces, lb. viij are boiled in sext. viij of wine moderately, so that they may not be dissolved. Then there are mixed with them of despumated honey, lb. viij; of pepper, oz. viij; of stone-parsley, of anise, of each, oz. iij; of ginger, oz. v; of spikenard, oz. iss; of cloves, oz. j. When all these things are pounded and moderately boiled to the consistence of broth, take them off, and having cooled it, add the pieces of quinces to the broth.

The antidote from three peppers. Of common, of white, and of long pepper, of each, dr. vij; of ginger, of anise, of thyme-tops, dr. ij; of honey, q. s.

Another, of Oribasius. Of white pepper, oz. ij; of black and of long pepper, of spikenard, of cinnamon, of bishop’s weed, of walnut, of hyssop, of seseli, of carrot, of stone-parsley, of each, oz. j; of ginger, dr. iv; of honey, lb. iij.

Another. Of common pepper, oz. iij; of white pepper, oz. j; of long, oz. j; of stone-parsley, of cinnamon (or double the quantity of cassia), of ginger, of each, oz. j; of honey, oz. xxj, or q. s.; and have also mixed of the corymbi of thyme, oz. j.

The diospolites. Of cumin, which has been macerated in water and toasted, oz. j; of pepper, of ginger, of each, oz. ij; of green rue, oz. iss; of natron, dr. iiss. Mix with honey.

The medicine from calamint. Of stone-parsley, of penny-royal, of seseli, of calamint, of each, oz. iij; of parsley-seed, oz. j; of the corymbi of thyme, oz. j; of lovage, oz. iv; of pepper, dr. xij; of honey, q. s.

The medicine from citron, for those of slow digestion. Of vinegar, heminæ iij; of the flesh of citron, lb. j; of hyssop, of rue, of origany, of each, a fasciculus; having been allowed to macerate for a night and a day in the vinegar, they are to be boiled to a third, and being expressed, are to be thrown away. But with the vinegar is mixed of honey, sext. j; and then it is to be boiled to the consistence of honey. When it acquires consistence, there is to be added to it, of asarabacca, of spignel, of white pepper, of each, oz. ij. The dose is a spoonful in the morning and at bedtime.

The picra of Galen. Of aloes, dr. c; of xylobalsam, of mastich, of saffron, of spikenard, of asarabacca, of cinnamon, of each, dr. vj; some add also, of schœnanth and of cassia, of each, dr. vj. Give dr. j in hydromel.

The picra from oxymel for stomach complaints, colics, affections of the uterus, and dropsy. Of aloes, oz. iv; of Indian leaf, oz. ij; of costus, of cassia, of amomum, of iris, of each, dr. j; of the bark of the root of fennel, lb. j; of mastich, of Celtic nard, of ginger, of each, dr. j; of pepper, dr. j; of spignel, dr. j; of vinegar, sext. iss; of honey, sext. iss. The fennel being first boiled in the vinegar is thrown away, then the honey is added, and after boiling to the consistence of honey, the other things are sprinkled in powder.

An excellent composition from the liver of a wolf. Of gentian, of ground-pine, of stone-parsley, of horehound, of the gall of a bear, of mustard, of ceterach, of the root of panax, of rubrica, of madder, of cabbage-seed, of long birthwort, of white pepper, of spikenard, of costus, of the seed of rocket, of the seed of eryngo, of poley, of viper’s bugloss, of hemp-agrimony, of juniper-berries, of the liver of a wolf, of elecampane, equal parts. Mix with well-boiled honey. The dose is the size of a filbert, with boiled wine and honey.

The antidote Theodoretus with anacardia. Of anacardia, oz. iss; of saffron, of cassia, of Indian leaf, of spikenard, of cloves, of spignel, of agaric, of schœnanth, of Pontic rhubarb, of dodder of thyme, of each, dr. iv; of sweet-flag, of pepper, of each, oz. iss; of aloes, oz. iij; of saxifrage, of mastich, of Illyrian iris, of each, oz. iss; of nutben, oz. j; of honey, lb. vj, or q. s.

The Theodoretus without anacardia. Of aloes, dr. lx; of agaric, dr. xxiv; of saffron, of cassia, of Pontic rhubarb, of sweet-flag, of cinnamon, of mastich, of each, dr. x; of costus, of the seed of rue, of white pepper, of each, dr. viij; of spikenard, dr. iij; of xylobalsam, of asarabacca, of germander, of spignel, of each, dr. iv; of honey, q. s. Some here add two anacardia. The dose is dr. ij, with honeyed water.

The cyphoides for hepatic affections and complaints in the chest. Of the flesh of dried grape, dr. xxv; of saffron, dr. j; of calamus, dr. ij; of bdellium, dr. iiss; of cassia, dr. iss; of cinnamon, three oboli; of nard, three oboli; of sweet rush, dr. ij; of myrrh, dr. iv; of turpentine, dr. iv; of the scrapings of aspalathus, twelve oboli; of honey, dr. xvj; of wine, q. s.

Another cyphoides, of Alexander. Of saffron, of cinnamon, of bdellium, of each, dr. iv; of myrrh, of calamus, of each, dr. ij; of bitumen, of schœnanth, of each, dr. iij; of cassia, of nard, of each, dr. j; of turpentine, dr. xvj; of the flesh of dried grapes, dr. clx; of honey, hemin. iss; of Chian wine, q. s.

An hepatic medicine from cacanus. Of cacanus, oz. j; of costus, oz. j; of Indian leaf, scr. viij; of white pepper, scr. vj; of spikenard, scr. vj; of honey, q. s. Give a spoonful with hippocras.

The Zopyrius. Of myrrh, dr. v; of saffron, of cassia, of each, dr. iv; of cinnamon, dr. iij; of spikenard, dr. ij; of schœnanth, dr. ij; of white pepper, dr. iss; of frankincense, dr. j; of costus, dr. j; of honey, q. s.

The Pæonian antidote. Of the styrax calamite, dr. vj; of frankincense, of amomum, of saffron, of each, oz. iss; of spikenard, dr. vj; of Indian leaf, dr. ij; of white pepper, dr. vj; and of common, dr. viij; of myrrh, oz. j; of costus, oz. j; of honey, q. s.

The hepatic pills, of Dositheus. Of aloes, oz. j; of spikenard, of Indian leaf, of costus, scr. ij; of agaric, scr. viij; of mastich, scr. xiij; of dodder of thyme, dr. iv; of Pontic rhubarb, scr. j.

The splenic oxymel. Of the bark of the root of capers, of scolopendrium, of spikenard, of asarabacca, of iris, of schœnanth, of the flower of cyperus, of anise, of cumin, of fennel, of sweetflag, of the fruit of heath, of each, oz. j; of the leaves of tamarisk, of the leaves of willow, of the root of parsley, of the frankincense tree, of squills, of each, oz. ij; of vinegar, sextar. iij; of honey, sext. iij; of ammoniac perfume, oz. iij. Prepare like that from squills. Give two spoonfuls.

An oxymel for calculous complaints. Of saxifrage, of bettony, of couch-grass, of maiden-hair, of spikenard, of carpesium, of asarabacca, of eryngo, of each, oz. j; of Macedonian stone-parsley, of the seed of rue, of each, oz. ss; of green fennel, of iris, of baked squills, of knee-holly (chamædaphne), of each, oz. ij; of the bark of the root of capers, oz. iij; of water-parsnip, oz. ij; of water, of vinegar, of honey, of each, sext. ij.

The lithontriptic posca. Of pennyroyal, of mastich, of parsley-seed, of dried mint, of each, oz. j; of common salt toasted, lb. j; of coriander-seed, of spikenard, of anise, of bishop’s weed, of each, scr. vj; of Indian leaf, scr. iv; of white pepper, oz. ss, (or of common oz. j); of the seed of gromwell, oz. vj; of bettony, oz. vj; of fine vinegar, sext. v. When all are pounded, sifted, and triturated very fine, let them be mixed with vinegar for three days, and exposed in the sun for forty days. At the time of using, having made a decoction of black chick-peas, and of the root of asparagus, and of maiden-hair, and of parsley, add, for the sake of temperament, of vinegar hemin. ij, and let the patient drink it in the hot bath. Some give scr. xij of the afore-mentioned things, in powder with oxycrate mixed with the decoction of the afore-mentioned herbs; and the medicine is no less efficacious.

A lithontriptic hippocras. Of white pepper, of saxifrage, of spikenard, of gromwell, of bettony, of each, oz. j; of stone-parsley, of Indian leaf, of each, oz. iss; of the seed of wild rue, oz. ss; of honey, sext. j; of Ascolonitic wine, sext. xvj.

The medicine from the blood of the buck-goat. When the grape begins to ripen, take the blood of a full-grown buck-goat, and having dried it in the sun, give to persons affected with calculi two spoonfuls of it with Cretan must. Some also mix, of amomum, of Indian leaf, of each, oz. iij; and others of myrrh, scr. iv.

The nephritic composition from cicadæ. Of gromwell, of the garfish burned, of seseli, of each, oz. j; of bishop’s weed, of the seed of the garden cucumber, of common saxifrage, of grapes without their stones, of the seed of marsh-mallows, of the white fasil, of lyncurium, of each, oz. ss; of spikenard, of valerian, of spignel, of the stones from sponges, of each, dr. j; of maidenhair, of the seed within the Christ’s thorn, of water-parsnip, of the root of brambles, of couch-grass, of polypody, of each, dr. iij; of goat’s blood dried, as described, scr. vj; of dried cicadæ, without the head, wings, and feet, oz. iv; of white pepper, dr. vj; of boiled honey, q. s. The dose is the size of a filbert in hippocras, or the decoction of caltrops, or of saxifrage, or of sinon, or of the root of asparagus, or of couch-grass, or of cinquefoil, or of the root of fullers-herb.

The antidote from gromwell. Of gromwell, of betony, of saxifrage, of stone-parsley, of white pepper, equal parts. Mix with honey.

The antidote from the seed of leeks. Of white and of black pepper, of Cretan carrot, of the seed of the garden cucumber, of the seed of fennel, of the seed of leeks, of Macedonian stone-parsley, of pellitory, of ginger, of the Indian leaf, of each, oz. j; of honey, q. s.

The antidote from tecolithos, or lapis Judaicus. Of spikenard, of hyssop, of lapis Judaicus, of each, scr. viij; of pepper, scr. xij; of ginger, of stone-parsley, of costus, of saxifrage, of each, scr. vj; of cassia, of parsley-seed, of each, scr. iij; of cyperus, scr. vj; of the scrapings of ivory, scr. iv; of the wood of cardamom, scr. vj; of gromwell, scr. iv; of honey, q. s.

The antidote from the seed of the wild mallow. Of the seed of the garden cucumber, dr. xij; of the seed of henbane, dr. vj; of the seed of hemlock, dr. iij (but some use vj); of opium, of fennel, of the seed of the wild mallow, of saffron, of each, dr. iij; of parsley-seed, dr. vj; of cassia, dr. iv; almonds, x; walnuts, x; filberts, x; of asarabacca, dr. iv; mix with Cretan must, and give three oboli, if the patient be free from fever, with rob. But some mix it with honey.

A nephritic medicine from dessert-fruits, for ulceration of the bladder and kidneys. Of the white grape, deprived of its stones, of fresh pine-nuts, of each, oz. ij; of the seed of cucumber, stripped of its bark; of myrtles deprived of their bones; of bitter almonds, of fatty dates, of parsley-seed, of poppy-seed, of saffron, of each, dr. j; of myrrh, oz. ij. Give a drachm of it in must to the patient, fasting.

The satyriac antidote. Of ginger, of the superior satyrion (herb dogs-tooth?), of each, dr. viij, of the tail of a scink, of spignel, of asarabacca, of stone-parsley, of cardamom, of seseli, of each, dr. iv; of the seed of rocket, of cinnamon, of each, dr. iij; of all-good (horminum), of white pepper, of the seed of bastard saffron, of each, dr. ij; of the schœnanth, of spikenard, of each, dr. j, of goat’s blood, a mystrum (spoonful). A drachm is given with wine, but to those who are weaker, with milk.

Pills from xylomacer for dysenteries. Of xylomacer, of opium, of Pontic rhubarb, of each, scr. vj; of gall, of myrrh, of each, oz. j; mix with palm wine.

Remedies for the gout. The antidote from corallium. Of rheum barbarum, of pæony, of troglodytic myrrh, of spikenard, of each, oz. ij; of Indian leaf, oz. j; of cloves, gr. xv, of the pimpernel having the purple flower which they call corallium, oz. ss; of long birthworth, oz. iv, and of round, oz. vj. One scruple is to be given as a dose every day to the patient, when digestion is accomplished. We must begin at the autumnal equinox, which is about the 24th of the month of September; and it is to be taken regularly for fifty days, and then interrupted for fifteen days; and this is to be done until the whole 365 days be completed. It is to be given up during the whole of the dog-days, that is, from the 24th of June to the end of August. The patient must abstain from venery, from flesh, particularly that of swine, and from pickle, sauce, beet, carrot, mint, and from boiled lettuces and pompions; from fishes, as the mullet, gomphi (gobii?), mollusca, and the testacea; from all the legumes, and in short from all things which furnish a thick chyme, and from black wine, and from much wine of any kind. He is to bathe every day, and take exercise either on foot or on horseback, or in a vehicle. Those who are of a drier habit have not been injured by a less restricted diet.

The podagric antidote of Agapetus. Of Indian leaf, of rheum barbarum, of saffron, of spikenard, of troglodytic myrrh, of costus, of germander, of each, oz. ij; of hepatic aloes, oz. v; of St. John’s wort, of pæony, of each, oz. iij; of long birthwort, of valerian, of spignel, of vervain mallow, of pimpernel, of each, oz. iv. The mode of using it is the same as that of corallium.

The podagric remedy, called atactos. Of Indian leaf, of spignel, of vervain mallow, of the pimpernel having the blue flower, of madder, of mastich, of saffron, of cassia, of hepatic aloes, of gentian, of germander, of each, oz. j; of cloves, of white and of black pepper, of each, oz. ss; of spikenard, of myrrh, of rheum barbarum, of the root of pæony, of the long birthwort, and of the round, of each, oz. ij. To be used in like manner.

The podagric antidote of Proclus, answering also with ischiatic disease. Of germander, oz. ix; of centaury, oz. viij; of birthwort, oz. vij; of gentian, oz. vj; of St. John’s wort, oz. v; of Macedonian stone-parsley, oz. iv; of spignel, oz. iij; of agaric, oz. ij; of valerian, oz. j; of Attic honey, two heminæ.

The composition from seven ingredients for the same purposes. Of St. John’s wort, of long birthwort, of each, oz. j; of centaury, of ground pine, of agaric, of each, oz. iij; of germander, oz. vj; of gentian, oz. v. Some add likewise, of stone-parsley, oz. j; of honey, dr. v. The dose is dr. j.

* * * * *

COMMENTARY. Celsus thus defines the nature of antidotes: “Antidota raro, sed præcipue interdum necessaria sunt, quia gravisismis casibus opitulantur. Ea recte quidem dantur collisis corporibus vel per ictus, vel ubi ex alto deciderunt, vel in viscerum, laterum, faucium, interiorumque partium doloribus; maxime autem desideranda sunt adversus venena, vel per morsus, vel per cibos, aut potiones nostris corporibus inserta.” He gives prescriptions for three antidotes. They consist principally of stimulant and aromatic medicines, mixed with honey and wine. (v, 23.)

Most of the antidotes treated of in this chapter are copied from Galen’s work ‘De Antidotis,’ but our author, in many instances, has used the liberty to introduce various alterations, either with the view of simplifying or improving upon the formulæ of Galen. Mesue also treats fully of antidotes in his work, ‘De Electariis,’ wherein he substitutes a considerable number of Arabic articles for those used by the Greeks. Serapion describes these compositions with extreme prolixity. (Tract. vii.) But what shall we say of Myrepsus, who gives prescriptions for 511 antidotes? Of these, and such like multifarious compositions, it would be idle to attempt any general analysis, and therefore we shall pass by all the articles treated of in this chapter unnoticed, with the exception of the Theriac, which was so celebrated in the records of ancient medicine, that we think ourselves called upon to give some further account of it. Galen devotes two distinct treatises to the consideration of the celebrated theriac from vipers, besides giving a general description of it in his work on antidotes. Our author’s account of it is merely an abridgment of his. Galen mentions that Mithridates, king of Pontus, had, by repeated experiments upon condemned malefactors, acquired a most thorough knowledge of the proper antidotes for almost every venomous reptile and poisonous substance, and hence he constructed the composition bearing his name, which was long esteemed as a general antidote to deleterious substances. From it Andromachus, the chief physician to the emperor Nero, formed his famous theriac, having added the flesh of vipers, and otherwise altered some of the ingredients in the theriac of Mithridates. The prescription for it was translated into verse by Damocrates, and the poem, consisting of 174 lines, is preserved in Galen’s work, ‘De Antidotis.’ As stated by Galen, it was composed of inspissated juices, liquid juices, barks, roots, flowers, seeds, and fleshes. Of the vegetable substances which entered into the composition of it, it is difficult to remark any one general character, although one can have no difficulty in perceiving that by far the greater number of them are hot, volatile stimulants, which, agreeably to the ancient views of practice, as explained by us in the Fifth Book, were supposed to counteract the frigidity of poisons. It was, no doubt, with the same intention that Andromachus added the flesh of vipers, from which, as a modern author, Moses Charras, remarks, a volatile salt and oil are procured. In preparing the vipers, Galen directs us to cut off the head and tail to the extent of four fingers’ breadth, and then to take out their entrails and fat, and boil them until the backbone be separated from the flesh, when the latter is to be taken out and formed into trochisks, with crumb of bread. We need not occupy time with detailing all the other steps in the formation of this multifarious composition, as our author’s account is sufficiently ample and accurate. Galen expresses great confidence in it, especially as an antidote to poisons, and a remedy for inveterate diseases of the skin, such as leprosy and elephantiasis. It derives its name, he says, either from its being used as a remedy for the stings of venomous animals (θήρια), or because the flesh of such a reptile, namely, the viper, entered into the composition of it.

The Greek authorities subsequent to Galen repeat his directions for forming this celebrated medicine, and any alterations which they make in it are not very important. The Rheum barbarum instead of the Rhâ Ponticum appears in the prescription given by Myrepsus. Like his predecessors, he praises the theriac not only as an antidote to poisons, but as a preservative from pestilential diseases. Actuarius, who describes it very accurately, pronounces it to be the best of all the antidotes.

Averrhoes’s treatise on the theriac is interesting and worth consulting, although his views are upon the whole much in accordance with those of Galen. He seems to have referred its action as a medicine to its power in rousing the vital heat of the system; and hence he very properly forbids it to be administered in all cases of an inflammatory and bilious nature. He therefore condemns the use of it in pleurisy unless when the pain is dull and chronic. He says, it ought not to be given in cases of difficult parturition, unless when it is wished to rouse the expulsive faculty, or when the fœtus is dead. According to his account, the composition has not arrived at perfection, when it is four years old, and it retains its powers until after forty years.

Haly Abbas sums up the medicinal properties of the theriac with stating that it dries the natural humidity, strengthens the viscera, cleanses the organs of food and respiration, and expels superfluities from the brain. Hence he pronounces it to be a remedy for all the diseases which attack the human body. (Pract. x, 4.)

Serapion describes the following methods of trying whether the theriac be good: 1st. Give of it to the amount of a drachm to a person who has taken a powerful emetic or cathartic, such as white hellebore or scammony, and if it counteract the effect of the medicine that has been taken, we know that it is genuine. 2d. As Galen directs, having got a wild cock, allow it to be stung by a venomous reptile, and then give it a proper dose of the theriac. If the fowl escape unhurt we are sure that the medicine is good; but if he die we know that it is not to be depended upon. 3d. Give a poisonous substance, such as opium, to a cock or a dog, and then administer the theriac, the powers of which may be judged of from the result.

Moses Charras, who published ‘The Royal Pharmacopœia’ about the end of the seventeenth century, thus enumerates the medicinal uses of the theriac of Andromachus: “Treacle being composed of a great quantity of hot medicaments, ought to be very much esteemed for the cure of cold diseases, and of all those where the natural heat is feeble and languishing, especially, among the rest, of palsies, epilepsies, convulsions, and all cold diseases of the head. It is proper against all weaknesses and want of retention in the stomach and intestines; against the diarrhœa, dysentery, lientery, morbus cholera, and all sort of colics; against agues, and particularly the quartan; against the worms; against all sorts of poison, the pestilence, smallpox, the measles, and all epidemic diseases; against the biting of mad dogs and all sorts of venomous animals; against want of sleep, and griping pains in children; against hysteric passions, the jaundice, and an infinite sort of other diseases.” (P. i, c. 20.)

This famous medicine was expelled from the ‘British Pharmacopœia’ about the middle of the last century. When its rejection was proposed by Dr. Heberden, the College divided upon the question, and there were found to be 13 votes for retaining, and 14 for rejecting it. Its medicinal virtues had been previously questioned by Capivaccius, Trincavallius, and Julius Alexandrinus. It is still retained, however, in the ‘Codex Medicamentarius’ of Paris; and, we understand, is much used by the Greek physicians in Constantinople. A formula for a theriac is contained in the Greek Pharmacopœia of the present day. Although it still retains the name of “Theriaca Andromachi,” it consists of but a very small number of ingredients in comparison with the original preparation. Dr. Mead says of it, “The physicians in Italy and France very commonly prescribe the broth and jelly of viper’s flesh to invigorate and purify the mass of blood exhausted with diseases or tainted with some vicious and obstinate ferment.” (On Poisons.) Upon the virtues of viper’s flesh, Duemerbroeck expresses himself in the following terms: “Carnes viperinas ac serpentinas adversus multa venena eximiam antidotalem vim obtinere adeo notum est ut absolutè negari non possit, idque non tantum liquet ex Galeni testimoniis verum etiam ex quotidianâ experientiâ. Sic Hartmannus scribit se propriis oculis vidisse, a quodam experto medico tribus diebus continuis intra corpus gravissima quædam venena assumpta eademque paulo post sine ullâ noxâ, ab exhibito pulvere cum astantium admiratione iterum expulsa fuisse.” (De Peste, iii, 5.)

SECT. XII.—ON TROCHISKS, OR TROCHES.

Trochisks are so named from their form. There are three kinds of them. For some of them are to be swallowed, some injected, and some rubbed in. Of those which are swallowed, some are for restraining the belly, or a flow of blood, or any other discharge, by their cooling, astringent, obstruent, or desiccative qualities, such as that from Egyptian thorn, that from seeds, and the like. Some are anodyne, either by deadening the sensibility, such as the saffron, or by dispelling, like those from aromatic substances. Some act as deobstruents on the spleen, kidneys, and liver, such as that from bitter almonds. Of those which are injected, some are for blunting acrimony, as in dysentery, such as those from pompholyx, starch, and Samian earth, injected with the juice of ptisan, or the like. Some act as astringents upon the alvine discharges, or a flow of blood, as those from alum, acacia, and omphacium, such as that of Philip; or that consisting of Egyptian thorn, injected with the juice of roses or of plantain. Those that are caustic agree with spreading dysenteries, being composed of sandarach, arsenic, quicklime, and burnt pepper; but they are to be injected with the juice of lentils or of rice, the intestine being first washed out with salt water, and the patients having eaten and drunk beforehand, so that none of the powers of the medicine may be carried up to the stomach. Those trochisks which are injected prove serviceable principally in affections below the navel, for their power does not reach higher up. Those which are rubbed in are possessed of similar powers to those which are injected. But the astringent ones are applicable in herpes, exanthemata, intertrigo, hemorrhage, and ulcers attended with discharges, such as that of Andron and that of Polyides. Those possessed of blunting powers agree with carbuncle, and ill-conditioned ulcers, such as the white trochisks, and that from lotaria. Those which burn as those mentioned above, like the Faustian, are applicable in spreading ulcers in the pudenda and anus, and for pterygia and sarcomata.

The trochisk aster. Of saffron, of castor, of spikenard, of cassia, of myrrh, of Lemnian earth, of the bark of mandragora, of each, oz. iv; of carrot, of parsley, of anise, of seseli, of the seed of henbane, of storax, of each, dr. viij. Triturate with wine.

The trochisk trigonus. Of the seed of parsley, of the seed of henbane, of each, dr. ij; of anise, dr. viij; of opium, dr. iij. Triturate with water.

The trochisk from seeds. Of anise, of bishop’s weed, of the seed of fennel, of each, dr. iv; of the seed of parsley, of opium, of the seed of henbane, of each, dr. ij. Triturate with water.

The trochisk croceus, or saffron trochisk. Of anise, of the seed of Cretan carrot, of each, dr. iv; of myrrh, of castor, of each, dr. ij; of saffron, of opium, of each, dr. iij; of the seed of parsley, of storax, of each, dr. iv; of the seed of henbane, dr. vj. Triturate with water.

The trochisk from roses. Of acacia, of gum, of the flower of roses, of pomegranate flowers, of the juice of hypocistis, of galls, of each, dr. iij; of the juice of green roses, of the seed of plantain, of each, dr. j; of Indian buckthorn, dr. j.

The trochisk from corallium. Of the seed of henbane, of frankincense, of each, dr. viij; of Samian earth, of corallium, of Sinopic vermilion, of opium, of each, dr. iv; of starch, of the flowers of the wild pomegranate, of each, dr. ij. Mix with the juice of knotgrass.

The trochisk from amber. Of fleawort, oz. v; of mastich, oz. iv; of the scrapings of amber, of iris, of saffron, of each, oz. iv; of opium, oz. ij.

The trochisk from Egyptian thorn. Of Egyptian thorn, of sumach, of frankincense, of acacia, of stone-alum, of the juice of hypocistis, of galls, of Lemnian earth, of corallium, of comfrey, of Samian aster, of aloes, of Cretan cistus, equal parts. Mix with wine.

The trochisk which Galen entitles the aphrodisiasticum clidion. Of the flowers of the cultivated pomegranate, of Egyptian thorn, of the flowers of the wild pomegranate, of the juice of hypocistis, of acacia, of each, dr. vj; of buckthorn, of Pontic rhubarb, of opium, of each, dr. iv; of myrrh, dr. ij. Mix with myrtle wine, or the decoction of roses or of myrtles.

The clidion of Oribasius, for dysentery and cæliac affection. Of the immature gall, dr. viij; of opium, dr. iv. Form into pills with water, and give three or four.

The trochisk from hartshorn for dysentery and hæmoptysis. Of snails, dr. xij; of burnt hartshorn, of roasted galls, of roasted acacia, of each, dr. v; obol. xij; of black myrtles, dr. xv; of dried opium, of the juice of hypocistis, of each, dr. v; of the œnanthe, dr. v; of the juice of the root of mandragora, of terra aster, of each, dr. xij; of the sumach used for condiments, dr. xiv; of roasted pomegranate rind, dr. vij; of frankincense, dr. viij; of the roasted bark of pine, dr. xiv; of the seed of henbane roasted, dr. x; of the rhus coriaria, sext. ii; of dark-coloured wine, what will be sufficient to boil the sumach until the wine become thick. When it is strained, add the other things, and form the trochisks.

The trochisk of the Amazons. Of the seed of parsley, of anise, of each, dr. vj; of the hair of wormwood, dr. iv; of myrrh, of pepper, of opium, of castor, of each, dr. ij; of cinnamon, dr. vj. Mix with water.

The trochisk from bitter almonds. Of anise, of the seed of parsley, of asarabacca, of bitter almonds, of the hair of wormwood, equal parts; form, with water, trochisks of dr. j each. Give to those who are free from fever in wine and honey, and to those who have fever in water and honey.

The splenic trochisk from heath. Of the fruit of heath, dr. iv; of white pepper, of Syriac nard, of ammoniac perfume, of each, dr. ij. The ammoniac is dissolved in water, and added to the powders, and trochisks are formed containing a drachm each. The dose is one trochisk, with one cyathus of oxymel.

The trochisk from alkakengi. Of the seed of the cultivated cucumber, stripped of its bark, oz. iv; of the seed of henbane, of hemlock, of each, oz. ij; of fennel, of the seed of dock, of saffron, of pine nuts, of bitter almonds, of opium, of each, oz. j; of alkakengi, sext. iij; of wine, q. s.

The trochisk of Philip, for dysentery. Of the flowers of the wild pomegranate, of acacia, of the juice of hypocistis, of opium, of sumach, of frankincense, of myrrh, of saffron, of gall, of aloes, of Pontic rhubarb, of the rind of pomegranate, of myrtles, of each, dr. iv. Mix with austere wine, and form into trochisks of three oboli each. Give to those who are free from fever with wine, and to those in fever with hydromel.

The trochisk of Musa. Of alum, of aloes, of myrrh, of copperas (blue vitriol?) of each, oz. iss; of pomegranate rind, of saffron, of crocomagma, of each, dr. vj, in wine.

The preparation of the crocomagma. Of saffron, oz. ij; of roses, of starch, of myrrh, of aloes, of frankincense, of gum, of each, oz. j; of costus, of spikenard, of each, dr. j, in wine. In the prescription for oil of saffron another mode of preparing crocomagma is described.

The trochisk Nerè, from the works of Hera. Of myrrh, of aloes, of saffron, of each, dr. viij; of fissile alum, dr. c. Mix with water.

The sigillum of Polyides. Of fissile alum, dr. iij; of frankincense, dr. iv; of myrrh, dr. viij; of copperas (chalcanthum?), dr. ij; of the flowers of the cultivated pomegranate, dr. xij; of the gall of bulls, dr. vj (others use dr. xvj); of aloes, oz. j. Mix with austere wine.

The trochisk of Pasion. Of squama æris, dr. xij; of burnt copper, of sal ammoniac, of round alum, of scraped verdigris, of frankincense, of each, dr. viij; of wine, q. s.

The trochisk Andronius. Of the flowers of the cultivated pomegranate, dr. x; of myrrh, dr. iv; of galls, dr. viij; of round birthwort, dr. iv; of copperas, of saffron, of fissile alum, of crocomagma, of misy, of frankincense, of each, dr. ij. Triturate with astringent wine or vinegar.

The trochisk of Faustinus. Of arsenic, dr. xij; of sandarach, dr. vj; of quicklime, dr. viij; of burnt paper, dr. j. Mix with the juice or decoction of myrtles; make into trochisks, and inject along with the decoction of myrtles, of lentils, and of the roots of bramble.

The trochisk from paper. Of burnt paper, lb. ij; of quicklime, of arsenic, of sandarach, of each, oz. j. Mix with the juice of plantain.

The trochisk called Thronus Marcellius. Of burnt paper, dr. x; of sandarach, of arsenic, of squama æris, of fissile alum, of each, dr. iv; of the flowers of the wild pomegranate, dr. iij; of opium, dr. ij; of quicklime, dr. iij; of omphacium, dr. j; of the juice of hypocistis, dr. iij. Mix with myrtle wine, and form troches of four drachms each. When you have boiled the pomegranate rind, myrtles, and roses to a third part, give one trochisk, or simply dr. iv to six cyathi of wine.

The trochisk from cork. Of burnt galls, of burnt paper, of burnt cork, of burnt bread, of each, dr. xv. In another prescription there is added of burnt hartshorn, dr. xv; of arsenic, dr. ij; of sandarach, of quicklime, of each, dr. xv; of acacia, of ceruse, of each, dr. v; of litharge, dr. iij. Triturate in wine.

The trochisk Bithynus. Of pomegranate rind, dr. x; of calamine, oz. iij; of birthwort, of galls, of the root of all-heal, of iris, of copperas, of fissile alum, of chalcitis, of misy, of squama æris, of manna (and some also of costus), of each, oz. iss. Mix with vinegar.

The trochisk from castor, for ulcers, spreading sores, and defluxions. Of saffron, of aloes, of frankincense, of each, oz. j; of the flowers of the cultivated pomegranate, of fissile alum, of castor, of manna, of scraped verdigris, of each, oz. j; of sinopic vermilion, lb. j. Mix with old wine.

The trochisk from castor, for colics. Of myrrh, of castor, of each, scr. vj; of saffron, of opium, of each, scr. ix; of anise, of parsley seed, of carrot seed, of each, oz. ss; of the seed of henbane, scr. xviij.

The trochisk from wine and oil, for the fundament and pudendum. Of ceruse, oz. x; of litharge, oz. v; of frankincense, of the dross of lead, of fissile alum, of each, oz. ij. Triturate with wine that does not contain salt water. At the time of using it, mix with wine and rose oil, or wine and myrtle oil.

The trochisk from Phrygian stone, for the pudenda. Take three Phrygian stones burnt and extinguished, and mix the first with butter or rose oil; the second with wine; and the third with honey, to the extent of oz. ij; add, of the flower of roses, oz. iv; of pomegranate rind, oz. j.

The trochisk from lotaria to the fundament and pudendum. Of ceruse, of starch, of glaucium, of saffron, of alum, equal parts. Triturate with the juice of lotaria or wine.

The white trochisk. Of terra aster, oz. iv; of pompholyx, of ceruse, of starch, of each, oz. ij; of opium, scr. iv. Mix with water.

The trochisk from halicacabus, or winter cherry. Of litharge, dr. xxiv; of ceruse, dr. xij or xxj; of winter cherry, dr. viij; of copperas (chalcanthum), dr. iv; of fissile alum, dr. iv; of vermilion enough to give it colour. Mix with water.

The trochisk from the two hellebores, and also from the two acacias. Of the black and of the yellow acacia, of artificer’s glue (in another prescription of fish-glue), of each, oz. iv; of ammoniac perfume, of glaucium, of aloes, of each, oz. ij; of male frankincense, of black and of white hellebore, of each, oz. j. Mix with vinegar of squills, and at the time of using it dissolve either in the same or in common vinegar, and anoint before and after the bath.

The trochisk Criogenes. Of myrrh, of burnt copper, of round birthwort, of scraped verdigris, of the squama stomomatis, of the straight vervain, of round alum, of each, oz. j; of vinegar, q. s. The vervain is to be gathered when the sun is in Aries. It may be made into a plaster thus: take of the trochisk, of wax, of Colophonian rosin, of oil, equal parts; of vinegar what will be sufficient for the trituration of the trochisk.

The trochisk melanchlorus, or black-coloured. Of myrrh, of aloes, of burnt squama æris, of arsenic, of fissile alum, and of round alum, of iris, of chalcitis, of misy, of fossil salt, of copperas, of ceruse, of natron, of litharge, of the root of all-heal, of calamine, of pomegranate rind, of galls, of round birthwort, of the squama stomomatis, of scraped verdigris, of each, oz. j; of vinegar, q. s. It is formed into a plaster thus: of the trochisk, oz. ij; of Colophonian rosin, of wax, of oil, of each, oz. vj; of vinegar, what will be sufficient for the trituration of the trochisk.

The trochisk pantolmius, for chironian and malignant ulcers, and for discharges. Of cassia, of burnt copper, of ceruse, of litharge, of scraped verdigris, of fissile alum, and of round, and of liquid, and of the plinthitic alum, of the root of all-heal, of the long and of the round birthwort, of pomegranate rind, of copperas, of purslain, of the iris called astragalitis, of chalcitis, of misy, of ammoniac perfume, of sal ammoniac, of verdigris, of iron, of squama æris, of aloes, of diphryges, of frankincense, of galls, of sarcocolla, of burnt lead, of olive leaves, of sori, of myrrh, of liquid melanteria, of the flowers of the wild pomegranate, of the Egyptian thorn, of sulphur which has not been touched with the fire, of natron, of red sumach, of Syriac sumach, of chrysocolla, of elm-leaved sumach (rus coriaria), of acacia, of the spuma salis, of omphacium, of arsenic, equal parts. Triturate during the heat of the dog-days with vinegar for thirty days.

The trochisk of Nymphodotus. Of aphronitrum, oz. j; of Alexandrian natron, of Gallic soap, of each, oz. j; of Cappadocian salt, of mastich, of galls, of each, dr. iv; of rose leaves, of amomum, of starch, of each, oz. j; of Indian leaf, dr. j; of fissile alum, of costus, of each, dr. ij; of myrtle wine, q. s.

The trochisk from thapsia, for hemicrania. Of the juice of thapsia (deadly carrot), dr. xvj; of myrrh, dr. viij; of opoponax, of euphorbium, of each, dr. vj; of natron, of the Parthic juice, of each, dr. iv; of pepper, of sagapen, of each, dr. ij; of vinegar, q. s. In using it, rub it in with vinegar, and after six hours wash it off. If you wish to use in a reduced state, mix with equal parts of cerate, and spread it, allowing it to remain for a day and a night.

The trochisk called subdititious, for dysentery and pains of the anus. Of terra aster, of starch, of each, oz. iij; of saffron, oz. ij; of acacia, of tragacanth, of each. oz. j; of castor, of frankincense, of buckthorn, of each, oz. ss; and in hotter temperaments, also, of opium, oz. ss; mix with the juice of fleawort, and form into oblong trochisks.

* * * * *

COMMENTARY. Celsus informs us that they are the same as the pastilli of the Latins. He thus describes their general properties: “Pastilli hæc ratio est: arida medicamenta contrita humore non pingui, ut vino vel aceto, coguntur, et rursus coacta inarescunt, atque, ubi utendum est, ejusdem generis humore diluuntur.” He gives prescriptions for six trochisks. (v, 20.)

Galen remarks that trochisks derive their name from their spherical shape. He treats of them at great length in the fifth book of his work ‘De Comp. Med. sec. gen.’ Many of our author’s receipts are copied from him.

For an account of the Arabian trochisks, see in particular Serapion (vii, 18); Haly Abbas (Pract. x, 14); and Mesue (i, 8.) The following is Mesue’s formula for the trochisks of camphor: “The trochisks of camphor, for ardent fevers, heat of the blood and bile, warm intemperament of the liver, insatiable thirst, jaundice, consumption, and hectics.—℞ Of rose leaves dr. iv; of spodium, of liquorice āā, dr. ij; of yellow saunders, dr. iiss; of the seeds of citrons, melons, cucumbers, and gourds, of saffron, of tragacanth, of gum, of spikenard, āā dr. j; of lignum aloes, of cardomum, of starch, of camphor, āā dr. j; of white sugar, of manna, āā dr. iij. Mix with the mucilage of fleawort and water of roses.” Myrepsus’s formula for the same is little different. He describes the composition of 136 pastils.

Moses Charras gives the following account of trochisks: “They are also called pastils, rolls, cakes, and lozenges. Trochisks were invented as well to preserve a long time the virtue of certain medicaments as to unite together the virtue of several. To which purpose having finely powdered the ingredients, which are to be powdered, they are to be incorporated with some juice, syrup, or other viscous liquor, to make therewith a solid paste, out of which are formed little trochisks, flat, round, triangular, square, long, or otherwise, which being spread upon paper, and dried out of the sun, and at a distance from the fire, to the end they may be dried in all parts alike, may be put up in boxes or pots for use.” (Royal Phar. ii, 21.)

Troches are pharmaceutical preparations still frequently used. According to the directions in the ‘Edinburgh Dispensatory,’ “they are composed of powders made up with glutinous substances into small cakes, and afterwards dried.” There is this difference, however, between the troches of the moderns and the trochisci of the ancients, that all the former are given internally, whereas many of the ancient trochisci were used as external applications. Of this description are five out of the six pastilli described by Celsus. Le Clerc says of them: “Ils differoient des emplâtres, et des collyres, en ce qu’il n’entroit aucune matière huileuse dans les trochisques et qu’ils servoient pour le dedans aussi bien que pour le dehors.” (Hist. de la Méd.)

SECT. XIII.—DRY APPLICATIONS AND ABSTERGENTS (SMEGMATA.)

Of dry applications or powders, some suit with ulcers, and some are applied to the skin. Of those which suit with ulcers, some act as incarnants of hollow ulcers, and some restrain fungous flesh, and some are cicatrizing, some caustic and septic, and some styptic. The incarnative applications act either by cleansing foul ulcers, such as those from tares, birthwort, iris, all-heal, myrrh, frankincense, and aloes; or by drying the superabundant discharge, as those from copper, diphryges, squama æris, burnt paper, the bark of pine and thorn. But these promote cicatrization, either by blunting acrimony and pungency, such as those from pompholyx, starch, ceruse, sphecla (impure potass), the lapis specularis, burnt oysters, terra Samia, and the like, and the compositions from them possess similar powers. Of repressing medicines, some are mild, such as those from squama æris, those from misy and chalcitis, when burnt, and galls; but those from copperas, verdigris, misy, and chalcitis, not burnt, are stronger. The caustics and septics are prepared from quicklime, arsenic, sandarach, and sphecla, which is the burnt lees of wine. All these things when reduced to a fine powder and sprinkled upon ulcers, are less pungent. The coarser the powder to which they are reduced, the more pungent are they. Styptics restrain bleeding, either by astringing or cooling, or proving desiccative or obstruent by burning and forming an eschar; and the materials of them have been mentioned in the section on Trochisks. Of those which are applied to the skin, some cleanse and absterge, such as those from Cimolian earth, pumice, bean-meal, barley-leaven, the flesh of pompions, and the flower of salt; some are attenuant and discutient, such as those from hellebore, alcyonium, sulphur, stavesacre, mustard, pellitory, the seed of the rosemary, lemnitis, or adarce, and the shell of the cuttle-fish. But those having quicklime and arsenic added to them, with some liquid, become depilatory and abstergent. Some are applied to the head in order to dry up the discharge from it, such as those from natron, salts, galls, the rind of pomegranate, and the like. All the smegmata or abstergents should be applied to the skin when it is not anointed.

The dry cephalic application. Of tares, oz. v; of iris, oz. iss; of manna, oz. iss; of birthwort, of squama æris, of each, oz. iss.

Another. Of the bark of pine, dr. vj; of frankincense, dr. iv; of pumice-stone, dr. iv; of iris, dr. ij; of dry rosin, dr. vj; of birthwort, dr. ij.

From aloes. Of aloes, dr. vj; of tares, dr. viij; of manna, dr. iv; of galls, dr. iij; of fissile alum, dr. ij.

The dry application of Manetho from the burnt lees of wine. Of calamine, burnt and washed, oz. j; of terra aster, oz. j; of burnt lees of wine, oz. iv; of lapis specularis, oz. iv; of frankincense, oz. iv; some add, also, of starch, oz. iv.

The melitera of Oribasius. Of chalcitis, of squama æris, of galls, of the flowers of the wild pomegranate, of long birthwort, of each, oz. j; of pomegranate rind, of fissile alum, of each, oz. ss.

From oysters. Of calamine, of frankincense, of each, oz. j; of oysters burnt, oz. iij.

The powder from frankincense. Of litharge, of frankincense, of calamine, of ceruse, equal parts.

The powder called aphroditarium. Of frankincense, of squama æris, of rhœdarium (a preparation from sumach), of starch, of ceruse, equal parts.

The Rhodian styptic for spreading ulcers and fungous flesh. Of unripe galls, dr. vj; of galls burnt, and extinguished in wine and dried, dr. xij; of the black squama æris, or, if not, of the red, dr. viij; of copperas, dr. xxiv; of fissile alum, dr. xxvij; triturate for a sufficient number of days.

The powder called flavus. Of burnt chalcitis, dr. xl; of burnt copperas, dr. viij; of burnt misy, dr. x; of burnt copper, dr. v.

The powder called psarus. Of misy, oz. v; of galls, oz. iv; of chalcitis, oz. ij; of squama æris, oz. ij; of copperas, oz. j; of scraped verdigris, oz. ij.

The caustic powder called heliocaes. Of arsenic, lb. j; of calx viva, lb. ij. Triturate with water during the dog-days, then dry and use.

The florid powder. Of cyperus, dr. viij; of myrrh, dr. xij; of sandarach, dr. iij; of the flowers of roses, dr. ij; of saffron, dr. ij; of crocomagma, of fissile alum, of Illyrian iris, of each, dr. ij.

The powder from paper, principally for spreading ulcers of the mouth and those of the pudendum. Of squama æris, of burnt paper, of each, dr. viij; of arsenic, of sulphur vivum, of each, dr. xij; of burnt lead, dr. vj. For the more humid mortifications use it dry, but for such as are dry mix it with rose-oil, and sometimes with honey along with rose-oil.

The powder from butcher’s broom (oxymyrsine), for the same purposes. Of elm-leaved sumach, oz. ij; of the leaves of butcher’s broom, of sandarach, of each, dr. viij; of the dried leaves of willow, of pomegranate rind, of each, dr. vj; of fissile alum, of chrysocolla, of aloes, of crude chalcitis, of squama æris, of arsenic, of common salts, of each, dr. iv.

The powder of Massaliotes. Of roasted natron, of chrysocolla, of Asian stone, of sandarach, of misy, of chalcitis, of fissile alum, of diphryges, equal parts. Use dry.

The dry abstergent application (smegma) called the Æsculapian. Of bay berries, of Alexandrian natron, of roasted salt, of Cappadocian salt, of ammoniac perfume, of aphronitrum, of pumice-stone, of each, lb. j; of black hellebore, of fuller’s herb, of pellitory, of the burnt lees of wine, of stavesacre, of mustard, of cyperus, of fissile alum, of the schœnanth, of iris, of galls, of each, oz. vj; of sampsuchum (a species of marjoram), lb. j; of the seed of the chaste tree, of pennyroyal, of the flour of beans and of lupines, of each, oz. vj; of the black chamæleon, of sulphur, of gum, of frankincense, of pepper, of the root of the wild cucumber, of horehound, of Cimolian earth, of pæony, of the shell of the cuttle-fish, of the leaf of fenugreek, of costus, of cumin, of euphorbium, of spikenard, of each, oz. iij. But Alexander adds the following things: of bitter salts, of salts from nitrous fountains, of Tragesæan salt (“see Plin. xxxi, 61”), of each, lb. j; of adarce, oz. j; of liquid alum, of Celtic, of cnicus, of granum Cnidium, of dried grass, of dried bryony, of each, oz. iij.

The abstergent application from pompions (smegma peponaton). Of frankincense, of mastich, of ammoniac perfume, of each, oz. j; of tragacanth, oz. iss; of the juice of wild grape, oz. ix; of the fresh seed of pompion, oz. iij; of similago, sext. v; the whites of xxi eggs, of iris, oz. iv. Some also use of black hellebore, oz. ij.

Otherwise, that of Crito. Of bean meal, one modius; of similago, sext. iv; of trefoil, of nutben, of Illyrian iris, of each, lb. iv; of ammoniac perfume, lb. j; of costus, lb. j; the whites of seven eggs, of the flesh of pompions, sext. ij; of the juice of unripe grape, sext. ij. Mix, and having formed trochisks, dry, then having pounded and strained, use.

Otherwise. Of tragacanth, of frankincense, of mastich, of ammoniac perfume, of each, dr. x; of the juice of unripe grape, dr. v; of similago, sext. v; of the white of an egg, oz. j; of the flesh of pompions, oz. j. Prepare as above described.

A desiccative smegma for defluxions of the head. Of the tawny-coloured Alexandrian natron, oz. v; of common salts, roasted, oz. iss; of Cappadocian salts, oz. j. Having mixed these with the strongest vinegar, put into a linen bag, and burn in a furnace until it be reduced to cinders. Then having cooled it, rub with it triturated, adding a little wine in the bath.

The soap of Constantine. Of dried roses, of aloes, of galls, of pomegranate rind, of Indian leaf, of sarcocolla, of each, oz. iij; of the flowers of the wild pomegranate, of myrrh, of sandarach, of spikenard, of each, oz. ij; of costus, oz. j; of Gallic soap, lb. j. Mix with the decoction of lupines.

The depilatory powder for the gout. Of mastich, of male frankincense, of stavesacre, of white hellebore, of litharge, of each, oz. iij; of Indian leaf, of starch, of black hellebore, of the flower of Asian stone, of each, oz. j; of alcyonium, of roasted pumice-stone, of Cimolian earth, of sampsuch (marjoram), of each, oz. iij; of spikenard, oz. j; some also add of aloes, oz. j. Having pounded them, keep the powder in a vessel; and when going to use it, put the juice of rice and of ptisan in a pot, and after it boils add of the powder, oz. iss; of Gallic soap, oz. iss; of arsenic, of fissile alum, of each, oz. iss; of sandarach, oz. iss; of recent quicklime, lb. j. Use this unguent thrice a month, on the 9th day of the moon, the 19th, and the 29th, for a whole year, and afterwards once a month on the 29th day of the moon.

* * * * *

COMMENTARY. The terms are thus explained by Blancard: “Diapasma. Plinio, medicamentum aridum ex siccis pulveribus conflatum inspersile, quod aut vestibus ad gratiam odoris, aut ulceri vulnerique variâ ratione, aut potui etiam ad luxum inspergitur, διάπασμα, κατάπασμα, κατάπαστον φάρμακον. Oribasius non malè discrimen inter has voces ex Antyllo ponere mihi videtur ut ἐμπάσματα sint, quæ sudoribus cohibendis, et commovendo pruritui adhibentur: quæ Sympasmata et aspergines Aurelianus nominat: καταπάσματα sunt quæ ulceribus superponuntur, ξήρια etiam dicta: διαπάσματα vero conciliandæ in vento fragrantiæ.” (Lexicon Medicum.) The different forms of medicines are thus characterized by Dr. Blomfield: “Quatuor sunt φαρμάκων genera, quorum principuè mentio fit apud auctores Græcos: φάρμακα χριστὰ, παστὰ, πλαστὰ, et πιστὰ vel πότιμα, quibus interdum additur quintum genus, τὰ βρώσίμα, et sextum ἐπωδὰι, prout eis ad unguendum, inspergendum, emplastro obtegendum, bibendum, edendum, vel incantandum utebantur.” (Glossarium ad Æschyli Prometh. l. 488.) Theocritus uses the word ἐπίπαστον in its medical sense. (Idyll. xi, 2.) He says, no medicine, either in the form of ointment or powder, is a remedy for love. Le Clerc thus explains the medicines of which we are treating: “Les poudres s’appelloient en Grec ξήρια ὀυ ξηρὰ c’est à dire, médicamens secs. On les appelloit Diapasmata, Catapasmata, Catapasta, Sympasmata.” He says of the Smegma: “On s’en servoit particulièrement pour nettoyer le peau, pour ôter le démangeaison, &c.” He adds: “Lorsque il s’agissoit de faire tomber le poil on prenoit des matières encore plus fortes et plus acres que celles qu’on a indiquées, comme de l’orpiment, de la sandaraque, de la chaux vive, et l’on les détrempoit avec les sucs. En ces cas on donnoit à cette composition le nom particulière de psilothrum ou dépilatoire.” (Hist. de la Méd.) On the meaning of the terms see, further, Eustathius (ap. Iliad, iv); Scholiast. Aristoph. (Plaat); and Gataker’s Antoninus (v, 9.)

Celsus gives the following general description of these medicines: “Quædam autem mixturæ medicamentorum sunt quibus aridis neque coactis utimur, sic ut inspergamus, aut cum aliquo liquido mixta illinamus.” The powder of gollas, if prepared according to his directions, would consist of potass, sulphur, quicklime, and orpiment. His ninth preparation of this class is a sternutatory, and the tenth is one for making a gargle. (v, 22.)

Most of our author’s formulæ are borrowed, with a few alterations, from Galen. (De Med. sec. gen. v.)

For a description of the Arabian Pulveres, see, in particular, Haly Abbas (Pract. x, 16,) and Mesue, (i, ix.) Many of Mesue’s compositions are internal medicines, consisting principally of aromatics. Thus, his first preparation, which is intended to dry humidity of the stomach, dispel flatulence, and assist digestion, consists of lignum aloes, oz. ss; of galls, dr. iss; and of white sugar, oz. iss.

Nicolaus Myrepsus, in his copious ‘Dispensatory,’ describes the composition of 50 smegmata and 143 pulveres. The far greater number of the former are intended as applications to the skin in diseases thereof, such as impetigo, leprosy, itch, and the like. The pulveres consist of applications to the skin, sternutatories, gargles, and injections. None of them, we believe, are to be taken inwardly.

SECT. XIV.—ON LINIMENTS TO THE MOUTH AND THROAT.

As much as the coat which lines the mouth is finer and softer than the skin, such a difference must there be with regard to the applications made to the mouth. At the commencement, therefore, of inflammation, medicines for repelling the defluxion are required, such as the dry applications, namely, omphacium, the gall omphacitis, the juice of sumach and of hypocistis, and alum, the bark of pine and of the frankincense-tree, and the flowers of the wild pomegranate tree; and, in a word, all the astringents, with the exception of those which are unsavoury and deleterious; and the liquid applications, such as the juice of the blackberries, both of the brambles and those called mulberries: also the juice of the bark of green walnuts and of pomegranates, more especially such as are acid, and of quinces and Aminean must. Honey is mixed at the commencement solely for the preservation of the medicines. But when the humour lodges in the part, digestive and moderately-repellent articles are to be mixed, such as saffron, myrrh, and the juice of liquorice. And during the whole time that intervenes between the acme and decline, a compound of both kinds is to be used, I mean, the repellent and discutient; and at first the repellent are to be the prevailing ingredients, but afterwards the discutient. In the decline we must use discutients, which have no astringency, such as natron, aphronitrum, origany, hyssop, thyme, calamint, iris, besasa and the like. The liquid application then should be rob, that from boiled must, that from dried figs and palm-nuts, and the sweet must itself with honey. When but a little of the inflammation remains, we are to mix also some sulphur vivum. We must first boil the juice with honey, to the consistence of the more liquid honey, and then sprinkle the powders finely levigated, and afterwards boil moderately until the whole are properly united, and then it is to be laid up in vessels of glass.

The simple liniment to the mouth from mulberries. Of the juice of mulberries, sext. iij; boil until a third part be consumed, add of honey, sext. j, and boil to the consistence of honey.

The compound one from mulberries. Of the juice of mulberries, hemin. vj; boil to the consistence of the sordes in baths, then mix, well triturated, of saffron, dr. j; of myrrh, dr. ij; of the juice of unripe grape, dr. j; of fissile alum, three oboli; of honey, one hemina; and boil to a proper thickness.

Of the bramble-berries. The composition from bramble-berries is prepared in like manner, being more astringent.

The simple one from walnuts. Of the juice of the pounded bark of green walnuts, hemin. v; of honey, hemin. j; it is boiled like that from mulberries.

The compound one from walnuts. In the commencement, and at the acme of inflammations in the mouth, mix of saffron and of alum, of each, oz. j; of myrrh, dr. ij; and in the decline add, as a discutient, of natron, dr. j; of sulphur, dr. j, to the aforementioned proportions of the juice and of honey.

The preparation from the juice of pomegranates. Of the juice of sweet pomegranates, without their kernels, sext. iv; of the juice of acid pomegranates, sext. ij; of honey, sext. j; of the Minnæan myrrh, dr. viij; of crocomagma, of galls, of each, dr. viij; of fissile alum, dr. iv; of Illyrian iris and of omphacium, of each, dr. viij. Prepare like that from mulberries.

The same otherwise. Of the juice of sweet pomegranate bruised with their kernels, sext. vj; of fine honey, sext. j; of fissile alum, oz. j; of myrrh, oz. ss.

The preparation from must. Of must, sext. vj; of galls, of fissile alum, of each dr. ij; of saffron, of myrrh, of each, dr. j. If you mean it for a demulcent, let the must be sweet, but if as a repellent, austere. The middle state has intermediate properties.

The Egyptian stomachic. Of honey, lb. j; of oil, oz. viij; of turpentine, oz. ij; of saffron, dr. iv. They are melted in a double vessel.

The stomachic medicine, from besasa. Of anise seed, of parsley seed, of the schœnanth, of the seed of bishop’s weed, of fissile alum, of Illyrian iris, of besasa (which some call harmala, it is the wild rue), of cinnamon, of troglodytic myrrh, of saffron, of gall, of each, oz. j; of long birthwort, of cassia, of crocomagma, of dried roses, of each, oz. j; of costus, of the fresh ashes of pigeons, oz. iij; of Indian nard, of amomum, of each, oz. ss; of honey, q. s.

* * * * *

COMMENTARY. Celsus thus sums up the general properties of these preparations: “Gargarizationes autem aut lævandi causa fiunt, aut reprimendi, aut evocandi. Lævant, lac, cremor vel ptisanæ, vel furfurum: reprimit aqua, in qua vel lenticula, vel rosa, vel rubus, vel cotoneum malum, vel palmulæ decoctæ sunt: evocant, sinapi, piper.” (v, 22.)

Galen treats of these compositions very systematically, and at great length, in the sixth book of his work, ‘De Comp. Med. sec. loc.’ The far greater number of our author’s prescriptions are copied from it. Myrepsus likewise gives a long list of such like compositions (§ ix.) See also Aëtius (viii.)

SECT. XV.—ON DELICIOUS AND OFFICINAL POTIONS.

Of delicious officinal potions, some are composed of wine, having certain articles added to it, such as pepper, wormwood, sowbread, and many other things, from which they sometimes receive their appellation, sometimes having honey mixed with them and sometimes not; and some are composed from water in which have been boiled apples or roses, with certain juices, such as those of unripe grapes, pomegranates, and myrtles.

On this account the finest scummed honey is mixed with them for the sake of preservation, sweetness, and sometimes of utility. The austere and vinous hydromel brought from Cebyra in small vessels is an exception; for I have known it formed without honey, as the apomel is made from honey alone and water, without any other substance. But those things which are prepared from wine, which are called propotions (or “whets”?) receive sext. j of scummed honey to four of wine and are made without being boiled. Those which are prepared from water and juices, if boiled, receive one part of honey to three of the liquor, about two parts of which are consumed in the boiling; but if they are not boiled they receive one part of honey to two of the liquor. Those things which are not boiled are to be isolated for a sufficient time, and particularly the omphacomel. Those from water require to be boiled, because from their weakness they are readily changed. They are all to be laid up in small pitched earthen vessels, which are to be carefully covered up and deposited in situations above ground until they are concocted. They are to be used as attenuants, and well mixed with water. But the omphacomel after being boiled like must, and settling, is to be covered up. Those composed from wine we use principally in cases which are free from fever, or for the relish only (with the exception of those which are prepared from scammony, the granum Cnidium, or the like purgatives); or in such affections as when we would use the medicines which are the ingredients of them by the mouth. Those prepared from water, or the juices we use in febrile cases, or as sweeteners, when the disease does not admit the use of wines, and sometimes as agreeing with the affections, as apomel for a sialogogue, diuretic, laxative of the bowels, or attenuant of humours; and hydromelon and hydrorosaton in cases of thirst, ardent fevers, resolutions, and derangements of the stomach; and omphacomel, myrteton, rhodostacton, and rhoita, in cæliac and dysenteric cases, and for vomitings and other defluxions. They are frequently used as washes in affections of the mouth.

The hydromelum from the juice of apples. Of the juice of clean quinces bruised, sext. ij; of honey, sext. iij; of water, sext. vj. Boil, scumming it until it be reduced to a third part. Another.—Of clean quinces cut into pieces, lb. v. Boil in sext. j of well-water until they become soft. Then removing them from the fire, after they become cold, strain, and having filtrated the apples throw them away. Having measured the water, mix with it half the quantity of honey, and boil again, scumming it until the eighth part be consumed. Some compose the hydromelum in like manner from sweet apples.

The composition of the hydrorosatum. Of roses deprived of their nails (the white parts of the leaves), lb. iv; of water, sext. v; of honey, sext. ij.

The preparation of the Rhodomelum. Of the juice of quinces, sext. j; of roses, lb. iij; of honey, sext. iij; of water, sext. v. But since the apples are not found at the same season with the roses, these are to be added to honey at the proper season, and when the apples appear, the composition is to be completed.

The preparation of the omphacomel. Of the juice of unripe grapes, sext. iij; of honey, sext. j. Having mixed, expose it to the sun for forty days, or boil.

The preparation of Myrteta. Of the juice of myrtles, sext. iij; of honey, sext. j. Boil till the third is consumed.

Apomel from the works of Phalagrius. Of white honeycombs filled with honey, lb. j; of spring water, lb. iiiss; having broken down the comb and united them, boil the water with the honey until the scum of it and the waxy part swim on the top and is separated, then cool and cover it up carefully.

The composition of rhodostactum. Of the juice of roses without their nails, sext. ij; of honey, sext. j. Boil, scumming it, until the fourth part be consumed.

The preparation of rhætes. Of the juice of pomegranate, sext. iij; of honey, sext. j. Boil to a third part.

* * * * *

COMMENTARY. We shall in the first place give some account of the Propoma. It was a draught generally containing wine, which was taken at the commencement of the supper, or principal meal of the ancients. Horace alludes to it in the following lines:

“Anfidius forti miscebat mella Falerno, Mendose: quoniam vacuis committere venis Nil nisi lene decet: leni præcordia mulso Prolueris melius.”—(Lib. ii, Sat. 4.)

Catius here condemns the practice of using strong wine for the composition of the Propoma. Old Falernian wine was thought the best. Thus Macrobius says of it: “Mulsum quo probe temperes, miscendum esse novo Hymetto et Falerno vetulo.” (Saturn. vii, 12.) “To the Propoma,” says Athenæus, “were added pepper, Indian leaf, myrrh, cyperus, and Egyptian ointment.” (Deip. ii, 25.) A long list of receipts for Propomata is given by Myrepsus (§ 38.) Most of them contain wine, honey, and aromatics. See a learned Dissertation on the Propoma by Casaubon (in Athen. Deipnos. ii, 17); also Lister (in Apicii Op. i, 1.)

It will be proper here to give some account of the medicated wines, or, as we would now call them, the Vinous Tinctures, of the ancients. Dioscorides details the composition of them very fully in the fifth book of his ‘Materia Medica.’ The following is his prescription for the wine of squills: Take a mina of squills, and having pounded it, sift, and bind it in a thin piece of linen; then put it into 20 sextarii of good fresh must, and allow it to macerate for three months; afterwards strain the wine into another vessel, and cover it up carefully. The wine of quinces is to be prepared by putting 12 minæ of quinces, deprived of their seeds, into a cadus of must, and allowing it to remain for thirty days. Wines from other kinds of apples, such as medlars, services, and pears, may be prepared in like manner. He afterwards gives similar directions for preparing the following medicated wines:

Wine of wild vine. pomegranate. roses. myrtles. lentisk. turpentine. palms. figs. sycamores. resin. cone of the pine. cedar or juniper. cedar-rosin. pitch. wormwood. hyssop. germander. cassidony. betony. tragoriganum. bunium. dittany. horehound. thyme. savoury. marjoram. calamint. fleabane. aromatics. myrrh, pepper, and iris. elicampane. spikenard. asarabacca. wild nard or valerian. carrot. sage. panacea. sweet-flag. parsley. fennel and dill. hellebore, wild cucumber, or scammony, for procuring abortions. spurge-flax. mezerion. ground-pine. mandrake. hellebore. scammony.

The preparation of these factitious wines is also described by Pliny. (H. N. xiv, 19.) To this class we may refer the Vina condita of Apicius. (Cap. i.) See also in particular Aëtius (iii); Myrepsus (§ 27); Haly Abbas (Pract. x, 21); Serapion (vii, 35); Actuarius (Meth. Med. v, 7.) Actuarius gives the following prescription for preparing a vinous tincture of poppies, which he recommends for coughs, cholera, and such like complaints: Of poppy-heads, c; of liquorice-root, lb. j; of sodden must, lb. c.

SECT. XVI.—ON COLLYRIA AND AGGLUTINATIVE APPLICATIONS.

The materials from which ophthalmic medicines are composed are various. For inspissated and liquid, seeds, fruits, the parts of herbs, and metals are ingredients in them. Of these, some sooth acrimonies, and are, as it were, obstruents, such as pompholyx, spodium, starch, lead, Samian aster, calamine, all washed substances, and the white of an egg. These are to be used after evacuation of the head, for if there should be plethora of it, there will be danger of the coats of the eyes being ruptured by distension. The opposite class of collyria being of an acrid nature, are deobstruents and evacuants of the humours permanently lodged there; such as the Cyrenaic and Median juices, sagapen, euphorbium, and the like. Some are detergents of foul ulcers, such as the squama æris, copper, chalcitis, misy, sori, the flowers of copper, and antimony burnt. Allied to these are those called abstergents, such as arsenic, sandarach, the flower of Asian stone. Some are astringent, and of these such as are moderately astringent are of extensive use for ophthalmies, ulcers, and defluxions, as the leaves, fruit, and flowers of roses, spikenard, Indian leaf, saffron, glaucium, and hypocistis. Those possessed of a stronger astringency are mixed with those remedies which are used for sharpening the sight, such as omphacium, acacia, the flowers of the wild and of the cultivated pomegranate, and galls. Some are concoctive and discutient, such as myrrh, saffron, castor, rosemary, and the juice of fenugreek. Of compound ophthalmic medicines, some are simply called plasta, some xerocollyria, and some hygrocollyria. The first class admit of all the materials formerly mentioned, and agree with all states. They are to be prepared most commonly in spring, for in summer their strength is apt to evaporate, and in winter the articles being constricted do not mix properly. They are to be rubbed with the addition of a fluid, but not in great quantity that the metallic parts may not subside, nor the aromatic float on the surface, but in small quantities, so that it may be rubbed until it is like the sordes of baths. Rain-water should be used, because it is finer and moderately astringent. But if not, those things are to be levigated and triturated with wine or some juice; the metallic substances for a longer time, and the juicy substances for a shorter. At last, after sufficient trituration, we must add the gum, and having formed them, lay them up in copper vessels especially, or in glass. Those prepared from juices are to be used immediately, but the metallic improve by keeping. Of the xerocollyria, some melt down, and absterge callus, sycosis, pterygium, and scabious affections, being composed of chalcitis, verdigris, and misy. Some occasion a discharge of tears, agreeing with obstructions and dimness of sight, and are composed of these things, pepper and spikenard. Some are prophylactics for preventing influxes, such as those from Phrygian stone, sarcocolla, glaucium, aloes, calamine, antimony, and saffron. All these medicines are to be applied to the eyes in a state of the finest powder. But the hygrocollyria are prepared from Attic honey, opobalsam, oil of the most subtile kind from age, the juice of fennel, the galls of different animals, the Cyrenaic juice, and many other things. Those things which are attenuant, calefacient, and purgative are useful for dimness of sight, and incipient suffusions. These and all acrid things are to be used when the head is free from plethora, and when the atmosphere is serene and pure, and the wind is northerly, and not very hot nor very cold. Those preparations called agglutinants are made from such things as are obstruent, agglutinative, constringent, refrigerant, styptic, or desiccative, such as pollen, manna, Samian earth, myrrh, shells, acacia, opium, with the white of an egg. They are glued to the forehead when the humour is not under the scalp, but external to it.

The collyrium monemeron for incipient and old ophthalmies. Of acacia, dr. xxxvj; of gum, dr. xxxij; of calamine, dr. xxiv; of burnt and washed copper, dr. viij; of opium, dr. j. Triturate in austere wine. It is discutient and desiccative.

The collyrium chiacum. Of sinopic vermilion, of the immature gall, of saffron, of the flower of fresh roses deprived of their nails (which we call the pouch), of gum, of each, oz. iv; of opium, oz. j. Triturate with Aminæan, Falernian, or Chian austere wine. But the wine must not contain salt water.

The collyrian cygnarium. Of calamine, burnt and washed, oz. vj; of washed ceruse, oz. iv; of pompholyx, oz. iv; of starch, oz. ij; of tragacanth, of roasted opium, of gum, of each, oz. ij. Triturate with rain-water.

The pale-coloured cygnus. Of calamine, burnt and washed, oz. ij; of terra aster, oz. ij; of ceruse, oz. iv; of pompholyx, oz. viij; of starch, oz. ij; of opium, oz. ij; of acacia, of tragacanth, of each, oz. j; of gum, oz. iv. Triturate with rain-water.

The white cygnus. Of calamine, oz. xv; of ceruse, oz. xvij; of opium, dr. viij; of frankincense, dr. vij; of starch, oz. vij; of gum, oz. xiij. Triturate with rain-water.

The collyrium pelarion for ulcers. Of calamine, of ceruse, of each, dr. xxiv; of acacia, of opium, of each, dr. xviij; of gum, of tragacanth, of starch, of each, dr. ix; of myrrh, dr. iij; of copper, of saffron, of each, dr. iss. Triturate with water.

The brown collyrium, for hypopium and great affections. Of tender calamine, dr. xxiv; of ceruse, dr. xvj; of scraped verdigris, dr. xij; of antimony, dr. viij; of fissile alum, dr. iij; of burnt chalcitis, dr. iij; of Indian nard, dr. iv; of the oil of unripe olives, dr. ij; of copper, dr. ij; of squama æris, dr. viij; of the fruit of heath, dr. xiij; of the juice of poppy, dr. xxiv; of saffron, dr. iv; of castor, dr. iij; of myrrh, dr. vj; of Indian buckthorn, of acacia, of gum, of each, dr. iv; of fresh roses, dr. iiss. Triturate with Falernian, Surentine, Aminæan, or Chian austere wine. It is rubbed in three times a day, in a watery state, being diluted with the juice of fenugreek, then the white of an egg or milk, and at last, with water, thicker.

The collyrium severianum. Of calamine, oz. vj; of ceruse, oz. xij; of tragacanth, oz. iij. Triturate with the juice of fenugreek. Having burnt the calamine, dissolve it in milk and then wash.

The collyrium from decoctions. Of calamine, oz. xvj; of ceruse, oz. viij; of starch, of opium, of tragacanth, of acacia, of each, oz. ij; of gum, oz. vj. Triturate with the decoction of dried roses, of melilots, of poppy, of poppy-heads, of liquorice, in equal parts.

The repellent collyrium, from hydria or water vessels. Of the sand found in copper vessels used for heating water, lb. iij; of calamine burnt and washed, lb. j; of washed ceruse, of washed pompholyx, of washed terra aster, of each, oz. vj; of frankincense, oz. j; of myrrh, oz. j; of the juice of linseed, of fleawort, of ptisan, of fenugreek, of each, lb. j; of tragacanth, oz. vj; of gum, lb. j.

The collyrium of Nilamon. Of calamine, oz. viij; of pompholyx, oz. iv: of ceruse, lb. j; of tragacanth, of gum, of opium, of each, oz. iv. Rain-water.

The collyrium spodiacon, for inflammations, defluxions, and chemoses. Of frankincense, of antimony, of each, dr. c; of calamine, of ceruse, of each, dr. xxiv; of Samian earth, of the juice of poppy, of each, dr. iij; of gum, dr. xv. Triturate with the juice of fresh olive leaves. Prepare the juice thus: having pounded in a mortar the more tender leaves of olive, washed, add a moderate quantity of water, and filtrate through a piece of linen rag.

The tender collyrium from olive leaves. Of frankincense, dr. iv; of antimony, dr. xv; of calamine, dr. xxviij; of ceruse, dr. xlix; of Samian earth, dr. xviij; of opium, dr. vj; of gum, dr. j; of lead, burnt and washed, dr. viij. Mix with the juice of green olive leaves.

The yellow collyrium from green olive leaves. Of burnt copper, dr. xij; of sandyx, oz. xxiv; of olive leaves, oz. ij; of opium, oz. ij; of gum, oz. x. Mix with palm wine, or Aminæan.

The Claudiac collyrium from myrrh. Of glaucium, of sarcocolla, of each, dr. xlviij; of saffron, dr. xxiv; of opium, of myrrh, of bloodstone, of each, dr. vi; of tragacanth, dr. xlviij; of gum, dr. xvj. Mix with Italian wine. To be used with an egg.

Another collyrium from myrrh, for fistula lachrymalis. Of calamine washed, of bloodstone washed, of each, dr. xxviij; of myrrh, of Cyprian spodium, of each, dr. xxiv; of opium, dr. viij; of saffron, dr. iv (but some use dr. viij); of white pepper, grs. xxx; of gum, dr. xvj. Mix with Italian wine. To be used with an egg, and in recent cases diluted with water.

The stacticon of Prosechius. Of calamine, of gum, of each, dr. xx; of antimony, of copperas, of each, dr. viij; of opium, dr. xiv; of scraped verdigris, dr. x; of white pepper, dr. vj; of saffron, dr. viij; of raw misy, dr. viij; of opobalsam, dr. iv. Water.

The hygidium of Ammonius. Of calamine, of copper, of each, dr. xvj; of ceruse, of castor, of aloes, of saffron, of each, dr. iv; of squama (æris?), dr. v; of the flower of roses, of burnt lead, of each, dr. viij; of buckthorn, dr. iij; of the stone schistos, dr. iv; of opium, dr. x; of acacia, dr. xj; of gum, dr. xlviij. Water.

The collyrium Olympus, or Olympiacum. Of acacia, of spikenard, of frankincence, of each, dr. viij; of copper, burnt and washed, of antimony, burnt and washed, of ceruse, burnt and washed, of calamine, of each, dr. xij; of myrrh, of roasted opium, of each, dr. iv; of saffron, dr. v; of scraped verdigris, dr. iij; of the stone schistos, of the red squama, of Indian buckthorn, of the oil of unripe grapes, of each, dr. j; of castor, of the flower of roses, of each, dr. ij; of palm-nuts, dr. iv; in like manner the bones of burnt palms, to the number of v; of gum, oz. v. Rain-water. Let there be soaked in water for three nights and days, of the aromatic reed, of the seed of henbane, of dried roses, of each, dr. iv; of Indian leaf, dr. j.

The collyrium of nard. Of calamine, of saffron, of gum, of each, dr. xxxvj; of burnt copper, dr. xviij; of antimony, of acacia, of each, dr. xxx; of Syriac nard, dr. xij; of opium, of myrrh, of each, dr. xvj. With water.

The small Theodotian collyrium. Of antimony, of acacia, of each, dr. xx; of burnt copper, dr. viij; of ceruse, dr. iv; of myrrh, dr. iv; of verdigris, dr. ij; of aloes, of meconium, of buckthorn, of each, dr. j. Rain-water.

The collyrium rhinarion. Of bloodstone, of the stone schistos, of each, dr. xvj; of burnt copper, of calamine, of verdigris, of each, dr. viij; of opium, dr. v; of chalcitis, dr. ij; of gum, dr. viij. In wine.

The collyrium xyster. Of burnt pumice-stone, of burnt misy, of burnt shells, of each, oz. vj; of calamine, of opium, of burnt chalcitis, of saffron, of hepatic aloes, of castor, of Indian leaf, of each, dr. ij; of antimony, of acacia, of each, oz. j; of burnt copper, oz. iv; of troglodytic myrrh, dr. iv; of spikenard, dr. j; of ceruse, dr. viij; of gum, dr. iv. Rain-water. Some also mix wine.

The hecatomb collyrium for thick cicatrices. Of calamine, burnt and washed, of copper, burnt and washed, of each, dr. viij; of antimony burnt, of the yellow acacia, of gum, of each, dr. xv; of aloes, of galls, of ærugo vermiculata, of castor, of buckthorn, of spikenard, of saffron, of opium, of myrrh, of ceruse, of the shavings of ebony, of chalcitis, of each, dr. j; of roses, dr. lx. Rain-water.

The collyrium from horn, of Galen. Of burnt lead, of burnt hartshorn, of each, oz. ij; of ceruse, of squama æris, of starch, of frankincense, of cuttle-fish, of burnt shell, of verdigris, of myrrh, of gum, of each, oz. j. Rain-water.

The collyrium from frankincense. Of frankincense, oz. vj; of calamine, of pompholyx, of terra aster, of starch, of gum, of each, oz. iij; of ceruse, oz. vj; of squama æris, oz. iv; of tragacanth, oz. iij; of opium, oz. vj. Rain-water.

The Libanian collyrium. Of washed calamine, of starch, of each, dr. xij; of ceruse, dr. xij; of spodium, of pompholyx, of terra aster, of lead, burnt and washed, of tragacanth, of each, dr. viij; of opium, dr. xij; of gum, dr. iv. Rain-water and the whites of twenty eggs. Some add also of myrrh, dr. iv.

The collyrium called the aster of Magnus. Of pompholyx, of calamine, of ceruse, of each, dr. xvj; of lead, dr. viij; of starch, dr. xviij; of frankincense, dr. x; of terra aster, dr. xij; of myrrh, dr. ij; of tragacanth, of gum, of each, dr. viij. Water.

The collyrium Uranium. Of terra aster, washed, oz. iij; of spodium, washed, oz. j; of gum, oz. iv; of antimony, burnt and washed, oz. ij; of squama æris, washed, oz. j; of opium, dr. vj; of calamine, burnt and washed, dr. ij. Rain-water. It is an incarnant and repellent.

The collyrium from the juice of fenugreek. Of calamine, of tragacanth, of each, oz. viij; of ceruse, oz. xxx; of starch, oz. xxx; of opium, oz. j. Triturate with the juice of fenugreek.

The collyrium of Cleon. Of pompholyx, of lead, of each, oz. v; of saffron, oz. iss; of the squama stomomatis, oz. j; of gum, oz. ij. Rain-water. Inject diluted.

The collyrium containing lxxii ounces of roses. Of green roses, oz. lxxii, of calamine, burnt and washed, dr. xxiv; of scraped verdigris, dr. ij; of spikenard, dr. j; of squama æris, washed, dr. ij; of antimony, burnt and washed, of opium, of myrrh, of each, dr. iij; of saffron, dr. viij; of starch, dr. ij; of gum, dr. xxiv. Rain-water.

The white collyrium from roses. Of calamine, burnt and washed, of ceruse, washed, of each, lb. j; of starch, of opium, of tragacanth, of each, oz. iij; of aloes, oz. iss; of gum, oz. iij; of saffron, oz. iss; of roses without their nails, oz. vj. Water.

The collyrium from aloes. Of calamine, of ceruse, of aloes, of each, oz. x; of green roses, oz. vj; of starch, oz. iij; of opium, oz. j; of tragacanth, oz. ij; of gum, oz. iij. Rain-water.

The saffron collyrium from roses. Of spikenard, of dried roses, of aloes, of each, dr. ij; of the white henbane, dr. iss; of saffron, dr. ivss; of glaucium, oz. vj; of sarcocolla, oz. vj; of opium, dr. ij; of tragacanth, oz. j. Rain-water.

The collyrium from roses, of Nilus. Of tender roses, dr. iv; of saffron, dr. ij; of poppy, obol. j; of gum, dr. iv. Rain-water.

The collyrium lynceus for sharpening the sight. Of calamine, of burnt copper, of ammoniac perfume, of each, dr. xij; of myrrh, of bloodstone, of Thebaic opium, of each, dr. vj; of hepatic aloes, of the gall of bulls, of galbanum, of sagapen, of each, dr. iv; of scraped verdigris, of opoponax, of sal ammoniac, of each, dr. j; of gum, dr. vj. Rain-water.

The collyrium Proteus, for the same purposes, and it also attenuates cicatrices. Of calamine, of ceruse, of crude chalcitis, of each, dr. xl; of pepper, dr. iss; of Cyrenaic juice, dr. viij; of saffron, dr. xij; of Thebaic opium, dr. x; of sagapen, dr. xij; of Ethiopian olive, dr. xij; of arsenic, of fissile alum, of each, dr. viij; of myrrh, dr. xij; of ammoniac perfume, dr. xx; of opoponax, dr. xvj; of opobalsam, dr. x; of gum, dr. xx. In rain-water.

The collyrium from the juice of fennel. Of calamine, dr. xvij; of Indian ink, dr. xvj; of long pepper, dr. xiij, and of white, dr. xij; of Cyrenaic juice, dr. viij; of opobalsam, dr. vj; of spikenard, dr. vj; of sagapen, of opoponax, of each, dr. v; of opium, dr. iv; of euphorbium, dr. j; of gum, dr. j. Triturate with the juice of fennel.

The collyrium from opobalsam. Of calamine, of ceruse, of each, dr. viij; of the oil of unripe olives, dr. iv; of white pepper, dr. xvj; of opium, dr. iv; of opobalsam, of gum, of each, dr. xvj. Rain-water.

The collyrium called thalasseros. Of calamine, oz. viij; of verdigris, oz. ij; of Indian ink, oz. viij; of white pepper, oz. iv; of Median juice (assafœtida?) oz. j; of opobalsam, oz. ij; of gum, oz. vj. Water.

The collyrium harmation. Of ammoniac perfume, of burnt copper, of the bark of frankincense, of each. dr. iv; of verdigris, dr. j; of gum, dr. iv. Rain-water.

The collyrium malabathrinum, called also isotheon. Of calamine, dr. xvj; of copper, burnt and washed, dr. xiv; of opium, of Indian buckthorn, of Indian leaf, of Indian nard, of saffron, of aloes, of each, dr. ij; of ceruse, dr. viij; of castor, dr. ij; of myrrh, dr. iv; of acacia, of antimony, of each, dr. xl. With water. To be used with an egg.

The thicker collyrium from wine. Of calamine, of the lapis hæmatitis, and schistos, of each, dr. xl; of burnt copper, dr. xxx; of chalcitis, dr. xxxij; of the seed of poppy, dr. xiij. Having boiled the poppies in water, and strained the juice, add and triturate with palm wine or Aminæan.

Another from wine. Of burnt copper, of the calamine called placitis, of each oz. ix; of bloodstone, washed, oz. vj; of saffron, of myrrh, of aloes, of ammoniac perfume, of each, oz. iij; of Indian buckthorn, of spikenard, of each, oz. j; of white pepper, gr. cl; of the yellow acacia, oz. ix; of gum, oz. iij. Triturate with Falernian or Aminæan wine.

The collyrium from two stones for asperities. Of lapis hæmatitis and schistos, of cassia, of each, dr. xviij; of copper, of calamine, of opium, of scraped verdigris, of each, dr. ix; of gum, dr. ix; of burnt chalcitis, dr. vj. Water.

Xerocollyria. The prophylactic of Galen. Of Asian stone cut into small pieces and burnt in a pot, until it become red-hot and extinguished in butter not old, and then again burnt and extinguished in Falernian wine; and a third time burnt and extinguished in honey, and dried, lb. j; of burnt copper, of white pepper, of Indian leaf, of each, oz. j; of antimony, oz. iss: and when all the things are levigated, and you wish to lay up the medicine, add of the juice of balsam, not thick (for this prevents the preparation from getting dry) but of the most transparent, oz. j. Apply it to the eyelids only, not allowing the pencil to touch the coats, but so that it may only reach the eyelids when opened. They are to be anointed, not once, but often before food and after it, and more especially if a sense of ophthalmy be present. It preserves in a wonderful manner, before every other medicine.

The dry collyrium from saffron. Of sarcocolla, dr. viij; of saffron, dr. iv; of glaucium, dr. iv. Anoint often in the day. Some also add aloes.

Another dry collyrium for xerophthalmy, sycosis, mortifications, and hypersarcoma. Of calamine, dr. x; of chalcitis, dr. xx; of pepper, gr. xv; of Celtic nard, dr. j; triturate the calamine and chalcitis with wine, and when dried add the other things and reduce to a fine powder.

The liquid collyrium from wild carrot. Of the juice of wild carrot, of germander, of cresses, and sometimes of othonna, equal parts. The othonna is the great celandine.

Another, for sycosis, encanthis, and sarcoma. Of roasted misy, dr. vj; of copperas, dr. iv; of Attic honey, sext. j.

The liquid collyrium panchrestus of Erasistratus, having wonderful efficacy, in complaints of the eyes, tonsils, pudenda, and suppurated ears. Of copper, dr. vj; of roasted misy, of myrrh, of each, dr. iij; of saffron, dr. iss; of pepper, dr. j; of Chian wine, and of Cretan must, of each, hemin. iss. Having triturated all the things in the wine until dry, pour in the must and boil to the consistence of honey.

Agglutinants for defluxions of the eyes. Of Samian earth, of manna, of frankincense, of myrrh, equal parts. Adding to it the white of an egg, apply to the forehead spread upon linen.

Another.—Of the seed of henbane, dr. j; of opium, dr. j; of myrrh, dr. ij; of saffron, dr. j; of pollen, dr. iv; the yelks of two roasted eggs. Mix with the white of an egg.

* * * * *

COMMENTARY. Gorræus derives the word collyrium from κολοβὴ ὀυρὰ, i. e. cauda trunca, being expressive of their conical shape. (Defin. Med.) Blancard prefers the derivation from κωλύω and ῥοῦς. (Lexicon Medicum.)

Oribasius states that collyria were applied—to the eye, to the uterus, and to fistulous ulcers. (Med. Coll. x, 23.) It is obvious, therefore, that the ancients used the word in a more general signification than the moderns do. Le Clerc gives the following description of the ancient collyria: “Les uns, qui étoient composés de matières sèches, eurent le nom de ξηροκολλούρια, collyres secs. Les autres, où il n’entroit que des matières liquides, s’appellèrent ὑγροκολλούρια, collyres humides ou liquides. Les ingrediens des premières, qui étoient les mêmes que ceux des collyres entières, étoient des poudres métalliques, de ceruse, de pompholyx, d’antimoine brulé, de vert-de-gris, de chalcitis, de cadmia, et autres semblables. Il y entroit aussi des poudres tirées des plantes, quelques sucs d’herbes, et quelques gommes, comme du saffran, des roses, du suc de chelidoine, et de fenouil, de l’aloes, de la myrrh, de l’opium. On mêloit tous ces ingrédiens et on en formoit des masses que l’on faisait sécher, et dont on faisait de la poudre lorsqu’on vouloit s’en servir. Les collyres liquides étoient seulement composés de matières liquides. On prenoit, par exemple, du miel d’Attique, qui étoit estimé le meilleur, de l’opobalsamum, avec du fiel de vipre, de perdrix, ou de quelque autre animal, et du suc de fenouil. On faisait de cela un mélange, dont on laissoit tomber quelques gouttes dans les yeux de ceux qui avoient la vue foible, ou quelque suffusion commençant.” (Hist. de la Méd. iii, ii, 1.)

The Ophthalmic Collyria are treated of with extraordinary accuracy and minuteness of detail in books iv and v of Galen’s work ‘De comp. med. sec. locos.’ Notwithstanding the success with which the surgery of the eye has been cultivated of late, we are confident that the oculists of the present day might derive still further improvement from an attentive study of these books. It is to be remarked that several of his collyria, as well as those of Celsus, contain opium, so that the use of the vinum opii in modern practice is not an original invention. Many of them contain very powerful escharotics, such as copper and arsenic, which indicates a great degree of boldness in ancient practice. Why is arsenic never used now for the cure of complaints of the eye? Our author’s account of them, which is mostly taken from Galen, is very accurate and deserving of consideration.

All the collyria of Celsus are ocular remedies. As he states, they consist principally of soothing and refreshing medicines variously mixed.

Scribonius Largus describes fully the composition of collyria, which he divides into the soothing and the acrid. The former consist of saffron, gum, tragacanth, calamine, antimony, opium and the like. The latter contain such ingredients as these, burnt copper, verdigris, chalcitis, misy, alum, ammoniac, and galls.

Myrepsus gives prescriptions for 87 ocular collyria, of every possible variety of character.

For the Arabian collyria, see particularly Serapion. (De Antidot. vii, 34.) Camphor is an ingredient in many of them.

SECT. XVII.—ON PLASTERS, AND THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE ADDED TO THE BOILING OF THEM, FROM THE WORKS OF ANTYLUS, AND,

On the proportion of wax to oil. Of those medicines which are the ingredients of plasters, some are terrene, as the metals, and some are kinds of stones and earth, as lees, ashes, and shells; some are oily, some tears, some soluble, some inspissated juices, some liquid juices; also a few admit seeds, herbs, and roots. Of plasters themselves, some are vulnerary, and are called bloody, agglutinative, and plasters for fractures, which must be composed of desiccants, not in the extreme, but in the second order complete, and the commencement of the third. Such are willow, oak, cypress, the barks of pine and pitch-tree, myrrh, rosemary, bitumen, aloes, birthwort, the ashes of the wood of vine, ceruse, litharge, and the most of the metals. They are boiled until they do not stain. The cicatrizing plasters are also composed of desiccants, but more so than the agglutinants. Such are, burnt copper, the squama æris and ferri, verdigris, chalcitis, the flower of burnt copper, alum, gall, molybdæna, calamine, pumice-stone, and the shells. The discutient are formed from the calefacient and moderately desiccative, such as birthwort, thapsia, old oil, and the oil of radishes, honey, opobalsam, pitch, turpentine, galbanum, burnt salts, and the flower of salt. The emollient are formed from litharge, fats, marrow, old oil, bee-glue, ammoniac, storax, galbanum, bdellium, mastich, turpentine, the root of marsh-mallows, and of the wild cucumber. The desiccative are made of sulphur, natron, salts, ashes, bitumen. The epispastic are formed from salts, natron, bee-glue, verdigris, leaven, dung, sulphur, turpentine. The digestive are composed of wax, ladanum, dried grape, amomum, saffron, frankincense, pitch, Egyptian mastich, storax, myrrh, galbanum, butter, œsypum, fats, verdigris. The suppurative are formed from water and oil, pollen, wheaten bread, chondrus, butter, the fat of swine and of calves, frankincense, pitch, rosin. The paregoric are made of litharge, ceruse, oil, dill, camomile, starch, white wax. The bloody-plasters (as they are called) are to be applied when the wounds and fractures are recent, and to co-operate with them, sponges soaked in oxycrate are to be bound on, above the pledgets, and are to be loosened on the third day, and the same pledgets and not others, again applied. The emollient, epispastic, discutient, and suppurative are applied after the use of cataplasms and cerates. But the suppurative agree best at the commencement and in cases of extreme pain. Of the boiling of them we will speak afterwards.

The plaster tetrapharmacon, basilicon. Of wax, of Colophonian rosin, of pitch, of bull’s suet, equal parts.

The plaster from the juice of linseed for discussing and breaking. Of old oil, lb. ij; of wax, oz. xx; of Colophonian rosin, of axunge, of each, lb. iss; of litharge, lb. j; of ceruse, oz. vj; of the juice of linseed, oz. vj; of pollen, oz. j; of frankincense, oz. iv.

The plaster from honey. Of litharge, of wax, of oil, of each, lb. iv; of turpentine, lb. ij; of honey, of axunge, of each, lb. j. Another. Of litharge, lb. vj; of oil, lb. vss; of Colophonian rosin, lb. viiss; of wax, lb. iiiss; of honey, lb. iij.

The diachylon, or plaster from juices. Of litharge, lb. vj; of oil, in summer, lb. vij, but in winter, lb. ix; of fenugreek, sext. ss; of linseed, sext. ss; of marsh-mallows, lb. iij. Boil the marsh-mallows and seeds in sext. xx of water, until but a little be left, and of it, mix lb. iv to the oil, and boil until the bubbles cease; then sprinkle with the litharge finely levigated, and boil at a gentle fire until it no longer stain.

The plaster from pollen. Of fine flour, of ammoniac perfume, of each, lb. j; of pine-rosin, of wax, of axunge, of each, lb. iij; of the juice of linseed, q. s.

The botanicon, or plaster from herbs. Of dock, of sordid oil, of the anchusa called the Chærospelethos (it is the Onoclean), of the plantain which has seven fibres (Plantago major?), of each, oz. iij; of oil, lb. vj; of axunge, lb. vj. The herbs, being boiled in the oil, are thrown away, but the other things are melted in the oil.

The plaster from king’s-spears. Of the juice of the root of asphodel, lb. j; of oil of roses, of oil of camomile, of the fat of geese, of each, oz. ij; of axunge, oz. iij; of wax, oz. iv.

The leaven-plaster for breaking abscesses. Of leaven, of axunge, of each, oz. vj; of salts, oz. iv; of pine-rosin, oz. iij; of wax, oz. iv; of aphronitrum, oz. j; of ammoniac perfume, oz. ij; of honey, oz. vj; of soap, oz. ij.

The dothiene, or plaster for furunculus. Of ammoniac perfume, lb. j; of Alexandrian natron, oz. vj; of aphronitrum, oz. vj; of swine’s seam, lb. ij; of wax, lb. ij; of turpentine, lb. j; of old oil, oz. j; of vinegar, q. s.

The plaster from soapwort for discussing strumous swellings. Of litharge, of soapwort, of birthwort, of each, oz. iv; of galbanum, of squama æris, of aloes, of each, oz. j; of manna, oz. ij; of ammoniac perfume, oz. vj; of pine-rosin, oz. xvj; of vinegar of squills, sext. iv; for the trituration of the powders.

The plaster smilium for abscesses. Of old oil, lb. iss; of litharge, of red natron, of sal ammoniac, of the lye of figs called protostacton, of rosin, of each, lb. j; of galbanum, of ammoniac perfume, of each, oz. iij; of copperas, oz. iv; of wax, oz. vj; of verdigris, of opoponax, of each, oz. j; of vinegar, q. s. Boil the litharge and the verdigris in the oil until it cease to stain, and then add the other things.

The plaster from garlic for breaking abscesses. Of wax, oz. vj; of Colophonian rosin, oz. iv; of pine-rosin, oz. iij; of bull’s suet, oz. iv; of yellow natron, oz. iss; the heads of garlic cleansed, xx; of oil, sext. ss. Having boiled the garlic in the oil, throw it away, and mix the other things.

The discutient plaster from apyranon. Of the fat of geese and of pheasants, of each, oz. iij; of old oil, oz. xxvj; of fleawort, oz. iij; of nettle-seed, of the green root of apyranum, of each, lb. j; of white wax, oz. x; of diachylon plaster, oz. ij; of turpentine, oz. j. Having divided the root into small pieces, macerate in the oil with the fleawort and nettle-seed a night and a day; and then having boiled, throw them away, and mixing the soluble substances with the oil, dissolve.

The wheat-plaster for hardness and scirrhous swellings. Of marsh-mallows, of palm-nuts, or of Nicolan dates, of each, lb. ij; of fenugreek, of linseed, of each, sext. ss; of camomile, of melilot, of the bark of palms, of each, oz. vj; of Aminæan wine, sext. vj; of litharge, lb. j; of ceruse, of Colophonian rosin, of each, lb. ij; of wax, of turpentine, of each, lb. j; of old oil, lb. v; of water, lb. ij; of dried bread broken down and sifted, lb. v. The juice of the herbs is extracted by boiling in wine, and the bread is soaked in it; on the day following, the litharge and ceruse are triturated in the water, and afterwards the oil is added and boiled until it ceases to stain; and then the other things are added. Being removed from the fire, the bread is added and stirred strongly. To these are then added, of scraped verdigris, of the flower of salt, of each, oz. vj; of iris, of birthwort, of each, oz. vj; of turpentine, lb. j.

The plaster Pelarion, from the dross of silver, for excoriations and the like. Of wax, of the fat of bulls, of each, oz. v; of the dross of silver, oz. vj; of Colophonian rosin, oz. iv; of pitch, of oil, of each, oz. ij; the dry dross is triturated in wine or the juice of fenugreek. When the dross is not at hand we may use molybdæna.

The plaster from marshmallows, in gouty cases and other indurations. Of the juices of fenugreek, linseed, and marshmallows, of each, lb. iij; of oil, lb. ij; having boiled it until the juice be consumed, add of Colophonian rosin, lb. j; of turpentine, lb. j; of the tear of ivy, oz. iij. When dissolved, having taken it from the fire, add of wax, lb. j, of galbanum, oz. iv, both pounded together, and having dissolved, stir with a spatula.

The plaster kissinon, or ivy plaster, for wounded nerves and punctures, especially chronic. Of red squama, oz. ivss; of frankincense, oz. j; of misy, oz. iss; of chalcitis, dr. iv; of vinegar, vj. Triturate in the summer sun until consumed, when having dissolved, of wax, oz. viij; of oil, oz. xviij (“deest aliquid”); mix. But if a nerve be divided and laid bare, instead of the galbanum, add of turpentine, oz. ij.

The melanchlorus, for the same purposes, and for bleeding wounds. Of pomegranate rind, of burnt copper, of galls, of round birthwort, of sal ammoniac, of squama æris, of fissile and liquid alum (but some instead of the liquid use the round), of iris, of misy, of copperas, of chalcitis, of scraped verdigris, of calamine, of aloes, of myrrh, of frankincense, of the root of all-heal, of litharge, of ceruse, equal parts. All of which are triturated in the sun during the season of summer, with vinegar for a sufficient number of days, and formed into trochisks. It is made into a plaster thus: of the medicine, oz. ij; of wax, oz. vj; of oil, oz. viij; when for wounded nerves the oil is to be old, but otherwise the common.

The plaster from groundsel. Of the juice of groundsel, lb. ij; of old oil, lb. iss; of oil of privet, oz. iv; of old axunge, lb. j; of turpentine, oz. j; of galbanum, oz. ss; of pine rosin, oz. vj; of verdigris, of frankincense, of the medicine œsypum, of each, oz. j; of squama æris, scr. viij; of wax, oz. x; of the old pitch of ships, oz. xiv. Boil the oil with the juice to the consistence of the sordes of the oil in baths, with swine’s seam, and triturate the powders with oil of privet; beat the galbanum with the wax, and put it into a pot. And if the pitch of the ships be dry, having triturated and strained it, weigh and sprinkle it. If it cannot be triturated let it be strained, with part of the oil dissolved, and then let all the things be mixed.

The discutient plaster of Mnasæus. Of wax, of axunge, of each, lb. j; of Colophonian rosin, oz. vj; of litharge, lb. ij; of fine wax, lb. iv.

The Ariobarzanian plaster, for the same affections. Of litharge, oz. iss; of ceruse, lb. j, oz. v; of sea-water, oz. xxv; of old oil, lb. iss; of buccina burnt, oz. viiss; of yellow wax, oz. ix; of turpentine, oz. vj; of frankincense, oz. iij, scr. iiiss.

The plaster from dracunculus, or dragon-herb. Of wax, of Colophonian rosin, of dried pitch, of axunge, of rosin, of each, lb. iv; of ammoniac perfume, lb. ij; of the root of dracunculus, lb. v. The root being dried and triturated is sprinkled, with the other things dissolved.

The plaster called Psittacion. Of wax, of Colophonian rosin, of swine’s seam, of the tender leaves of henbane, or the juice of them, equal parts. But in Alexandria, of wax, lb. iiss; of henbane, lb. ij; of axunge, lb. iiss; of Colophonian rosin, lb. x. This is more discutient.

The myrtle plaster, or emplastrum myrsinatum. Of litharge, of ceruse, of sandyx, of lead, burnt and washed, of each, oz. j; of wax, oz. vj; of myrtle oil, lb. j; of wine, q. s.

The plaster from ceruse, or from eggs. Of white wax, oz. vj; of rose oil, lb. iss; of litharge, oz. ij; of ceruse, oz. ij; of starch, oz. iij; the whites of v eggs.

The plaster Parygron, of Oribasius. Of litharge, oz. iss; of ceruse, oz. iss; of wax, oz. iv; of swine’s seam, oz. vij; of Colophonian rosin, oz. ix; of the juice of linseed, of oil, of each, oz. x. It answers admirably for fissures of the heels. But, says he, it must be kept from ulcers, for it becomes fetid.

The epulotic plaster from calamine. Of burnt chalcitis, oz. ij; of calamine, of manna, of each, oz. j; of wax, of colophony, of myrtle oil, of each, lb. j; of wine, q. s.

The palm plaster, or emplastrum palmulatum. Of old axunge, lb. ij; of old oil, lb. iij; of litharge, lb. iij; of crude chalcitis, oz. vj. First the chalcitis is to be levigated in a proper vessel, or in the sun. After it has become of the consistence of the lees of the oil in baths, add the litharge, previously triturated, and afterwards the suet. After they are properly triturated, boil with a gentle fire until it cease to stain, stirring with palm branches.

The plaster from alkanet, for burns. Of white wax, oz. ix; of rose oil, oz. xviij; let these be melted, and sprinkle upon them of the dried root of the purple alkanet, finely levigated, oz. iv. Another. Of the green root of alkanet, of the hair of horehound, of each, oz. iij. Boil in oz. ix of oil, and throw away. Add to the oil v oz. of white wax and dissolve.

The plaster called pompholygeron. Of pompholyx, oz. ij; of litharge, oz. iij; to be triturated with the juice of linseed, and then to be added when dissolved and cooled; of wax, oz. vj; of the grease of geese or domestic fowls, oz. ij; of chamomile, oz. vj.

The anodyne plaster phycotyche, for the fundament. Of frankincense, oz. xvij; of myrrh, oz. vij; of opium, dr. iv; of fissile alum, dr. ij; of butter, dr. iv; the yelks of iv eggs roasted; of calamine, burnt and washed, dr. iv; of pompholyx, dr. vj; of Tuscan wax, oz. viij; of the grease of geese, dr. xvj; of stag’s marrow, dr. xj; of lead, burnt and washed, dr. viij; of bloodstone, dr. j; of liquid œsypum, dr. iv. Triturate the powders with Italian wine, and mix the soluble substances.

The plaster of Amythaon, for distorted and torn joints. It is also epispastic. Of ammoniac, of wax, of bdellium, of each, dr. viij; of turpentine, of Illyrian iris, of galbanum, of each, dr. xx.

The Aristophanian emollient plaster. Of pitch, lb. iv; of the pitch of ships, lb. ij; of wax, lb. j; of opoponax, oz. j; of vinegar, hemin. j.

The plaster from molybdæna, for hot affections. Of molybdæna, oz. iv; of litharge, oz. ij; of ceruse, oz. ij; of wax, oz. viij; of myrtle oil, lb. ij. Triturate the dry things with wine.

The plaster coracon from oxymel, for the pudendum and spreading sores. Of galls, oz. ij; of squama æris, oz. iss; of chalcitis, of frankincense, of each, oz. j. Triturate with vinegar for a sufficient number of days; then mix of honey, oz. v. But having made separately a cerate from oz. ij of myrtle or rose oil, and of the seam of bulls, oz. viij; of wax, oz. iv; of turpentine, oz. j; having mixed, triturate together, and use like that from paper, both by means of an instrument for extracting pus and by a pledget.

The plaster from vinegar and oil. Of litharge, p. j; of oil, of vinegar, of each, p. ij, some make it iij.

The plaster from agate, being discutient and emollient. Of agate stone, half burnt, oz. iss; of wax, oz. v; of roasted rosin, oz. iij; of oil, oz. j.

The plaster Isis, for bloody wounds, being agglutinative, incarnative, and cathartic. Of squama æris, of burnt copper, of round birthwort, of each, dr. viij; of fissile alum, dr. vj; of ammoniac salts, dr. viij; of frankincense, dr. viij; of ammoniac perfume, dr. viij; of myrrh, dr. xij; of aloes, dr. xij; of galbanum, dr. xij; of the juice of the root of dracunculus, dr. viij; of wax, lb. j; of Colophonian rosin, lb. ij; of old oil, oz. iij; of vinegar, q. s.

The plaster Athena, for foul ulcers, infarctions, and wounded nerves. Of pomegranate rind, of burnt copper, of galls, of round and long birthwort, of sal ammoniac, of ammoniac perfume; of squama æris, of fissile alum and of round, of iris, of misy, of copperas, of chalcitis, of scraped verdigris, of calamine, of aloes, of myrrh, of frankincense, of bee glue, of galbanum, of each, oz. j; of wax, dr. cc; of pitch, dr. cc; of Colophonian rosin, dr. c; of oil, oz. vj; of vinegar, q. s.

The agglutinative plaster from dittany, for the bites of dogs and all sorts of ulcers. Of litharge, lb. ij; of squama æris, oz. iss; of old oil, sext. ij; of diphryges, oz. iij; of gentian, oz. iss; of birthwort, of scraped verdigris, of each, oz. iss; of dittany, of burnt copper, oz. iss; of Colophonian rosin, lb. j; of manna, of galbanum, of aloes, oz. iij; of ammoniac perfume, oz. vj; of bee glue, oz. ij; of common wax, oz. viss. The oil must first be boiled with the litharge, until it cease to stain. Then taking it off the fire, we are to add the verdigris and squama, and again boil until it cease to stain; and again taking it off the fire, add the rosin, the ammoniac sifted, and stir until it cease boiling; and place it at the fire, and when it boils but a little add the copper and diphryges and boil again until it thicken; then add the common wax, and boiling until it cease to stain, put in the bee glue, and after a little the aloes, manna, dittany, birthwort, and gentian, are to be sprinkled finely levigated when but a little cooled.

The Barbaric plaster, for bloody sores, and for promoting the formation of callus in fractures. Of Judæan asphaltos, of dried pitch, of wax, of rosin, of each, lb. j; of turpentine, oz. ij; of litharge, oz. j; of ceruse, oz. iss; of manna, oz. ij; of opoponax, oz. ij; of myrrh, oz. ij; of oil, oz. iij; of vinegar, q. s.

The agglutinative plaster from willows, for hæmoptysis and empyema when applied to the chest. Of misy, of chalcitis, of verdigris, of ceruse, of galls, of fissile alum and of round, of melanteria, of each, oz. vj; of wax, lb. ij; of pine-rosin, lb. ij; of pitch, lb. ij; of pomegranate rind, oz. vj; of asphaltos, lb. ij; of willow-leaves, lb. ij; of the oil of roses, oz. iv; of copperas, oz. vj; of vinegar, q. s. Some add also of turpentine, oz. ix.

The plaster of Nicolaus, for bloody wounds and an agglutinant of sinuses. Of squama æris, oz. iv; of scraped verdigris, oz. iss; of litharge, oz. iss; of long and of round birthwort, of each, oz. j; of fissile and of round alum, of copperas, of each, oz. j; of sulphur vivum, oz. j; of the gall omphacitis, oz. iv; of ammoniac salts, oz. j; of misy, oz. j; of marjoram, oz. j; of chamæleon, oz. j; of the calamine called racemosa, oz. j; of white hellebore, oz. j; of hog’s-fennel, oz. iij; of parsley-seed, oz. ij; of the root of comfrey, oz. iss; of ceruse, oz. iss; of the juice of mandragora, oz. ss; of chalcitis, oz. iss; of Samian aster, oz. j; of male frankincense, oz. j; of aloes, oz. j; of bdellium, oz. ij; of Thebaic opium, oz. ij; of troglodytic myrrh, oz. ss; of ammoniac perfume, oz. j; of fenugreek, oz. vj; of the juice of perdicias, oz. vj; of yellow wax, lb. iij; of Colophonian rosin, lb. ij; of pine-rosin, lb. j; of bitumen, lb. j; of mastich, oz. vj; of black pitch, lb. ij; of old oil, lb. j; of storax, oz. j; of opoponax, oz. iss; of vinegar, q. s.

The Icesian plaster, for strumæ, abscesses, the spleen, joints, and ischiatic disease. Of litharge, dr. cxx; of old oil, sext. ij; of vinegar, sext. j; of verdigris, dr. iss; of the bark of the pine, dr. viij; of chamæleon, with the root, dr. xvj; of euphorbium, dr. xvj; of the juice of hypocistis, dr. xvj; of bee-glue, dr. xvj; of myrrh, dr. xvj; of elicampane, dr. xvj; of pellitory, dr. xvj; of wax, lb. iij.

The plaster of Nero, for blows and all pains of fleshy parts. Of old oil, lb. iss; of litharge, lb. j; of ammoniac perfume, oz. j; of ceruse, oz. iv; of galbanum, of manna, of myrrh, of frankincense, of each, oz. j.

The much-used emplastrum oxyrum. Of dried pitch, dr. ij; of wax, lb. j; of ammoniac perfume, oz. j; of turpentine, lb. ss; of galbanum, oz. ij; of manna, oz. ij; of vinegar, sext. iss.

The agglutinative plaster without wax, or emplastrum aceratum of Galen. It is digestive and promotes the suppuration of ulcers, with oleum ricini and old oil, when spread upon a pledget. Of litharge, lb. iij; of oil of ricinus, or old oil, lb. iv; of the most acrid vinegar, lb. ij; of the black squama æris, of chalcitis, of verdigris, of each, oz. ij. Boil the litharge with the oil to the consistence of the lees in baths; then add the metallic substances, triturated for many days with vinegar.

The plaster from metals. Of chalcitis, oz. j; of misy, oz. ij; of squama æris, oz. iij; of frankincense, oz. iij; of Colophonian rosin, oz. ij; of galbanum, oz. iss; of wax, lb. j; of oil, oz. xv; of vinegar, q. s.

The plaster harmonia, for fractures. Of chalcitis, oz. iv; of squama æris, oz. iiss; of burnt copper, oz. j; of frankincense, oz. ij; of oil, lb. j; of vinegar, lb. j. Boil the metals in the oil until it cease to stain, then add the frankincense.

The emplastrum melinum of Serapion. Of litharge, lb. j; of wax, oz. vij; of ammoniac perfume, oz. iiiss; of galbanum, of verdigris, of each, dr. ix; of Colophonian rosin, oz. vij; of myrrh, dr. j: of oil, hemin. iss. Boil the litharge with the oil until it cease to stain, then add the other things.

The emplastrum anicetum, being agglutinative, discutient, removing scales, and answering with distortions. Of bay-berries, of dried iris, of frankincense, of each, dr. lx; of burnt copper, dr. xx; of natron, of sal ammoniac, dr. xx; of pellitory, of stavesacre, of the seed of rosemary, of the granum Cnidium, of mustard, of pigeon’s dung, of birthwort, of cumin, of verdigris, of cyperus, of the seed of rocket, of each, dr. viij; of vinegar, hemin. xii. Triturate during the heat of the dog-days until the vinegar is consumed, then add, of the thickest decoction of dried figs, oz. ix; and having mixed, form trochisks and dry. In using it, triturate of the trochisks, oz. ij, with vinegar, and mix, of rosin, oz. iij; of Tuscan wax, oz. ij; of oil, oz. ij.

The plaster from darnel. Of pitch, lb. ij; of pine-rosin, oz. ix; of Tuscan wax, oz. v; of oil, oz. iij; of strained bitumen, oz. ij; of the flour of darnel, sext. j; of vinegar, q. s.

The plaster from the juice of mulberry-tree. Of litharge, of dried pitch, of bull’s-seam, of each, oz. viij; of turpentine, oz. iij; of wax, oz. v; of scraped verdigris, of opoponax, of galbanum, of each, oz. j; of the oleum ricininum, oleum susinum, or very old oil, hemin. j; of liquid pitch, hemin. j; of the juice of the mulberry, the fruit of which is called sycomora, hemin. j.

The double-coloured plaster, or dichromos. Of burnt copper, of fissile alum, of ammoniac perfume, of each, oz. j; of wax, lb. j; of Colophonian rosin, lb. j; of swine’s seam, lb. j; of vinegar, q. s.

The Indian agglutinative plaster, for spreading ulcers and hæmoptysis. Of wax, of roasted rosin, of dried pitch, of the liquid Zacynthian bitumen, of each, lb. j; of ceruse, of chalcitis, of misy, of melanteria, of fissile and of round alum, of the gall omphacitis, of the rind of the pomegranate, of each, oz. vj; of vinegar, q. s.

The plaster from the ashes of asps, for discussing strumæ and gout. Of turpentine, of Asian stone, of Judæan bitumen, of each, dr. ccclx; of wax, of bay-berries, of ammoniac perfume, of aphronitrum, of the fat of calves, of each, dr. cccxl; of the lapis pyrites, of quicklime, of each, dr. cxl; of the ashes of asps, dr. cxl; of old oil, hemin. ij. Sprinkle the ashes upon the medicine when cooled. It is prepared also without the ashes, because some have an aversion to them, and it is no less efficacious.

The desiccative and discutient plaster, called leæna or lioness. Of ammoniac perfume, of plumbago, of each, dr. c; of mustard, dr. viij; of the root of chamæleon, dr. xvj; of Colophonian rosin, dr. c; of squama æris, of the root of soapwort, of euphorbium, of verdigris, of each, dr. viij; of birthwort, dr. xvj; of pellitory, dr. viij; of old oil, hemin. j; and of the oil of radishes, q. s.—Another. The leæna for altering and evacuating humours. Of copperas, oz. ij; of arsenic, oz. j; of black hellebore, of cantharides’ breasts, of each, dr. iss; of sandarach, oz. iij; of wax, lb. iss; of roasted rosin, lb. j; of oil, hemin. ij.

The Macedonian plaster. Of wax, of Colophonian rosin, of pitch, of the suet of bulls, of rosemary, equal parts. Having melted and removed them from the fire, sprinkle the frankincense.

The plaster sphærion, for febrile complaints. Of ceruse, of litharge, of quicklime, of each, oz. iij; of wax, oz. iss; of Berenicarian natron, of rose oil, of each, oz. j. Pour the melted things upon the dry and form small balls. In using, melt, of oil, oz. vj, with oz. ij of wax, and add, of the medicine, oz. j, and stir with a spatula. When cooled, bruize with oz. ix of water; add also of rose-oil, oz. iij.

The anti-inflammatory plaster from ochre, both for those cases of inflammation which occur spontaneously, and those occasioned by judicial torture. Of Attic ochre, lb. ij; of chalk, lb. j; of litharge, oz. viij. Triturate with wine, of wax, of Colophonian rosin, of pitch, of pine rosin, of each, lb. j; of turpentine, oz. viij; of oil, lb. ij. It is dissolved thus: of wax, lb. j; of old oil, lb. iij; of the medicine, lb. j. Bruise with wine.

The plaster from cedria, being agglutinative, discutient, and detergent. Of wax, of dried pitch, of each, lb. j; of Colophonian rosin, oz. viij; of cedar rosin (gum juniper?), oz. vj. Having melted them together, boil until they cease to stain.

Another emollient plaster. Of wax, of pitch, of each, oz. viij; of Colophonian rosin, dr. xxv; of bee-glue, dr. xvij; of cedar rosin, dr. xx.

The cicatrizing plaster from pumice-stone. Of myrtle oil, lb. ij; of wax, lb. j; of pumice burnt and extinguished in wine, dr. vj; of the squama stomomatis, dr. vj; of burnt copper, of Cimolian earth, of each, dr. v. It is put upon a pledget, and a sponge out of water is applied above.

The plaster called Paula or Rest, for strumæ and buboes. Of wax, of Colophonian rosin, of natron, of each, lb. j.

The plaster from natron, for carbuncles. Of roasted natron, oz. iij; of wax, of oil, of Colophonian rosin, of each, dr. iss; of Cyrenaic or Median juice, dr. x. It is applied, diluted, upon a pledget.

The plaster from anemone. Of anemone stripped of its nails (“the white parts of its flowers”), oz. ij; of wax, oz. v; of oil, oz. iv; of rosin, oz. vss; of Colophonian rosin, lb. iiss.

The green plaster of Machærion for ischiatic diseases, infarctions of the joints, and abscesses. Of opoponax, of galbanum, of verdigris, of myrrh, of iris, of ammoniac perfume, of birthwort, of each, oz. j; of turpentine, of wax, of the oil of unripe olives, of each, oz. vij.

Another simple green plaster. Of rosin, lb. iij; of wax, lb. j; of scraped verdigris, lb. ss; of frankincense, dr. xxv; of vinegar, q. s.

Another green plaster for humid and fungous ulcers. Of Colophonian rosin, oz. vj; of scraped verdigris, oz. iss; of wax, oz. ij; of Cappadocian salts, oz. j; of rose oil, oz. ij; of vinegar, q. s.

The plaster from rue, for pleuritic cases. Of green rue, lb. j; of butter, lb. iss; of turpentine, oz. xv; of the medicine œsypum, oz. xv; of opoponax, oz. iij; of galbanum, oz. iij; of oil of dill, lb. j.

The plaster from lye, for ischiatic, arthritic, and œdematous complaints. Of wax, of old oil, of protostacton (“a mixture of lime with some other sort of lixivial ashes”), of each, lb. j; of roasted rosin, of Alexandrian natron, of white natron, of turpentine, of each, oz. vj. Triturate the natron with the ashes.

The plaster from natron, for abscesses and scirrhous swellings. Of old oil, of wax, of aphronitrum, of soap, of ashes, of each, lb. j; of turpentine, oz. vj; of galbanum, of bee-glue, of ammoniac perfume, of each, oz. j. Prepare like the former.

The plaster from salts. Of wax, oz. iv; of oil, lb. j; of common salts, oz. iv; of aphronitrum, oz. iv; of ceruse, oz. viij; of vinegar, oz. ij, for the trituration.—Otherwise. Of common salts, of natron, of each, oz. iv; of wax, of old oil, of each, oz. vj; of sea-water, q. s.

The plaster from bacon, for dissolving tophi. Of the fat of old swine’s bacon, of ammoniac perfume, of the old cheese of cow’s or goat’s milk, of bull’s fat, of the pitch of ships, of each, lb. j; of the marrow of stags, oz. viij; of the cerate of œsypum, oz. iij; of the oil of privet, oz. vj: of Egyptian wine, q. s.

The plaster from dragon’s blood (cinnabaris), for tophi and all other scirrhous swellings. It is called pampathes. Of litharge, lb. j; of old oil, sext. j; of squama æris, oz. j; of burnt copper, oz. j; of sanguis draconis, scr. xviij; of a living magnet, oz. j; of Phrygian stone, dr. vj; of the stone pyrites, of calamine, of scraped verdigris, of frankincense, of each, oz. j; of diphryges, oz. ij; of aloes, oz. iss; of galbanum, oz. iss; of the Scythian stone onites, scr. xviij; of the bloodstone, oz. j; of bee-glue, lb. j, scr. xxviij; of wax, oz. xvij; of the stone perdicites (another edition has perdiciaton), oz. j; of betony, oz. j, scr. viij; of gentian, oz. j; of long and of round birthworth, dr. iv; of the black chamæleon, oz. j; of dittany, scr. xij; of dried rosin, lb. j; of the fat of the ostrich, lb. j. Triturate the stones with the litharge, adding of the flower of salt, lb. ij, gradually until the whole be consumed.

The plaster from filberts, of tried efficacy, for tophi of the joints. Of protostacton (“a mixture of lime with some lixivial ashes”), oz. vj; of the inner part of filberts, oz. ij; of aphronitrum, oz. vj; of old oil, lb. j; of gallic soap, oz. iv; of honey, oz. viij; the whites of six eggs; of wax. oz. x; of turpentine, oz. ij. Triturate with the protostacton.

An admirable anodyne cerate from the torpedo, for gout. On the fifth day of the month of March, put into a pot under ground of common oil, sext. ij, boil with the wood of vine, and when it boils, add of the sea-fish torpedo, lb. j; and of the blood of the mole, which some call madaniuda, oz. iv, and boil until the flesh of the fish be dissolved or toasted; then, having strained, add of oil and of wax what will be sufficient to give it consistence, so that the cerate may be very tender, which, having spread upon a linen rag, apply.

The plaster from the urine of a mule, for gout. Of the urine of a male mule, sext. iv; of litharge, lb. ij; of old oil, one mina. Having triturated all the things for a long time until they become of the consistence of the lees of baths, boil till it cease to stain.

The plaster from the flower of Asian stone, of Philagrius, for scirrhus. Of the root of hog’s fennel, of the flower of Asian stone, or, if it is not at hand, of salts, of ammoniac perfume, of unscoured wool burnt, of each, oz. j; of round birthwort, of pumice-stone, of dog’s dung, of scraped verdigris, of squama æris, of misy, of each, scr. xviij; of castor, scr. xviij; of myrrh, oz. iij; of the most acrid vinegar, oz. iij; of wax, oz. xiiss; of pine rosin, of Brutian pitch, oz. xviiiss, scr. vj; of old oil, and of the most acrid vinegar, q. s.

The same, of Galen. Of wax, of turpentine, of each, lb. j; of Asian stone, of manna, of each, oz. iij; of oil of privet, oz. ij; of the bonnet-maker’s water, q. s.

The arthritic plaster from the flower of salt, in the decline of the complaint. Of turpentine, of roasted rosin, of pine rosin, of wax, of each, lb. j; of dried pitch, of fissile alum, of the flower of salt, of each, lb. ss. Boil in a double vessel.

An incarnative plaster for ulcers. Of rose-oil, of turpentine, of honey, of each, oz. ij; of ceruse, of butter, of each, oz. j. Some add also of frankincense, oz. j.

The Italian plaster for cleansing and incarnating foul ulcers. Having boiled the tender bark of the wild fig in oil, throw it away, and having melted in the oil a sufficient quantity of dark yellow wax, use on a pledget.

The erective plaster. Of satyrion, of the testicle of a stag, of the tail of a skink, of each, dr. ij; of the seed of rocket, of pellitory, of the seed of rosemary, of wax, of each, dr. iv; of turpentine, oz. j; three eggs of troglodytic sparrows, (“wrens?”) three swifts, of oil of bay, or of iris, q. s. The swifts are soaked alive in vinegar for forty days, the vessel being buried in dung.

The golden plaster for bloody wounds. Of frankincense, of fissile alum, of each, oz. ij; of Colophonian rosin, of common rosin, of each, lb. j; of oil, oz. iij; of arsenic, oz. ij. Triturate the arsenic in the vinegar.

The plaster for fractures, of Oribasius. Of Brutian pitch, lb. j, oz. iv; of litharge, lb. j, oz. iv; of frankincense, oz. viij; of turpentine, oz. v; of bull’s suet, lb. j, oz. iv; of galbanum, of opoponax, of each, oz. j; of wax, oz. iv; of old oil, lb. j; of vinegar, oz. v.

A plaster for fractures with a wound and without a wound. From Heraclitus. Of dried pitch, mina j; of litharge, mina j; of manna, mina ss; of calves’ suet, mina j; of Tuscan wax, oz. xxvj; of opoponax, dr. viij; of scraped verdigris, of Cyprian copper, of each, the fifth and tenth part of a mina; of turpentine, min. iss; of copper, oz. j; of oleum ricini (castor oil), or old oil, hem. j; of vinegar, hemin. ss.

The preparation of the medicine called the liquid œsypum. Of melilot, oz. iv; of cardamom, oz. ij; of unscoured wool, oz. vj: having macerated in sext. ij of wine for three days, boil until little is left; and having filtrated mix with the wine, oz. iij of oil, and boil until little of the wine remain, and then add of Colophonian rosin, oz. x; of turpentine, oz. x. Some add likewise of wax, oz. x, and of the herb hyssop, oz. j, and boil with the others. Others clean the wool in wine, and having dried the wine with the sordes, which they call pinon, at the time of using, add of it, oz. iij, and the other things as mentioned.

On the mixture of wax to oil. If you wish to prepare ointments like those called Acopa, add four parts of the oil to the wax; but if, as in fractures, you wish to make a soft cerate, make it double. When we wish to give the medicine the form of a plaster, then we mix equal parts of oil with wax, if the atmosphere be of a moderate temperature. But if the wax be old or dry, and the atmosphere cold, then there must be a little more of the oil than of the wax; when the wax is soft and the atmosphere warm, the wax should be a little less than the oil. This little should be the twelfth part on each side of the middle, for in this case you will mix xj or xiij oz. of oil to the pound of wax.

From the works of Antyllus, on the boiling of those medicines which are the ingredients of plasters.—Litharge. In the boiling of the medicines, the litharge will be boiled with the oil; but the litharge having been previously triturated, is to be triturated again with the oil, so as to become viscid, and then it is to be boiled at a gentle fire, stirring incessantly. At first, then, it swells and bubbles; but when nearly boiled sufficiently, it becomes of a more feculent colour. It has attained its measure of boiling when the swelling subsides, and it no longer stains. The molybdæna is to be boiled in a similar manner to litharge; but the measure of the boiling of it is not only when it ceases to stain, but when it changes from a fiery colour to a yellow and strongly florid. Burnt copper in boiling is not to be put in at the commencement, but when the plaster is half boiled: the measure of the boiling, unless a small quantity only is put in, is when its colour predominates and renders the plaster yellow; sori and diphryges are put in during the boiling. The measure of the boiling of the diphryges, like the squama, is to be when its colour predominates. With regard to the sori, there is no particular measure, except the common one, to make the plaster of such a consistence that it does not stain. The chalcitis is boiled like copper, and the measure of it is the degree to which it renders the plaster of a deeper yellow and more ruddy colour. The flower of copper is like copper, and is regulated by the common measure of boiling. Copperas (blue vitriol?) is added in the middle of the boiling, and when boiled it gives a stronger shade to the colour of the plaster; and if not prevented by other circumstances, it renders the plaster black; misy is added in the end, but there is no particular measure with regard to it; arsenic and sandarach are added at the end of the boiling; burnt lead is put in at the middle of the boiling; ceruse is put into white plasters at the end, for thus it preserves their colour and whitens them still more, but it is added to the black at the commencement, for by being more boiled it becomes blacker; verdigris is added to the green plasters after the boiling; and, in some cases, it is not put into the pot at all, but being triturated with vinegar, and remaining in the mortar, the other things are mixed with it: to those of an apple colour (pale red?) it is added when the preparation is half boiled; for when it undergoes moderate boiling, it puts on the apple colour; but in those which are to have a double appearance, and double colour, we must boil the verdigris immediately after the commencement; when the boiling is persevered in, it first puts on the apple colour, then the double appearance, and at last its colour becomes yellow; alum is added for the most part after the boiling, but there is no measure of its boiling; vermilion is added at the end; calamine and pompholyx are added at the commencement; salts and natron are added at the middle of the boiling; sulphur at the end, the boiling of it blackens the plasters. All earths and stones are added at the end for the most part: pumice-stone, too, at the end. Burnt shells are added at the end. Oil, if added at the commencement to rosin and liquid pitch, prevents the plaster from acquiring consistence. The oil, therefore, is to be added after it has acquired consistence. Other fatty substances which do not contain salt, are to be added at the middle of the boiling. Of ointments, the Irinum bears boiling, the Cyprinum and Rosaceum less; the others, none at all. The ingredients are, therefore, to be added at the end of the boiling. Wax is not boiled alone by itself, for it burns, neither with liquid rosin nor liquid pitch, for it remains disunited. But it is added to pure oil or oily matters boiled with the metals, or to rosin and pitch, previously boiled and thickened with other things which are to be added. Dried rosin is added with wax. The liquid, before all other things, is boiled by itself, unless a very small quantity is used. Pitch is added before all other things. The measure of the boiling of the liquid is its acquiring consistence; but of the dry especially, if boiled with vinegar, when it ceases to bubble and swell. The pitch of ships, when triturated and separated by a sieve from its recrements, is sprinkled upon a plaster when boiled; but if soft, it is dissolved with the oil. The former method is the more correct, because in the second the weight is not preserved. Bitumen (asphaltos) is boiled by being added at the commencement. But it is not to be levigated, because it contains asperities like grains of figs. It is, therefore, to be broken into large pieces and boiled in vinegar, not stirring it lest it bubble. I, says Timocrates, have succeeded by boiling it in oil. Bee-glue (propolis) is to be softened and boiled. For, by the boiling, it is not entirely incorporated. But if the plaster receives, as an ingredient, common wax, the bee-glue, like the galbanum, is to be pounded with the wax and added. Ammoniac is added about the middle of the boiling. But if it can be levigated, it should be sprinkled in the state of a powder, but if not, it may be triturated with some liquid; but if it be a plaster for fresh wounds, it is to be triturated with vinegar or wine; but if for fistulæ or strumæ, by all means with vinegar. If it be a soft plaster (such as those for the fundament), it is to be triturated with water; then, being levigated, it is to be added to the other things when cooled that they may not boil. Opoponax is added much later than ammoniac: it requires but very little boiling; but it must be frequently triturated with wine or vinegar. Galbanum does not bear boiling. But when the plaster has attained such a consistence that it does not stain, it is to be taken off the fire, and it is to be softened and added. Sagapenum is pounded in a mortar, and when it becomes tender it is softened with the plaster after being removed from the fire. Aloe is sprinkled after the boiling. Poppy-juice is macerated for one day in a little water, and is then levigated in a mortar, and in this state the plaster is poured upon it. Thapsia is sprinkled last, or triturated with some fluid. Bdellium being levigated, is sprinkled after the plaster is taken from the fire; but if it is of a fatty nature, and cannot be levigated, it is to be pounded like sagapen, and made into the form of a plaster, and softened with the plaster after the boiling. Frankincense and manna are sprinkled at the end of the boiling, becoming glutinous, with a little honey, vinegar, water, or wine, if the plaster admit a liquid. Myrrh is added when the boiling is over. None of the seeds, roots, and herbs can endure boiling; but when levigated, and while they remain in the mortar, the other things are poured upon them in a state of solution.

* * * * *

COMMENTARY. The following are the general directions given by Celsus for the formation of plasters: “Emplastrum hoc modo fit: arida medicamenta per se teruntur; deinde mixtis his instillatur aut acetum, aut si quis alius non pinguis humor accessurus est, et ea rursus ex eo teruntur; ea vero quæ liquari possunt, ad ignem simul liquantur, et si quid olei misceri debet, tum infunditur: interdum etiam aridum ali quod ex oleo prius coquitur.” He describes the composition of 28 plasters. (v, 19.)

The composition of plasters is treated of by Galen at so great length that it is quite out of the question to attempt even an abstract of his account of them. His accuracy of detail and attention to minutiæ are almost inconceivable. See the first four books of his work (De Med. sec. genera.) Our author, as usual, is much indebted to him.

For further information regarding the emplastra of the ancients, see also Haly Abbas (Pract. x, 18); Mesue (De Unguentis); and Myrepsus (§ x.) Myrepsus, as usual, is most copious: he gives formulæ for 199 plasters.

The diachylon plaster is described by Galen and Mesue, but as the ingredients of theirs are nearly the same as in that of our author, we need not give their formulæ.

The Ægyptiacum, which is still celebrated as a remedy in certain cases is thus described by Mesue: “Take of verdigris, dr. v; of honey, dr. xiv; of very acrid vinegar, dr. vij: boil to a proper consistence. Some also add dr. iiss of triturated frankincense.”

The following is an itch ointment by Mesue: “Take of ceruse, of litharge, of aloes, of saffron, of calamine, of mercury extinguished, equal parts; make into an ointment, with oil of oleander and vinegar, q. s.”

An itch ointment of Myrepsus consists of the fresh leaves of the bay-tree boiled with oil, and having wax and sulphur added to it. We can say, from ample experience, that such an ointment is a most effectual remedy for scabies.

The preparation of the basilicon, as directed by Avicenna, is a nearer approach to the modern ointment of that name than our author’s: “Of rosin, of pitch, and of wax, equal parts, prepare with olive oil.”

SECT. XVIII.—ON EMOLLIENT PLASTERS AND EPITHEMES.

Of those applications called emollient plasters, or malagmata, some are applied to the middle parts of the body when in a state of chronic inflammation, or indurated, or in a hot or cold state, or affected with defluxions; and some to the extremities when infarcted, or to the nerves when affected with cold; or they are serviceable to the other parts when scirrhous. These have been treated of in the section on Plasters, and will be treated of in that on Acopa. Of those which agree with the middle parts of the body (which are properly called epithemes), those applied for the stomach and liver, of whatever kind they are, must require a strengthening power from astringents; for without these there will be danger to the life, the functional operations of these parts being extensive; and, therefore, they are principally composed of aromatics. When the stomach then is affected with dyspepsia, atony, or inflation, those from seeds, and from melilots, aloes, and wormwood, from sampsuchum (marjoram), nard, and mastich are to be applied. To the liver, those from nutben, ammoniac, fats, and chamomile ointment; and to the spleen, those from quicklime, arsenic, capers, willows, cardamom, verdigris, ammoniac, and vinegar are to be applied. For defluxions about the belly, those from wild vine, alum, apple ointment, and other astringents are to be used. And these by a misnomer are called by the general name of malagmata or emollient plasters, although their power be the reverse of softening. When the viscera are in a hot state, as in ardent fevers, those from saffron, oil of roses, the juice of linseed, endive, knot-grass, hog’s lard, or litharge are to be applied; but when in a cold state those from opobalsam, Indian leaf, sowbread (cassamum), and pepper. In expectorations of blood, astringent and desiccative applications, composed from alum, willow, and bitumen, are to be applied to the breast; and in consumptions, those from bay berries, horehound, cardamom, and lye.

The malagma from melilots. Of saffron, of Celtic nard, of cyperus, of cardamom, of iris, of myrrh, of each, oz. ij; of melilots, lb. j; of ammoniac perfume, lb. j; of wax, lb. iij; of turpentine, lb. j; of oil of privet, lb. iij; of gleucinum, lb. ij; of bdellium, oz. vj. Some add also of cyphi, oz. ij; of wine, q. s.

The malagma Polyarchium, from Galen’s work, ‘according to the parts.’ Of wax, of turpentine, of bdellium, of ammoniac perfume, of cardamom, of cyperus, of each, one mina; of melilot, of amomum, of Indian nard, of saffron, of myrrh, of frankincense, of the wood of cinnamon, of each, dr. xxv; of oil of privet, hemina j; of Italian wine, q. s. Prepare and use sometimes unmixed and sometimes diluted with the cerate of privet.

The Polyarchium, otherwise. Of xylobalsam, of costus, of iris, of cyperus, of myrrh, of the schœnanth, of cardamom, of frankincense, of spikenard, of mastich, of storax, of bdellium, of amomum, of Indian leaf, of saffron, of cassia, of pellitory, of long birthwort, of each, oz. j; of ammoniac perfume, oz. iss; of roasted rosin, oz. iij; of turpentine, lb. j; of stag’s marrow, oz. ij; of wax, lb. ij; of opobalsam, oz. vj; of wine, oz. viij.

The malagma Philagrianum. Of saffron, oz. iss; of aloes, of ammoniac perfume, of bdellium, of storax, of each, oz. j; of the fat of geese, oz. ij; of the medicine œsypum, oz. iv; of palm-nuts, oz. ij; of wax, lb. j; of nard, oz. vj; of the ointment of apples, oz. vj; of wine, what will be sufficient for triturating the dry things.

The fragrant malagma. Of saffron, of aloes, of mastich, of wormwood, of storax, of wild vine, of sowbread, of cloves, of each, oz. iij; of nard, lb. j; of wax, lb. j; of oil of apples, oz. vj; palm-nuts, xij; of wine, q. s.

The malagma Baion. Of cardamom, of cassia, of Celtic wild vine, of the flowers of the wild pomegranate, of virgin wax, of each, scr. viij; of savin, of sowbread, of amomum, of each, scr. vj; of the schœnanth, scr. xviij; of iris, scr. iv; of cloves, scr. iss; of the lily perfume, oz. ij; of frankincense, of myrrh, of each, oz. j; of ladanum, oz. vj; of bdellium, of mastich, of aloes, of nard, of the oil of lentisk, of each, oz. ss; of maple rosin, of pine rosin, of turpentine, of each, oz. iij; of opobalsam, oz. j; of ammoniac perfume, scr. vj; of wax, oz. vj. The bruised juicy and dried things are to be pounded with oil of wild vine. In another prescription, some add, of pepper, scr. xviij, and of musk, scr. j.

The Galenian malagma. Of saffron, oz. ss; of aloes, oz. j; of mastich, oz. iij; of the fruit of wormwood, scr. viij; of wild vine, scr. viij; three large dates; of wax, oz. iij; of oil of apples, oz. vj.

The malagma Brythrion. Of storax, oz. v; of quinces, oz. xx; of masucha or masuaphium, of saffron, of each, dr. x; of crumbs of bread, of cyphi, of each, dr. v; of wild vine, oz. iiss; of sowbread, of wormwood, of each, dr. x; of cloves, scr. xv; of ammoniac perfume, scr. x; of opobalsam, scr. viss; of nard, oz. v; of Colophonian rosin, of gleucinum, of oil of apples, of each, oz. x; of oil of roses, dr. x; of bee-glue, oz. v; of turpentine, oz. x; of honey, coch. x; of Indian leaf, dr. x; of spikenard, dr. x; of wax, oz. viiss. Triturate with Falernian and Aminæan wine.

The splenic malagma of Nilus, for all other cases of induration. Of wax, lb. j; of ammoniac perfume, lb. j; of oil of privet, lb. j; of saffron, oz. ss (some make it, oz. j); of vinegar, q. s.

The malagma citrinum. Of wax, of Colophonian rosin, of each, lb. j; of ammoniac perfume, of arsenic, of lime, of alum, of vinegar, of each, cyath. viij. Triturate the dry things with the vinegar.

The barber’s malagma. Of dried pitch, lb. j; of wax, of pine rosin, of ammoniac perfume, of natron, of dry bay-berries, of the fat of bulls, of each, lb. ij; of the flour of fenugreek, sext. j; of pollen, sext. j; of the dried root of the black chamæleon, lb. j.

The malagma, from goat’s dung, of Oribasius, for splenic affections, dropsies, and scirrhous liver. Of oil of privet or very old oil, lb. iij; of wax, lb. iiss; of the dung of goats, of bay-berries stripped of their bark, of Illyrian iris, of each, sext. j; of turpentine, lb. j; of mustard, of natron, of cyperus, of the seed of radish, of the bark of the root of capers, oz. iij; of the medullary part of colocynth, oz. ij; of fenugreek, oz. j. Sometimes the dry things are added to the soluble and sometimes they are mixed with vinegar. But if there is a flux of the bowels, the colocynth must not be added.

The malagma spongiola, from goat’s dung, for dropsies. Of Brutian pitch, lb. iiss; of natron, lb. j; of the medullary part of colocynth, of pellitory, of opoponax, of granum cnidium, of each, oz. iij; of bark of the root of capers, of frankincense, of iris, of the fat of bulls, of elaterium, of squama æris, of parsley-seed, of the seeds of spurge (lathyrides), of each, oz. vj; of bay-berries, sext. ss; of the flour of fenugreek, oz. ss; of bull’s gall, oz. ij; of oil of privet, sext. ss; of wax, lb. j; of roasted rosin, lb. iij; of mountain goat’s dung, of the seed of rosemary, of cyperus, of cardamom, of each, oz. vj.

The malagma from bay-berries. Of wax, of rosin, of pitch, of bay-berries, of bull’s fat, of each, lb. j; of natron, of ammoniac perfume, of each, oz. vj; of vinegar, q. s.

The malagma from seeds. Of cardamom, of cyperus, of savin, of natron, of bay-berries, of cassia, of melilot, of fenugreek, of Celtic nard, of parsley-seed, of sampsuchum, of anise, of the root of panacea, of frankincense, of ammoniac perfume, of turpentine, of each, oz. iij; of honey, of wax, of nard, of each, lb. j; of the fat of bulls, lb. j.

The fetid malagma for pleurisy. Of pine rosin, lb. j; of wax, of green rue, of oil of privet, of each, oz. vj; of sulphur vivum, of opoponax, of sagapen, of each, dr. iv. Some add also of galbanum, dr. iv.

The malagma from sampsuchum. Of wax, lb. j; of turpentine, lb. ij; of sampsuchum (marjoram?), of bay-berries, of fenugreek, of each, sext. j; of nard, q. s.

The malagma of Apollophanes for hepatic diseases. Of wax, dr. lxxx; of turpentine, of manna, of each, dr. xl. Pound with the lees of iris-oil and anoint the mortar.

The malagma copton, for hardness of the stomach and liver. Of bee-glue, oz. vj; of storax, oz. ij; of mastich, oz. j; of turpentine, oz. ss; of the lees of nard, q. s.

The malagma from wild vine. Of wild vine, of aloes, of saffron, of acacia, of fissile alum, of dried roses, of the juice of wormwood, of galls, of the oil of unripe olives, of Syrian sumach, of manna, of each, dr. j; of myrtle-oil, of wax, of each, lb. j; five large palm-nuts; of Aminæan wine, q. s.

The Antyllian malagma. Of fissile alum, oz. ss; of aloes, oz. j; of mastich, scr. vj; of wild vine, scr. viij; of the oil of unripe olives, scr. viij; of dried roses, scr. viij; of Syriac sumach, scr. x; of the Egyptian thorn, scr. x; of the flowers of the wild pomegranate, scr. xx; of galls, scr. xv; of wax, oz. v; of oil of apples, q. s.

The malagma from grape stones. Of saffron, of sandyx, of wild vine, of each, oz. j; of dried alum, oz. iv; of the flowers of the wild pomegranate, of oil of unripe olives, of the flower of roses, of dried myrtles, of each, oz. ij; of white wax, lb. j; of oil of apples, lb. ij; of quinces, oz. iv; ten Nicolan palm nuts; of Aminæan wine, q. s.; of dried grape stones, oz. viij. In using, take of the medicine, oz. iij; of wax, oz. j.

The malagma from dill. Of green dill, oz. vj; of melilot, oz. ij; of chamomile, oz. ij; ten green heads of poppy. Having boiled, mix of the decoction, lb. iij; and as much of oil; and when the decoction is consumed, add of fresh hog’s lard, lb. ij; and separately triturate of the inner part of baked squill, oz. ij; and of stag’s marrow, oz. ij. Mix all together.

The malagma ambrosia, for stopping fevers. Of litharge, lb. j; of fresh hog’s lard, oz. vj; of the juice of linseed, oz. vj; of white wax, oz. ix; of oil of roses, lb. j; of honey, oz. iij; of saffron, oz. j. Some add also the raw yelks of ten eggs.

* * * * *

COMMENTARY. Le Clerc thus describes these preparations: “Ce qu’on appelloit malagma ne différoit fort de l’emplâtre. Galien déclare (Pharmac. gén. vii, 5) qu’il est indifférent qu’on se serve du terme de malagme, ou de celui d’emplâtre.” He adds, “Ce qu’on appelloit epithème étoit aussi à peu près le même chose.” (Hist. de la Méd.) According to Galen, the malagmata derived their name from being used as emollient applications to parts in an indurated state, and were all moderately calefacient, being in general neither desiccative nor humectative. He describes the composition of these preparations with his usual accuracy and minuteness.

Celsus gives a full account of the malagmata. He says plasters, malagmata, and pastils differ, inasmuch as malagmata consist principally of aromatics, whereas, the other two are rather formed from metallic substances. In general, he says, they are rather calefacient than refrigerant; some, however, are refrigerant, and are used as applications to the joints in gout. A few are not only calefacient but also epispastic. He gives prescriptions for 35 malagmata. He makes no mention of epithemes. (v, 17, 2.) Scribonius Largus, likewise, treats fully of the malagmata (§ cclv-cclxvii).

Oribasius states that there are three varieties of malagmata: the first consisting of dry things, namely, roots and herbs; the second kind, of metallic substances, or a certain proportion thereof; and the third, of juices, suet, and tears. (Med. Collect. x, 28.)

A full account of them is given by Actuarius (Meth. Med. vi, 9) and Myrepsus (§ xi, xxxiv.) The following epitheme is said to be powerfully purgative: “Of scammony, of elaterium, of spurge, of each, dr. viij; of white and of black hellebore, of bull’s gall, of each, dr. iij; of the root of the wild cucumber, of the leaves of wormwood, of each dr. x; of Tuscan wax, dr. viij; of turpentine rosin, dr. iv; of Attic honey, oz. viij; of red nitre, oz. j.” (Myrepsus, l. c.)

The following is a malagma for luxated joints and contusions: “Of galbanum, oz. j; of saffron, dr. ij; of ammoniac perfume, of pure wax, of each, oz. iss; of dried pitch, lb. iss; of very acrid vinegar, coch. iss.” (Ibid.)

SECT. XIX.—ON RESTORATIVE OINTMENTS (ACOPA), LINIMENTS, CALEFACIENT PLASTERS (DROPACES), AND SINAPISMS.

The acopa are so named for having been first invented for the feeling of lassitude, as a tensive, ulcerative, and osseous lassitude; but they agree with many other complaints. Some, then, are calefacient, some emollient, and some stimulant. The calefacient are prepared from pepper, pellitory, the seed of rosemary, and the like. They agree with affections of the nerves, and strong frigidity which cannot be readily restored to heat. The emollient agree with induration, scirrhus, and infarction of the joints; and the materials of which they are formed have been pointed out by us when treating of plasters. The stimulant being composed of lemnestis, the seed of rosemary, euphorbium, the granum cnidium, and the like, are to be used in chronic affections, and such as are difficult to dislodge, namely, in such cases as sinapisms are applicable. The consistence of all the acopa is to be intermediate between the cerates and plasters. The liniments resemble the acopa, but have a more liquid consistence. The dropax has a two-fold composition, the one being like a plaster, and the other like a malagma. Some rub them into the part warm. Their materials are like those of the acopa and plasters. It serves the purpose of a cataplasm, agreeing with the same chronic affections in which sinapisms are applicable. A dropax (“calefacient plaster”) is applied before a sinapism, in order to prepare the body for the mustard; and after the sinapism, in order to remove the residue of the complaint. The sinapism is not composed of many ingredients, but is a most powerful application, agreeing particularly with chronic affections after all other remedies have been tried in vain. It is more especially applicable in cephalæa, hemicrania, epilepsy, vertigo, and mania, when applied to the head; and in asthma, orthopnœa, and chronic cough when applied to the chest; and in chronic catarrh, a sinapism may be applied both to the head and chest; and to the stomach and belly in chronic affections of them. It is a suitable remedy in all ischiatic and podagric cases, to any part which has lost its tone, or is in a cold state, and cannot easily be warmed. The limits of the action of the medicine are, when violent pain has been produced, and the flesh becomes more livid and swelled up, and so that after the bath it may become blistered in a mild manner. But if the sensibility has been lost, care must be taken lest the burning proceed too far without being perceived, and therefore the part is to be often uncovered and examined. Of acute diseases, lethargy, cataphora, and catochus admit of sinapisms, which, if at the commencement, are to be applied to the legs, but if the matter has fixed in the part, to the head. Those which are in a cold state and cannot be warmed but with difficulty, must have sinapisms applied to the legs and arms. Sinapisms are to be entirely proscribed when there is continued fever or an ulcer; also in affections of cartilaginous parts, and such as have no flesh. For the parts which are devoid of flesh are sometimes burnt black when sinapisms are applied to them.

The acopon called Bromion. Of wax, of Colophonian rosin, of common rosin, of each, lb. j; of hog’s lard, oz. iv; of butter, oz. vj; of marshmallows, of fenugreek, of linseed, of each, lb. ij; of oil, lb. j; of galbanum, oz. iiss. Having boiled the juice with the oil until the most of the juice be consumed, add the other things with wax and galbanum.

The complex acopon. Of the juice of marshmallows, of fenugreek, of linseed, of rue, and of cumin, of each, lb. ij; of stag’s marrow, lb. j; of old oil, lb. j; of the fat of geese, of opobalsam, or nard, of each, lb. j; of wax, of Colophonian rosin, of common rosin, of each, lb. iss; of euphorbium, of turpentine, of opoponax, of each, oz. vj; of castor, oz. iij; of the herbs from which the juice is formed, of each, lb. j, is to be taken and boiled like the former.

The acopon of Azanites. Of hog’s lard, lb. ij; of the fat of bulls, of rosin, of Colophonian rosin, of the medicine œsypum, of wax; of each, lb. j; of galbanum, oz. iij.

The acopon of Basilius. Of marshmallows, of chamomile, of melilot, of linseed, of fenugreek, of each, oz. iss; of amomum, oz. iij. These things are macerated in sext. viij of the wine of Ascalon or the Cilician for three days, and boiled to a milky consistence. Then lb. v of the juice, with lb. ivss of old oil are boiled until a moderate quantity of the juice remain; and then there are added to it of butter, oz. vj; of turpentine, oz. iv; of the fat of geese, oz. xv; of stag’s marrow, triturated with a little oil, oz. v; of white wax, lb. iij.

The acopon Lysiponium. Of pepper, of castor, of storax, of mastich, of aloes, of elecampane, of iris, of each, oz. iv; of euphorbium, of costus, of ammoniac perfume, of myrrh, of marjoram (sampsuchum), of frankincense, of cyperus, of cassia fistula, of the seed of rosemary, of each, oz. iij; of adarce, of amomum, of bdellium, of xylobalsam, of each, oz. ij; of Indian leaf, of spikenard, of pellitory, of saffron, of each, oz. j; of opobalsam, lb. j; of the ointment of nard, of the ointment of privet, of gleucinum, of each, lb. ij; of wax, lb. j.

A fetid acopon from Galen’s work, secundum genera. Of wax, of turpentine, of each, dr. xxiv; of galbanum, of ammoniac perfume, of each, dr. vj; of old oil, hemin. ij; of stag’s marrow, dr. viij. Use both undiluted and diluted.

Another fetid acopon. Of turpentine, dr. lvj; of wax, dr. xxviij; of œsypum, of honey, of each, dr. vj; of stag’s marrow, dr. vj; of ammoniac perfume, of galbanum, of aphronitrum, of bay berries, of each, dr. vj; of old oil, sext. j; of wine, cyath, ij. Some add also of castor, dr. iij.

The barbaric acopon from euphorbium, for ischiatic diseases, and many other purposes. Of opoponax, oz. j; of Tuscan wax, lb. j; of turpentine, lb. iiss; of galbanum, oz. j; of ammoniac perfume, oz. ij; of euphorbium, of castor, of white pepper, of each, oz. ij; of stag’s marrow, oz. iv; of œsypum, oz. iv; of lemnestis, (a saline concretion), it is the same as adarce, oz. ss; of the oils of storax, of bay, of iris, and of sweet marjoram, of each, oz vj; of old oil, lb. ij; of hedychroum, oz. vj.

The acopon called Pyxis. Of Colophonian rosin, lb. iss; of turpentine, oz. viij; of ammoniac perfume, oz. iij; of frankincense, oz. ix; of old oil, lb. ij; of the juice of linseed, lb. j; of cow’s milk, lb. j; of the fat of geese, oz. vj; of butter, oz. viij; the whites of xxiv eggs. Having prepared it, lay it up in a vessel of box wood.

The acopon from the fir, of Galen. Of the ripe seed of the fir tree, j Italian modius, i. e. sext. xvj; of oil, lb. xv; of wax, lb. iv; of rosin, of pine-nut, or of turpentine, of each, oz. iv. Having bruised the seed of the fir, add it to the oil, and allowing it to remain forty days, filtrate and throw away; and having mixed the other things, use for spontaneous lassitude, paralysis, and coldness of the joints. But if the necessity for using it be urgent, we must boil the seed of the fir with the oil, mixing with them, sext. iv of water, to prevent them from being burnt. They are used in podagric and arthritic affections.

The same otherwise. Of oil, hemin. xxv, i. e. sext. xiiss; of the fruit of the fir, mod. j, i. e. sext. xvj; of the rosin of ash, lb. iij; of the rosin of pine-nut or of turpentine, lb. iij; of wax, lb. j.

The acopon from the black poplar, for the same affections. Instead of the fruit of the fir, adding an equal quantity of the fruit of the black poplar, prepare the other things in like manner.

The liniment of Zosimus, celebrated for tremblings. Of pine rosin, oz. xvj; of wax, oz. iv; of old oil, lb. j; of opoponax, oz. ij; of adarce, oz. j; of euphorbium, oz. j; of natron, oz. iv; of tender aphronitrum, oz. iv. Triturate the natron, euphorbium, and adarce with wine, then add the opoponax, and triturate together. Melt the soluble substances separately with alkanet, that they may acquire colour, and having cooled, mix.

The dropax, or calefacient plaster Gallus. Of Oribasius. Of the Colophonian rosin which is redolent of frankincense, of pine rosin, and of that which is called the woody, being found only in Italy, of the pitch of ships, of dried pitch, of each, lb. iv; of wax. lb. iv; of roasted rosin, oz. xv; of Brutian pitch, lb. ij; of natron, lb. j; of bitumen, of galbanum, of adarce, of pellitory, of each, oz. vj; of opoponax, of euphorbium, of white hellebore, of pepper, of each, oz. iv; of sulphur vivum, oz. iij; of castor, of ammoniac, of the wild grape dried, of each, oz. ij; of Sicyonian oil, lb. j; of opobalsam, oz. vj.

Otherwise, a simple dropax. Of wax, lb. j; of dried pitch, lb. iss; of Brutian pitch, lb. j; of pine pitch, lb. iss; of roasted rosin, lb. j, oz. iij. Having first prepared the part with natron, apply.

The preparation of a sinapism. On the preceding day, dried figs are to be macerated in tepid water, and next day they are to be properly filtrated and strongly pounded. Then some acrid mustard, such as the Syriac and Egyptian, is to be triturated separately, pouring on it a little of the infusion, and mixing and forming into a mass; if we wish to form a strong sinapism, joining two parts of mustard to one of dried figs, but if weak, in the inverse proportion; and if a moderate one, mixing equal parts. If the mustard before it is triturated, be allowed to macerate in vinegar, as some do, it becomes weaker. After the mustard has been cleared away, and the bath used, if the pain continue violent, or if redness and blisters supervene, we are to wet a cloth in the juice of mallows, or of fenugreek, with oil of roses, and apply. Then we may use the rose cerate with ceruse. But in cases of paralysis, when the sensibility is impaired, care must be taken, and the part frequently uncovered and examined, for often they are burnt immoderately without being sensible of it. And goat’s dung, applied with vinegar, is more efficacious than mustard, especially in diseases of the hip-joint.

The liniment from writing-ink acting as a rubefacient, especially in cases of hemicrania. From the works of Alexander. Of euphorbium, of writing-ink, of each, dr. iv; of troglodytic myrrh, of crocomagma, of white pepper, of each, oz. iij; of saffron, dr. ij; of vinegar, q. s., so that these things may be properly triturated, and become of the consistence of the sordes in baths; and then anoint with it, beginning from the middle of the eyebrow to the whole temple, especially if it be bare of hairs; and after it cools, anoint again, and when the remedy acts properly, let the man be put into a bath.

* * * * *

COMMENTARY. Le Clerc says of the Acopa: “On les appelloit acopa comme qui diroit, Unguens qui ôtent les douleurs, ou la lassitude, parcequ’on s’en servoit principalement pour le délasser, ou pour apaiser les douleurs qu’on sent après le travail et la fatigue.” (Hist. de la Méd.) Galen explains that although this class of ointments derived their name from their being originally used as soothing applications to parts which were pained from severe exertion, they came afterwards to be applied for various other purposes, as for removing all deep-seated pains, indurations, contractions, and the like. Their consistence, he says, is nearly the same as that of the liquid cerates or the ointments made from wax and oil. According to their qualities, he adds, they have the epithets of emollient, calefacient, anodyne, relaxant, or alterative, applied to them. He describes, in prose and verse, the composition of an almost countless variety of these preparations. (De med. sec. gen. vii.) Celsus says of the acopa: “Acopa quoque utilia nervis sunt.” He gives formulæ only for two acopa, which consist of aromatic and stimulant medicines mixed with oil or some fragrant ointment. (v, 25.) Oribasius divides them into three kinds, the emollient, the calefacient, and the scarifacient; the last being a near approach to sinapisms. On the acopa see further Scribonius and Actuarius.

The liniments of the ancients seem to have been very much the same as those of the moderns. Celsus says of them: “Ἔγχριστα autem Græci vocant liquida qui illinuntur.” (v, 243.) In consistence and qualities they nearly resembled the acopa, being composed of a large proportion of oil with a small quantity of wax or honey. Myrepsus gives prescriptions for a considerable number of them.

The dropax is thus described by Le Clerc: “On étendoit une certaine quantité de cette emplâtre sur la toile, ou la peau; on appliquoit cela sur quelque partie du corps, on le levoit, ou on l’arrachoit, et on l’appliquoit derechef, reitérant souvent la même chose, pour faire rougir la partie, dans le dessein d’attirer en dehors les humeurs, ou les sucs qui servent à la nourriture des parties, ou dans la vue d’ouvrir les pores. Pour rendre cette emplâtre plus efficace on y ajoutoit quelquefois des poudres acres, comme du pyréthre, du poivre, du sel, du soufre. On emploit aussi le dropax pour faire tomber, ou pour arracher le poil de quelque partie.” (Hist. de la Méd.) Hesychius appears to have confounded the dropax with the psilothron or depilatory. The former was merely a sort of calefacient plaster, and was applied to parts not covered with hairs. Oribasius says of it that it is prepared like the malagma. When it is desired to make it calefacient, he directs us to add to it pellitory, the seed of rosemary, and bitumen; when desiccative, the sulphur vivum, salts, and the ashes of vegetables; and when it is wished to make it of such a nature as to scarify the parts, he directs us to add to it limnesium (adarce) and spurge. The part to which it is to be applied, he says, if weak, should be shaven, but in the more robust, and when a stronger application is required, it need not be shaven, unless it is to be applied to the head, chin, or pubes. Myrepsus commends the following dropax: “Take of bitumen, oz. ij; of wax, oz. j, sext. j; of dried pitch, dr. j; of pine-rosin, of natron, of each, oz. j; of sulphur vivum, of pellitory, of white hellebore, of adarce, of each, sext. j; of stavesacre, of spurge, of each, dr. ⅛; of oil, q. s.” Certain forms of the dropax seem to have been allied to the blistering plasters of the moderns. On this subject we cannot do better than copy the remarks of Dr. Clinch, in his Preface to Ruffus Ephesius: “Quantum usus cantharidum, ex quibus hodierna vesicantia ubique fere componuntur, veteribus innotuit, vir Doctissimus Johannes Freind luculenter satis explicuit. Nequeo autem hic silentio transire, quam graviter erratum sit a Georgio Baglivi, qui Oribasii meminit, utpote primi ex Arabibus, qui de usu vesicantium scripsit, quum eundem et Græcum fuisse, et Græcorum idiomate scripsisse, nemo non noverit. Is profecto aliquid suggerit de eo vesicantium genere, quæ dropaces et sinapismi dicuntur, qui ex sinapi, pipere, pyrethro et ejusmodi acribus medicamentis conficiebantur, et semel quidem cantharidum mentionem facit, neutiquam vero, quod scio, de his loquitur tanquam de medicina, quâ ad vesicas in cute excitandas utebantur. Ætius quidem dropacis formam exhibuit, quæ tres cantharidum drachmas recipit, unde dropax exulcerans vulgo audit.”

Oribasius gives, from Antyllus, a most interesting and judicious account of the sinapism. He says that it does not suit with acute diseases, or, at least, only when the patient is of an inert constitution, and the sensibility is obtuse. It is applicable, however, he says, in almost all chronic diseases when other remedies have failed, except in the case of an ulcer in the lungs or liver, or when the disease is seated in a cartilaginous part. He recommends it in all cases of diminished sensibility. The only acute diseases in which he represents it as applicable are lethargy, catochus, carus, or fevers attended with loss of heat and diminished sensibility. Like our author, he directs us to prepare the sinapism with dried figs and mustard. Aëtius, upon the authority of Archigenes, details its medicinal properties in nearly the same terms. Both Aëtius and Oribasius represent goat’s dung, pounded with vinegar, as being equally efficacious as the sinapism, and applying particularly to ischiatic diseases. Myrepsus’s account agrees exactly with that of our author. He mentions that some macerate the figs in vinegar instead of water, but says that it renders the preparation weaker. The Arabians prepared the sinapism exactly as the Greeks, and applied it in similar cases. See Mesue (De Unguentis, i.)

SECT. XX.—DIFFERENT PREPARATIONS OF OILS AND OINTMENTS.

Of unguents and ointments, or of oils in the form of ointments, some are simple, having only one article added to the oil, and some are prepared and compounded from more substances. Of the simple some are formed from flowers put into the oil, such as the oil of roses, that of chamomile, and the susinum, or oil of lilies; some are formed from fruits and seeds, and some from certain shoots, as of rue, which are boiled along with the oil, none of the flowers admitting boiling, and therefore they are rather exposed to the sun. But if their fragrance be strong and permanent, if exposed for a number of days to the sun, they become finer and more useful, such as the oils of roses and chamomile. But such flowers as are weaker and more volatile bear less insolation, being easily dissipated, such as the lily and violet. Of those formed from fruits and seeds, some are formed from them added whole to the oil, such as the melinum or oil of apples; and some have them pounded or altered, and the oily part of them removed, either by being squeezed out in a press and thus separated, such as the oils of walnuts, of sesame, of almonds, of lentisk, of bay, of Palma Christi, of radish, and the like. The compound ones are principally composed of aromatic herbs, which are boiled in the oil with wine, must, or water, and filtrated, some juices, and sometimes fats and marrows, being mixed with the oil. Of these, some being of a strictly oily consistence, are called, simply, ointments or unguents, as the gleucinum, nardinum, sicyonium, and cyprinum: but some having the consistence of acopa, and receiving wax, rosin, or the like, into their composition, are called myracopa, such as the decamyron, amaracinum, and those resembling them. And some are boiled only once, namely, such as do not consist of complex materials, as the metopium, mastichinum, and sicyonium; and some at two, three, or four successive additions, the articles which are most difficult to boil being first put in, such as rosewood, spathe, frankincense-tree, and bay; then the aromatics, Indian-leaf, spikenard, amomum, savin; and, last of all, the juices, fats, marrow, and perhaps wax and rosins being added. The juice of balsam, or opobalsam, is not boiled at all, but is added after the boiling is over, and the ointment moderately cooled; and of the ointments some do not admit of boiling at all, but the ingredients are only mixed, as the mendesium; but some, when wishing to prepare the green ointment, after taking it from the fire, an oz. iss of well-triturated verdigris having been put into lb. v of oil, as in the cyprinum and amaracinum, dip the ointment in this mixture. The simple ointments are possessed of the powers of the articles added to them, or which are pounded in them, the oil being but the groundwork (as it were) or vehicle of them. The nature of all the complex ointments inclines to heating; but some are powerfully calefacient and emollient, so as to agree with cases of ancylosis and infarction, as the metopium, mendesium, marciatum. The pentamyron is more moderate, as the decamyron is stronger, so as to abrade the surface; but those which are moderately hot are subtile, paregoric, and digestive, such as the susinum, amaracinum, irinum, crocinum, foliatum. Some, in addition to their heating qualities, are sufficiently desiccative and cutting, such as the cyprinum and sicyonium: some are powerfully heating, and rather tonic, and hence they agree with the stomach and viscera in particular when relaxed, such as the mastichinum, nardinum, gleucinum; but the most tonic are those prepared from wild olives; but some ointments are used only by women for their fragrant smell, as the foliatum, spicatum, commagenum, and those called moschelæa or compositions of musk and oil.

The rosaceum, or oil of roses. Of red roses deprived of their nails (or the white extremities of their flowers), and dried for a night and a day, oz. iij; of the oil of unripe olives, one Italian sextarius. Having bound up the vessel carefully, so that it may not evaporate, expose to the sun in open air for forty days, and then deposit the vessel, not on the pavement, but upon a table: some instead of the insolation put the vessel into a well, in order that its fragrance may be preserved by the cold, but others bury it underground.

The chamæmelinum, or oil of chamomile. Of the flower of chamomile, without the white petals, which has been dried for a night and a day, oz. ij; of oil, one Italian sextarius. Cover over the vessel with a plain piece of cloth, so as to allow it to transpire for forty days, after which it is to be carefully covered over and laid up.

The anethinum, or oil of dill. Of the hair of the green dill, dried, oz. j; of sweet oil, an Italian sextarius: expose to the sun in like manner. The oil of dill may likewise be prepared at once, without exposure to the sun; for the hair of dried dill may be boiled in a double vessel, and used; and the oil of chamomile may be prepared in like manner; but they are weaker than those from green dill, and especially if made by exposure to the sun.

The liliaceum, or oil of lilies, called also susinum, perhaps from having been invented in Susa. Of the petals of white lilies, dried in like manner, oz. ij are to be added to an Italian sextarius of oil, and carefully covered over so as to prevent it from evaporating, and exposed to the sun for three days, after which, the first being filtered and thrown away, other two ounces are to be added for other three days, and thus laid up.

The compound susinum, or oil of lilies. Of oil, sext. iij; of aromatic cane, oz. v; of myrrh, oz. v; of cardamom, oz. iij; of the petals of lily, deprived of their nails and dried, lb. j; of cinnamon, oz. iij; of Cilician saffron, oz. v. The whole process is to be divided into three successive additions. First, we are to macerate the myrrh and the calamus in wine for five days, stirring it three times a day, and then we are to boil it with the oil for a very short time. Secondly, we are to macerate the cardamom in water for three days, stirring it in like manner, and then we are to boil it with the oil for one hour. Having filtrated, we add to the pure oil the third part of the lilies, and after three days, again having filtrated, we put in the other third of the lilies; and again, after three days having filtrated and thrown away the first, we are to add the remainder with triturated saffron. But after other three days, the oil being filtrated, we add to it the cinnamon pounded, or, instead of it, arnabo, or double the quantity of cassia or carpesium, and lay it up.

The iaton, violaceum, or oil of violets. They prepare the oil of violets, some from the purple, some from saffron-like, and some from white violets, adding oz. iij of the leaves deprived of their nails to an Italian sextarius of the oil of unripe olives; and covering it up carefully to prevent it from evaporating; they insolate it for ten days, changing them three times after every three days like the lilies. And in laying them up, they add a few completely dried.

The melinum, or oil of apples. This is prepared from Cydonian apples or quinces, which are to be rubbed externally with a piece of cloth and cut into pieces with their bark; and then lb. iij of them are to be added to x Italian sext. of oil of unripe olives, and insolated for forty days.

The sesaminum, or oil of oily-grain. The oil of sesame is prepared from oily grains bruised, softened, and squeezed in strainers with screws, or from the oily part separated in hot water and laid up in vessels of glass.

The raphaninum, or oil of radishes. And this is prepared after the same manner in Egypt from the seed of the radishes with small roots, pounded, and the oil separated.

The ricinum, oil of Palma Christi, or castor-oil. This also is prepared after the same manner in Egypt from the seed of the ricinus, which is called croton, similarly pounded or levigated.

The ægirinum, or oil of the black poplar. It is found in the season of spring when there is much rosin in the seed. For breaking down the grains of black poplar, they add oz. iv of them to sext. j of sweet oil and insolate for forty days, or boil in a double vessel for three hours, and thus filtrate and lay up.

The amygdalinum, or oil of almonds. This is prepared like the aforementioned, pure bitter almonds being bruised, a little water poured in, and the oil separated as described above. Some add oz. ij of pounded almonds to an Italian sextarius of sweet oil, and boil in a double vessel.

The oil of almonds, which is called metopium. The Egyptians, who invented this oil, called it metopium, because it contains galbanum, and the shrub from which the galbanum is got is called metopium. It admits the following things: of the oil of unripe olives, sext. xx; of bitter almonds, lb. ij; of cardamom, lb. j; of the schœnanth, of calamus aromaticus, of carpobalsam, of each, lb. j; of myrrh, of galbanum, of each, oz. vj; of turpentine, lb. ij; of fragrant wine to soak the dry articles, sext. iv; of Attic honey, lb. iij. The rosin and galbanum being triturated and dissolved in part of the oil, we put them into the other things boiled, and then add the honey. When all the things are properly mixed, and while it is still tepid, we remove it from the fire and strain it, for it becomes thick when it cools.

The balaninum, or oil of acorns. The oil of acorns is prepared like the oil of almonds, from the acorns of oaks.

The caryinum, or oil of walnuts. This is prepared like the aforesaid, from old walnuts.

Laurinum, or oil of bay. The plain oil is formed in the same manner from the fruit of bay, but the mixed is prepared thus: of ripe olives, sext. j is added to sext. ij of bay-berries, and all pounded and expressed. Some mix equal parts of each.

The lentiscinum, or oil of lentisk. And this is prepared in the same manner as the oil of bay, from the fruit of lentisk, in two ways, by itself and with olives, not ripe but sour.

The mastichinum, or oil of mastich. The most simple kind is formed of Chian mastich, oz. j, being added to an Italian sextarius of oil of unripe olives, and boiled in a double vessel. Some add also, of wormwood and of storax, of each, oz. j.

A more complex oil of mastich. Of oil, sext. L; of elecampane, lb. v; of xylobalsam, lb. x; of the schœnanth, lb. v; of cardamom, lb. vij; of mastich, lb. v; of the wood of mastich, lb. viij; of turpentine, lb. iij; of the hair of wormwood, lb. j; of fragrant wine, sext. v; of water, sext. j. The dry things being previously macerated in wine for three days, are mixed with the oil and the water, and boiled for six hours, and then the mastich and turpentine are added, and being properly mixed are filtrated, and when cooled are put into a vessel.

The simple sicyonian, or oil of cucumbers. This is prepared by adding oz. ij of the dried root of the wild cucumber to an Italian sextarius of oil, and boiling in a double vessel.

The compound oil of cucumbers. Of oil, sext. x; of the scraped root of the wild cucumber, lb. j; of wild thyme, of melilot, of each, oz. v; of fatty dead pines, of marsh-mallows, of each, oz. v; of asplenium, oz. vj; of fenugreek, sext. ij. The fenugreek is first soaked in the water for one day and then filtrated, and is added to the things mentioned with oil and sext. ij of wine; and when all are boiled, there are added of stag’s marrow, triturated with a little oil, oz. iv; of the grease of fowls, oz. iv; and when the oil is again filtrated, it is to be deposited in a vessel. Some also expose it to the sun after boiling forty days.

Another oil of cucumbers, more efficacious. Of the juice of elaterium, sext. iij; of round and of long birthwort, of storax, of elecampane, of hyssop, of iris, of colocynth, of pennyroyal, of origany, of cyperus, of frankincense-tree, of centaury, of bay-leaves, of each, oz. ij; of oil, sext. v. Having mixed, boil until but little of the juice remain.

The cyprinum, or oil of privet, from the works of Posidonius. Of oil, sext. j; of cyperus, of elecampane, of iris, of each, lb. j; of sampsuchum, of hyssop, of the seed of chaste-tree, of sage, of each, oz. iij; of the flower of privet, lb. j. All the other things having been previously macerated in wine for one day, are to be boiled with the oil for six hours. To the pure filtrated oil the privet is added, if the green be at hand, with its tender branches not bruised, but otherwise the dried are to be pounded with a little water, and boiled for an hour and a half. But if you wish to give it colour after taking it from the fire, add of pure verdigris, lb. iss. Posidonius, wishing to avoid the acrimony of the verdigris, directs, after the boiling, to leave the oil for three days in a vessel not tinned, and it will acquire the colour, with its powers unimpaired.

Another formula for the oil of privet. Of citron-leaves, of bay-leaves, of iris, of cyperus, of sage, of each, oz. iij; of frankincense-tree, of the long birthwort, of the seed of chaste-tree, of each, oz. iv; of elecampane, of rosewood, of each, oz. vj; of rue, oz. ij; of cypress, oz. ij; of oil, sext. j. Having first macerated these things in wine, boil with oil; and having filtrated, add again of xylobalsam, of xylocassia, of each, oz. iv; of sampsuch, of cumin, of myrtle, of storax, of mastich, of each, oz. iij; of opoponax, oz. ij; of the flower of privet, oz. vj; of verdigris, oz. j.

The amaracinum, or oil of marjoram. Of elecampane, lb. x; of xylobalsam, lb. xx; of cyperus, lb. viij; of the schœnanth, of rosewood, of savin, of each, lb. viij; of opoponax, of seed of amaracus, of each, lb. ij; of primary oil, sext. lxxx; of fragrant oil, sext. v. All the other things, being first macerated in wine, are to receive the first addition, but the second addition is to be the savin; and the former articles are to be boiled six hours, but this only three. Some dip it and add of verdigris, oz. iij.

The irinum, or oil of iris. Of iris, of rosewood, of cyperus, of each, lb. v; of opoponax, oz. iij; of alkanet, oz. ij; of oil, sext. xxx; of water, sext. xv. Some add also, of the schœnanth, oz. vj; of cassia, oz. iij; of xylobalsam, oz. vj; of Celtic nard, oz. vj. All these things, being bruised, are to be first macerated in water and oil for five days, and then boiled in a double vessel for six days, and laid up.

The crocinum, or oil of saffron, in which is contained the composition of another crocomagma. Of the fragrant oil of unripe olives, lb. j; of calamus aromaticus, oz. v; of troglodytic myrrh, oz. v; of cardamom, oz. vij; of Cilician saffron, oz. vj. The first addition is to be of the calamus and myrrh, which, being triturated with wine, are to be macerated for three days, and three times a day stirred with a spatula of palm: then they are to be boiled with the oil. The second addition is to consist of the cardamom which has been macerated in the water for one day before; and the third, of the saffron in wine. Some add other five ounces of the myrrh with the saffron. Having filtrated, the pure oil is laid up. The whole deposit of the articles is formed into trochisks, which, being dried, constitute what is called the crocomagma.

The Mendesium. It is so called because it was invented in Egypt where Mendes is worshipped. It receives of the oil of acorns, lb. x (in another formula, sext. x); of myrrh, of cassia fistula, of each, oz. iij; of turpentine, lb. x (in another formula, sext. x); of cinnamon, oz. iij. This is not boiled, but the dry things being put in, are stirred for sixty days: then the turpentine being melted, is added to part of the oil, and afterwards stirred for sixty days, in which state it is laid up.

The marciatum. Of mastich, of wax, of storax, of each, oz. iij; of the medicine œsypum, oz. ss; of opobalsam, oz. iss; of oil of nard, of gleucinum, of oil of unripe grapes, of each, oz. iij; of stag’s marrow, oz. iss; of turpentine, oz. j.

The oil of unripe olives. The first addition.—Of rosewood, of the branches of palms, of melilots, of iris, of the schœnanth, of xylobalsam, of dried roses, of sweet-cane, of each, oz. iij; of oil of unripe olives, lb. x; of the juice of unripe olives, sext. x.

The second addition.—Of Indian leaf, of amomum, of spikenard, of costus, of cloves, of cassia, of cassamum, of each, oz. iij (in another formula also, of arnabo, oz. iij); of wine, q. s.

The third addition.—Of frankincense, of ammoniac perfume, of storax, of bdellium, of myrrh, of mastich, of each, oz. iij; of wine, q. s.; of white wax, oz. v; of opobalsam, oz. vj (some make it oz. viij). The articles of the first addition are to be first macerated for one day in the juice of unripe olives and the oil; but those of the second in another vessel, in Aminæan or some other old and fragrant wine, stirring every day with a spatula of palm three times for three days; after which boil in a vessel lined with tin; first, the articles of the first addition until little remain of the unripe olive juice: then, immediately add those of the second with the wine. But it is better, having first filtrated, to add these things to the pure oil; and when boiled until little of the wine be left, in order that the oil may not be burnt, take it off the fire and filtrate, and add again to the pure oil the succulent articles of the third addition, which have been previously triturated in a mortar with wine such as I mentioned, all except the storax, for it, if added with the other things, is straightway dissolved. And they are to be boiled upon coals until the preparation appears to be in a proper state, when it is to be taken off the fire and allowed to cool. Next day, having filtrated the oil carefully, and warmed it sufficiently upon the fire, add the wax, and when it is taken off, stir with a spatula. After it is cooled add the opobalsam, and lay it up in vessels of glass.

The gleucinum, or oil of must. The first addition.—Of oil, sext. x; of Aminæan must, sext. vj; of rose-wood, oz. iv; of palm-branch, oz. vj; of the schœnanth, oz. vj; of melilots, oz. iv; of roses, oz. j; of myrrh, oz. iij; of bay-leaves, oz. ij; of frankincense-tree, oz. vj; of xylobalsam, oz. vj; of elecampane, oz. vj; of long birthwort, oz. iij; of iris, oz. iij. Macerate these things in the must.

The second addition.—Of Celtic nard, oz. iv; of cassamum (or sow-bread), oz. ij; of cyperus, of cassia, of spikenard, of asarabacca, of amomum, of costus, of sampsuch, of each, oz. iij; of calamus aromaticus, of cloves, of Indian leaf, of each, oz. j; of cardamom, oz. iv. Macerate in fragrant wine.

The third addition.—Of mastich, oz. iv; of troglodytic myrrh, of bdellium, of each, oz. ij; of ladanum, oz. iij; of liquid storax, of male frankincense, of each, oz. iv; of opobalsam, oz. vj (some add also of saffron, oz. ij). Prepare like the ointment from unripe olives, except the wax. But here the articles of the two additions are to be macerated for seven days.

The nardinum Cyzicenum, or nard oil of Cyzicus. The first addition.—Of primary oil, sext. x; of rose-wood, of cyperus, of elecampane, of iris, of xylobalsam, of birthwort, of cardamom, of the schœnanth, of each, oz. vj; of sampsuch, oz. iv; of savin, oz. ij. Some add also of calamus aromaticus, oz. ij. These things are to be macerated in sext. iv of fragrant wine.

The second addition.—Of cassia, of cassamum, of arnabo, of each, oz. ij; of spikenard, oz. iij; of cloves, oz. j; of costus, of amomum, of each, oz. ij (some add also of Celtic nard, oz. ij). These things are to be macerated in wine.

The third addition.—Of troglodytic myrrh, of aloes, of frankincense, of each, oz. ij; of storax, oz. iij; of mastich, oz. iv; of opobalsam, oz. vj (some add also oz. j of saffron, triturated in wine). Prepare this also as said above.

The decamyron, or oil containing ten ingredients. Of spikenard, of Indian leaf, of euphorbium, of pepper, of costus, of adarce, of each, oz. j; of mastich, oz. iss; of opobalsam, oz. vj; of oil of nard, lb. j; of wax, oz. vj.

The pentamyron. Of storax, oz. j; of mastich, oz. ij; of white wax, oz. iij; of opoponax, oz. iv; of nard, oz. v.

The foliatum, or ointment of Indian leaf. Of Indian leaf, oz. iij; of amomum, oz. j; of cassia, oz. vj; of ladanum, oz. j; of white pepper grains, xl; of troglodytic myrrh, dr. j. These things being bruised and sifted are to be again triturated in a mortar, with the addition of one pound of oil of nard. To render the medicine darker, triturate the burnt barks of walnuts in a mortar, and add; then mix of opobalsam, cochl. iij, and use.

* * * * *

COMMENTARY. The preparation of oils and ointments is fully treated of by Dioscorides in the first book of his Materia Medica; and in like manner by Pliny (H. N. xv, 7, and xiii, 2.) See also Avicenna (v, 1, 10, 11); Serapion (vii, 25); Haly Abbas (Pract. x, 19); and Mesue (De Unguentis et De Oleis.)

Notwithstanding the importance of these articles for medicinal and pharmaceutical purposes, we think it unnecessary to treat of them more at large, as our author’s account is sufficiently ample and accurate, and few articles of any great consequence are omitted by him. It will be remarked that most of the unguents and ointments here described are of a fragrant nature.

SECT. XXI.—ON ŒNANTHARIA.

It is not because they contain the wild vine (œnanthe) that they are called œnantharia, for some of them have no wild vine at all; but it is from the wine and flower of the lilies that they have obtained this appellation. The œnantharia are used by some solely for their fragrance, and for luxury alone; these persons having them poured over their bodies after coming out of the bath, and having their tables wiped with sponges dipped in them. But to those who use them properly, they prove remedies in cases of paralysis and syncope, if mixed with the tonic cataplasms, for the stomach; and to convalescents more especially from febrile diseases. They are to be poured upon the bodies of such persons, and applied to their noses if they can still inhale. For they are drawn in deeply, and strengthen the mental and vital spirits. They are useful, likewise, as preservatives from pestilential diseases, when the state of the atmosphere appears to be of this nature. The following is the œnantharium of Posidonius, which he calls Mesopotamenum.

The preparation of the œnantharium. Of cassia, of myrrh, of frankincense, of Indian leaf, of amomum, of mastich, of costus, of carpobalsam, of opobalsam, of each, oz. iij; of fatty storax, oz. iv; of fragrant Aminæan wine, x Italian sext. Having pounded and filtrated all the things, divide the storax into small pieces, put into a vessel with a broad mouth along with the leaves of lilies, dried the preceding day and stripped of their nails, placing them alternately; let the lilies be ccc in number; then put in the wine and the opobalsam, which have been mixed and stirred together before their addition, and having covered up the mouth of the vessel, expose to the sun for forty days. Use after the bath, as a restorative from disease, sprinkling the house and vessels with it, or dipping sponges in it and applying to the face.

Another, of our own invention. Of costus, oz. iij; of spikenard, of arnabo, of cloves, of each, oz. j; of amomum, oz. iij; of cassia, of wild vine, of calamus, of each, oz. ix; of storax, of opobalsam, of each, oz. iv; lilies, ccc; of Falernian wine, sext. x. Prepare after the same manner.

* * * * *

COMMENTARY. See also Aëtius (xii, 116) and Myrepsus (§ 37.) The Œnantharia were fragrant preparations, made with wine and aromatics. The prescriptions given by Aëtius and Myrepsus are so similar to our author’s that we need not repeat them. We are not aware of the Arabian authors having treated of them anywhere; at all events, they have not done so by this name.

SECT. XXII.—ON PERFUMES AND CYPHI.

In materials the cyphi are intermediate between the trochisks which are drunk and the antidotes. We use them sometimes in fumigations on account of their fragrance, and so also the perfumes; sometimes we smell to them, in order to concoct catarrhs and defluxions, and as deobstruents, and to clear the parts about the brain, and as preservatives from pestilential disorders; they are also taken by the mouth for these purposes, and to concoct matters lodged in the chest, and for cold affections in the liver: hence the ancients invented the antidotes called cyphoid. They are mixed also with compound medicines, and more especially with epithemes and antidotes.

Suffimentum rosatum, rose perfume. Of costus, of amomum, of myrrh, of cassia, of each, oz. j; of Chian storax, of bdellium, of onyx, of moss, of ladanum, of each, dr. ij; of pure roses, oz. xxix; of opobalsam, of wine, q. s.

Suffimentum liliaceum, the perfume from lilies. Of lilies deprived of their nails (i. e. the white parts of their flowers), lb. j; of primary storax, oz. ix; of spikenard, oz. iij; of costus, of cloves, of amomum, of mastich, of burnt onyches, of honey, of each, oz. iss; of opobalsam, oz. v; of wine, q. s. Triturate and form trochisks.

The cyphi magnum called the solar, consisting of thirty-six ingredients. Of storax, of myrrh, of bdellium, of ladanum, of rosewood, of elecampane, of each, oz. vj; of Celtic nard, of Indian leaf, of cypress-seed, of ammoniac perfume, of pine-nuts, of the moss of trees (splanchnon), or, instead of it, of two large onyches, of carpobalsam, of each, oz. iij; of cassia, of iris, of seseli, of sphagnon (muscus arboreus?), of cyperus, of cardamom, of sweet-cane, of each, oz. v; of dried roses, of saffron, of spikenard, of savin, of the root of kingspear (but some use the juice), of each, oz. iv; of lacaphthus (it is the bark of a pine or of some other tree), oz. ix; of costus, of the flower of schœnanth, of each, oz. ij; forty large juniper-berries and fifty small; of amomum, of turpentine, of pure palm-nuts, of each, lb. j; of dried figs without their stones, of dried grapes without their stones, of each, lb. ij; of scummed honey, lb. v. Posidonius adds, likewise, of fragrant wine, sext. iij.

Another cyphi, called the lunar, consisting of twenty-eight ingredients. Of bdellium, of elecampane, of each, oz. vij; of schœnanth, oz. ij; of the moss of trees, oz. v; fifty small juniper-berries; of cardamom, oz. v; of rose-wood, oz. vij; of cassia fistula, oz. v; of spikenard, oz. ij; of cyperus, oz. v; of the root of kingspear, of savin, of each, oz. iv; of cypress-seed, of Celtic nard, of malabathrum with the leaves, of dried roses, of each, oz. iij; of costus, of saffron, of each, oz. ij; of ladanum, of myrrh, of each, oz. vij; of fatty dried figs, of grapes deprived of their stones, of each, lb. ij; of pine-nuts, oz. viij; of turpentine, lb. j; of storax, oz. vij; of fatty palm-nuts, lb. j; of honey, lb. v; of fragrant wine, q. s.

* * * * *

COMMENTARY. See Aëtius (xiii, 37); Oribasius (Synopsis, iii); Myrepsus (i, 299); Actuarius (Meth. Med. v, 6.) These are sweet-smelling compositions which were used as restoratives, or in order to sooth. The following suffitus of Oribasius is soporific: Of storax, of amomum, of costus, of ammoniac perfume, of Scythian bdellium, of the root of mandrake, of the juice of poppy. The cyphoid antidotes of Myrepsus are very multifarious compositions, consisting of a great variety of aromatics, mixed up with honey and fragrant wines.

Similar preparations are described by the Arabians among the confections and antidotes. See Avicenna, Serapion, and Haly Abbas.

SECT. XXIII.—THE PREPARATION OF MASUCHA, WHICH SOME CALL MASUAPHIUM.

Of melilots, oz. x; of the wood of balsamum, of rose-wood, of savin, of myrrh, of amomum, of the schœnanth, of bay-leaves, of the fat of myrrh (stacte), of storax, of calamus aromaticus, of sampsuchum, of each, oz. ij; of iris, oz. v; of Indian leaf, of saffron, of each, oz. j; of opobalsam, oz. ss; of gum, lb. j; of dried roses, oz. vj; of wine, q. s.

* * * * *

COMMENTARY. See Aëtius (xiii, 118); Myrepsus (§ xxi, 14); Actuarius (Meth. Med. v. 8.) The following is Myrepsus’s formula for the suffimentum called Masucha: Of yellow aloes, of bay-leaves, of costus, of amomum, of cardamom, of cassia, of carpobalsam, of ladanum, of each, lb. iss; of myrrh, of iris, of melilot, of Indian leaf, of roses, of the leaves of olive, of Celtic nard, of each, lb. ss oz. iij; of saffron, oz. iij; of galbanum, oz. ss; of gum, lb. iss; of fragrant wine, q. s.

SECT. XXIV.—ON PESSARIES, FROM THE WORKS OF ANTYLLUS.

Pessaries are applied to the womb. There are three different kinds of them; for some are emollient, some astringent, and some are anastomative, i. e. they open the mouths of vessels. We use the emollient in inflammations of the womb, in ulceration and coldness of it, in ascension upwards, eversion and inflation thereof. They are prepared from Tuscan wax, the oil of privet and of lilies, the fat of geese and of fowls, unsalted butter, burnt rosin, stag’s marrow, fenugreek, and the like. The anastomative, or those which open the mouths of vessels, are used when we wish to recall the menstrual purgation that has been stopped, or to correct the state of the womb when it is shut up or contracted. These are prepared from honey, mugwort, dittany, the juice of cabbage, liquorice, the juice of horehound, rue, scammony, or the like. The astringent are used in cases the reverse of those for which the anastomative are applied; for they restrain the female discharge, contract the womb when it is open, and impel it upwards when prolapsed. The materials of the astringent have been already pointed out in the chapter on Collyria and Trochisks. The pessary is to be made of the thickness of bath sordes, and a little thicker; and then some wool, like a narrow tent, is to be doubled and dipped in the medicine, and applied to the mouth of the womb, having a long thread attached to it to draw down the pessary readily when it is thought proper.—The Saffron Pessary, for inflammations, eversions, hardness, and inflation of the womb: Of white wax, of calf’s marrow, of each, dr. xvj; of stag’s marrow, dr. xj; of the grease of geese, dr. viij; of the grease of fowls, dr. viij; of mastich, dr. iv; of the medicine œsypum, dr. iij; of honey, dr. ij; of saffron, dr. viij; of rose oil, q. s. Triturate the saffron with the milk of a woman.—The Golden Pessary, an excellent emollient: Of saffron, dr. j; of unwashed wool (œsypum), dr. j; of stag’s marrow, dr. ij; of turpentine, of wax, of the grease of geese, of each, dr. iij; the yelks of sixteen eggs roasted; of oil, of iris, of roses, q. s.—The Libanian Pessary, being emmenagogue, and agreeing excellently with affections of the womb: Of nard ointment, oz. vj; of Tuscan wax, oz. v; of the ointment of lilies, oz. iv; of fresh hog’s lard, oz. iij; of the grease of geese and of domestic fowls, of stag’s marrow, and of the ointment of amaracus, of each, oz. ij; of bull’s tallow, of turpentine, of œsypum, of each, oz. j. It is dissolved in a double vessel, as are all the other pessaries.—The Pessary Enneapharmacus: Of the ointment of roses, of that of ricinus, of turpentine, of wax, of honey, of the grease of geese and of oxen, of stag’s marrow, and of butter, equal parts.—The Titian emollient Pessary: Of wax, oz. vj; of Colophonian rosin, oz. ivss; of bull’s tallow, oz. iv; of ammoniac perfume, oz. iv. Triturate the ammoniac with water.—The Egyptian Pessary: Of honey, of turpentine, of butter, of oil of roses or of lilies, of saffron, of each, p. j; and when there is no inflammation and the parts are foul, of verdigris, p. ss.—The Pessary called Genitura, for conception: Of butter, oz. vj; of the medicine œsypum, of stag’s marrow, of the grease of geese and of domestic fowls, of turpentine, of aloes, of each, oz. iij; of Tuscan wax, oz. vj; of oil of roses, lb. ij; of myrrh, of cassia, of each, oz. ij; of spikenard, oz. j; of honey, q. s.

* * * * *

COMMENTARY. The pessaries of the ancients bore no resemblance to the instruments of box-wood and other solid materials now used to prevent prolapsus of the uterus. Those of the ancients were medicated ointments or liniments, which were generally applied to the natural parts upon wool, most commonly for the purpose of correcting the menstrual discharge. A modern authority describes them in the following terms: “Pessaries are made like a finger, of medicines for the womb, taken into a long linen bag, well-waxed, or incorporated with honey, ladanum, galbanum, wax and juices. They are in shape like a suppository, but longer and thicker.” Schröder (Chym. Dispensat. p. 134). They were also frequently resorted to for the wicked purpose of producing abortion. Hippocrates, in his Oath, obligates the medical apprentice not to give such a pessary to a woman. Pessaries of this description consisted of strong stimulants, such as cantharides, elaterium, colocynth, &c. The emmenagogue pessaries were formed of such-like ingredients, weakened by mixture with others of less activity.

Celsus gives a very distinct account of pessaries. He says of them: “Sed alia quoque utilia sunt; ut ea, quæ fœminis subjiciuntur; πεσσους Græci vocant. Eorum hæc proprietas est: medicamenta composita molli lana excipiuntur, eaque lana naturalibus conditur.” (v, 21.) He gives formulæ for seven pessaries. One, for expelling the dead fœtus, consists of pomegranate rind pounded with water. (v, 21.)

Pessaries are treated of at great length by Oribasius, Aëtius, and Actuarius, and preparations are described for every imaginable condition of the uterus. Aëtius gives formulæ for pessaries to procure sterility, the ingredients of which, for the most part, are powerful astringents and bitters. But Myrepsus is the most copious writer on this subject, for he describes the preparation of forty-five pessaries (§ 38). Their ingredients, of course, are various, according to the purpose for which they are to be applied. The Emmenagogue consist of cumin, ginger, birthwort, the pulp of colocynth, castor, musk, rue, &c., mixed up with wax, suet; or honey.

As there is nothing original in the views of the Arabians, we need only say with regard to them that they prepared and applied pessaries on the principles laid down by their Grecian masters. See, in particular, Rhases (Cont. xxii); Avicenna (iii, 21, 2); Serapion (de Ægritudinibus Matricis.)

SECT. XXV.—ON MEDICINES WHICH MAY BE SUBSTITUTED FOR ONE ANOTHER, FROM THE WORKS OF GALEN.

In Alexandria, he says, wishing to obtain the campion (lychnis) for a certain woman who was in danger, and not having got it, if I had not found and used the seed of acanthium, the woman would have been soon lost. Hence, having been requested by my companions, I made out a list of the medicines which may be substituted for one another, in order, beginning with this same article:

Instead of the seed of acanthium, campion (lychnis). southern-wood (abrotonum), origany. agallochus, sweet-cane (calamus aromaticus). agaric, euphorbium. Indian aloes, glaucium, lycium, or centaurium. winter-cherry (halicacabus), the seed of strychnos. asphaltum, the Bruttian liquid pitch. aconite or wolfsbane, the root of the wild iris. wormwood, southernwood. opobalsam, myrtle-juice. quicklime (calx-viva), adarce. alkanet, hyacinth. sal ammoniac, Cappadocian salts. arsenic, sandarach. starch, dried flour. ammoniac perfume, bee-glue. rose-wood (aspalathus), the fruit of heath, or the seed of the chaste-tree. aracus (a species of pulse), Indian corn. bitter almonds, wormwood. Armenian stone, Indian ink. the elder, thorn. prickly-poppy (argemone), seriphium. kingspear, the juice of beet. wall-pepper, the juice or leaves of lettuce. maiden-hair, aphroselinum. Ethiopian olive, two parts of the tears of acacia. Asian stone, gagate stone, or sal ammoniac burnt. fox’s grease, that of a bear. shoots of the black poplar, sampsuchum. buprestis, bugs (blattæ). butter, cow’s milk coagulated. the juice of balsam, the juice of myrrh. bdellium, the aromatic moss of trees (sphagnus). gentian root, aromatic parsley. Samian earth, the Egyptian leucographis. Eretrian earth, Thebaic lime. turnip, the sun-flower. liquorice juice, the juice of mulberry. vulture’s dung, pigeon’s dung. soft earth, plumbago. dorycnium, the seed of henbane. dittany, sage. bay-berries, dried wild thyme. carrot, the seed of water-parsnip. diphryges, Phrygian stone. dracunculus, wake-robin. sage, calamint. the tear of olive, the juice of hypocistis. wild thyme, potamogeton. the seed of rocket, the seed of hedge-mustard. the juice of elaterium, the juice of the leek. the seed of hedge-mustard, soapwort. the fruit of heath, the gall omphacitis. ebeny, the wood of the lotus. the leaves of wild fig, the dung of ibis (?). the root of butcher’s broom, the leaves of the mulberry (?). black hellebore, the root of papyrus (?). enneaphyllon, the potamogeton. old oil, boil a double quantity of oil with old hog’s lard. ginger, pellitory. deadly carrot (thapsia), the juice of the black chamæleon. thapsia, the seed of cresses or rocket. sulphur vivum, red arsenic (sandarach). the rust of iron (rubigo ferri), the squama ferri. the mistletoe of the oak, that of black chamæleon. Illyrian iris, the aromatic elecampane. cinnamon, double the quantity of cassia. cyperus, the large juniper. cardamom, cyperus. costus, juniper-berries. juniper-berries, ladanum. calamus aromaticus, the moss of trees. saffron, crocomagma. crocomagma, Indian aloes. castor, laserwort (assafœtida). calamine, the Egyptian leucographis. the tallow of the crocodile, that of the sea-dog. hemlock (conium), the seed of coriander. cantharides, phalangia. the seed of bastard saffron, the seed of chaste-tree. the juice of ivy, that of peach. the palma Christi, the sordes from the palestra. the root of capers, the root of heath or tamarisk. the dung of the turtle, pigeon’s dung. ceraunium, leucographis. coral, moly. cat’s dung, that of the ichneumon. dragon’s blood (cinnabaris), the rhodoides. cumin, the seed of cabbage. field basil (clinopodium), the sun-flower. calamint, the wild mint. colocynth, the seed of the palma Christi called croton. navelwort (cotyledon), the onocardium. Colophonian rosin, the pitch of ships. cynosbatos, the seed of the winter cherry. linseed, the juice of beans. pumice stone, Cretan earth. cyphi, burnt dried fig. buccina, oysters. cardamom, xylocarpasum. wax, bruised beans boiled and pounded with bee-glue. frankincense, the terra ampelitis. lathyrides (a species of spurge), the granum Cnidium. dittander (lepidium), madder. the magnet, the Phrygian stone. the Phrygian stone, the agerat. the seed of lovage, the seed of carrot. the stone pyrites, the stone pyrobolus. the flower of the stock gilly-flower, soapwort. the seed of the lotus, the seed of beet. the root of dittander, the leaves of capers. the sea-hare, the sea-shell(?). the root of dock, the root of pellitory. Indian leaf (malabathrum), cassia or Indian nard. mandrake (mandragora), dorycnium. myrtle oil, the juice of mulberry. mastich, the juice of lentisk(?). myrobalan, rue. mallows, fenugreek. honey, rob. manna (of frankincense?), the bark of frankincense. mice dung, an equal quantity of flies. stag’s marrow, stag’s grease or the marrow of a calf. quinces, melilots. Cyprian misy, Cyprian ochre. spignel, myrobalan. the juice of mulberries, the leaves of brambles. roasted misy, diphryges. Syriac nard, the aromatic rush. navew, turnip-seed (?). xylobalsam, the root of stock gilly-flower. poppy-juice, the juice of mandragora. opoponax, the milk of mulberry. Cyrenaic juice, Syriac juice. juice of carpasum, the juice of myrtle. juice of the fig, the juice of mulberry. juice of the willow, the juice of the black ivy. juice of the rose bay, the mistletoe of the oak. juice of the œnanthe, that of the cultivated vine-tree. all-good (horminum), linseed. rice, barley-flour. Italian wine, Mendesian wine. Rhodian wine, austere wine. the star of Bethlehem (ornithogallum), anthyllis. the unripe olive, the gall omphacitis. onocardium, the herb psyche. juice of hog’s fennel, liquorice-juice. bee-glue, ladanum. canker-worm of the pine, the wasps on the unripe rosin. pepper, ginger. fern, the seed of cneoros. polypody, the root of mezereon, or of the chamæleon. vervain, ground poplar. polytrichon, wormwood. rosin of the fir-tree, turpentine rosin. dried roses, the dried leaves of the peach-tree. oil of radishes, the oil of ricinus (castor oil). rhodoides, Sinopic ochre. Colophonian rosin, the pitch of ships. aromatic rush, cardamom. Cyprian spodium, the ashes of olive-leaves. troglodytic myrrh, the calamus aromaticus. stag’s grease, the grease of geese. grease of the hyena, the grease of foxes. grease of the fox, the grease of the bear. root of soapwort, the root of the black hellebore. satyrium, the seed of rocket. salamander, the green lizard. aromatic moss of trees, the sweet-rush. syricum (psoricum?), litharge. dross of lead, the scoria argenti. marjoram (sampsuchum), the dried culinary sumach. mustard, cresses. sagapen, dried pine rosin. scammony, the internal parts of the seed of palma Christi. pine-nuts, the seed of cucumber. alum, fossile salt. the skink, satyrium. antimony, the squama æris. sweet rush, the root of knot-grass. dross of copper, the Egyptian melanteria. water-cress, basil. cultivated grape, the flesh of the Syrian palm. Saunder’s herb, southernwood, the shell of the cuttle-fish, pumice-stone. orchis (serapias), the root of pœony. squill, bolbus. sesamoides, what remains after the filtration of amaranth. Indian grain, linseed. the seed of henbane, the seed of sweet briar. juice of hypocistis, the juice of acacia. liquid pitch, opoponax. unscoured wool (œsypum), the marrow of a calf. hyacinth, the flower of woad. St. John’s wort, the seed of dill. burnt lees of wine, sandarach. sea-weed, alkanet. valerian, the moss of trees. the gall of the hyæna, the gall of partridge. the gall of the viper, that of the ichneumon. gall of the shrew-mouse, that of the camel. gall of the camel, that of the swift. galbanum, sagapen. germander, the root of the wild dock. chamomile, anthemis. ceruse, the dross of lead (scoria plumbi). fleawort, the marsh lentil (lens palustris). basil (ocimum), water-cress (sisymbrium). ocimoides, the wild mint.

* * * * *

COMMENTARY. This is taken from a work ascribed to Galen, the authenticity of which, however, is very doubtful. Cornarius has attempted many corrections of the text, and we have found ourselves compelled to make other alterations.

SECT. XXVI.—ON WEIGHTS AND MEASURES.

The weight is determined by the degree of heaviness; the measure by the capacity of the vessel: but the vessel is the measure either of a dry or of a liquid quantity. So then there are three differences of a measured quantity: first, that of weight; second, that of a dry substance, and, as it were, of such things as can be heaped; and third, that of a liquid. There being many and almost infinite varieties of weights and measures according to the practice of places, and of those who use them, we shall treat only of those which are familiar to all.

On the characters used by the Greeks for indicating weights and measures. But since some do not indicate these by whole letters, but by characters, it will be better for us, in imitation of the ancients, to explain these characters in the first place.

Transcriber’s Note: The symbols in this paragraph are included as illustrations in the HTML version.

First, then, the letter χ having alpha placed above it, signifies chalcus (i. e. æreus), thus [symbol]; but if the χ has ο, chus (i. e. congius), thus [symbol]; but if οι, chœnix, thus [symbol]; but if η, cheme, thus [symbol]; Κ if it has ε placed above it, and a straight line obliquely intersecting the lower curvature of it indicates ceration (i. e. siliqua), thus [symbol]; but if the Κ has υ, cyathus, thus [symbol] and if ο cotyle (i. e. hemina), thus [symbol]. The circumflex line not surrounded by anything, and placed altogether obliquely, indicates obolus, thus 𐅼; but if there are two lines not surrounded, they signify two oboli, thus 𐅽, which make a gramma (i. e. scrupulum), which is indicated by γ having ρ near it, intersected by a straight line, thus [symbol]. Two lines united at one extremity so as to make an angle, like the two wings which join the straight line of the letter K, indicate drachma (or drachm), which is synonymous with holca, thus [symbol]. But the holca is properly indicated by λ with ο in its middle, thus [symbol]. But if the λ has ι, it indicates libra (a pound), thus [symbol]. Some, however, indicate a pound, by another line intersecting the line of the λ obliquely, thus [symbol]. But Γ having the letter o within its angle, signifies uncia (an ounce), thus [symbol]. The letter μ having ν in its middle, indicates mna, or mina, thus [symbol]; but if the μ has υ, it indicates mystrum, thus [symbol]; but if ε, medimnus, thus [symbol]; and if ο, modius, thus [symbol]. The letter τ followed by a ρ with a υ about it, indicates tryblium, thus [symbol]. The letter χ, if it has ε placed above it, indicates xestes (i. e. sextarius), thus [symbol]. But if it has ο written above, it signifies oxybaphum (i. e. acetabulum), thus [symbol]. Some indicate a sextarius by a χ, with a straight line intersecting it, thus [symbol]. The letter η, having μ placed above it, indicated hemina, thus [symbol]. The letter κ prefixed to ρ, and having μ placed above it, indicates ceramium, thus [symbol].

On Weights.

The Attic and Egyptian mna (i. e. mina) contains oz. xvj. The Roman mina ” oz. xx. The libra (i. e. pound) ” oz. xij. The uncia (i. e. ounce) ” dr. viij. The drachma (i. e. drachm) ” scr. iij. The scrupulus (i. e. scruple) ” oboli ij. The obolus contains ceratia or siliquæ iij. The siliqua contains chalci (i. e. ærei or æreoli) ij. and ⅔. So that an obolus contains viij æreoli.

On the Measures of Liquids.

The Italic ceramium contains choes (or congii) viij.

The chus or congius contains sextarii vj.

The sextarius contains cotylæ ij, which are also called tryblia.

The cotyla, or tryblium, contains great mystra iij, but acetabula iv.

The great mystrum contains acetabulum j, and a third.

The acetabulum contains cyathus j, and a half.

The cyathus contains small chemæ, or small mystra ij.

But if you would wish to know the measure of the weights of liquids (for there are many differences of liquid substances according to weight), we shall illustrate this by the example of oil, wine, and honey. Honey, then, is heavier than wine by a fourth part, and a tenth part more, which makes altogether almost a third part. For the same measure of honey as of wine contains the weight of the wine and a third part more. Honey is heavier than oil by one half; for it contains the whole weight of the oil, and a half part of the weight besides. Wine exceeds oil by a ninth part, for it contains the whole weight of the oil and a ninth part more. In order to make this appear more manifest, we shall subjoin, as in a diagram, the proportion of the particular measures, it being obvious that the words oil, wine, and honey, are to be understood as expressed in every line of the series.

The Italian Of oil. Of wine. Of honey. Ceramium contains lib. lxxij lib. lxxx lib. cviij. Chus, or congius lib. ix lib. x lib. xiiss. Sextarius oz. xviij oz. xx oz. xxvij. Cotyle or hemina oz. ix oz. x oz. xiiiss. Great mystrum oz. iij oz. iij, scr. viij oz. ivss. Acetabulum dr. xviij oz. ij, scr. xij oz. iij, scr. ix. Cyathus dr. xij oz. iss, scr. iv oz. ij, dr. ij. Small mystrum dr. vj scr. xx dr. ix.

Oribasius says, on the authority of Adamantius, that the Italian sextarius of wine contains oz. xxiv by measure, but lb. j oz. viij by weight; and that a sextarius of honey contains lb. iiss by weight.

On the Measures of Dry Substances.

The Egyptian artaba contains modii iij.

The Egyptian and Italian modius contains chœnices viij.

The chœnix contains sextarii ij.

The sextarius contains two semisextarii, which are called heminæ.

The hemina contains cyathi viij.

The Attic medimnus contains hemiecta xij.

The hemiecton contains chœnices iv. Hence the medimnus contains modii vj, chœnices xlviij, and sextarii xcvj.

But of these it is not easy to give the weight, because of dry things the difference, according to the inclination of the balance, is immense.

The end of the Seventh and Last Book of PAULUS ÆGINETA.

* * * * *

COMMENTARY. See, further, Galenus (De Pond. et Mens.); Cleopatra (De P. et M.); Celsus (v, 17); Pliny (H. N. xxi, 34); Rhemnus Fannius (De Pond. et Metr.); Marcellus Empiricus; Pollux (Onomast.); Hesychius et Suidas (pluries); Serapion (de Antid. vii, 37); Avicenna (v, 2, 8.) The best modern writers on the weights and measures of the ancients are, Arbuthnot (On Ancient Coins, Weights, and Measures); Milligan (Præfatio et Notæ in Celsum); Poucton (Métrologie); Raper (Philosoph. Transact. London, 1770, 1771); J. F. Wurm (De Pond. &c.); Conger (Weights, Measures, &c. of the Greeks and Romans.)

Since a proper knowledge of this subject is indispensably necessary, in order to attain a practical acquaintance with ancient pharmacy, we shall not scruple to avail ourselves freely of the information contained in the works of the modern authorities referred to above. It will be seen, that in the following sketch, we have followed Arbuthnot very closely; indeed, it is proper to mention, that when we originally wrote this, our concluding Commentary, we were not acquainted with the labours of Wurm and Conger. We now remark that, although the later authorities agree with Arbuthnot on general principles, they differ from him on a few points, as will be perceived upon a comparison of his tables with those of Conger. The discrepance between them, we find, arises from two causes, only one of which, it will be observed, is of any practical importance. First: Arbuthnot mixes the fractional with the decimal mode of computation, whilst Conger uses the decimal method alone. Second: They give different estimates of the length of the Pes. For example, Arbuthnot states the contents of the ligula to be ¹⁄₄₈ pint, and the decimals ·117⁵⁄₁₂ solid inch; whereas Conger rates it at the decimals ·62 pint, or the decimals ·69 solid inch. Now the 48th part of a pint equals the decimal ·6, which, when added to the former decimals ·117 solid inch, amounts to ·717: the difference between this number and ·69 is ·027, which being multiplied successively by the tabular values of the ligula, cyathus, acetabulum, &c., and the product divided by the number of solid inches in a pint, gives 12 pints, or 1 gal. 2 qts. as the difference between Arbuthnot’s and Conger’s contents of the amphora. By Arbuthnot’s table the contents of the amphora is 7 gal. 1 pint, 10·66 solid inches; by Conger’s, it is 5 gal. 2 qts. 1 pint, and the decimal ·64 of a pint. For example,

gal. qts. pts. sol. inch. Arbuthnot’s amphora = 7 0 1 10·66 Conger’s ” = 5 2 1 --------------------------- Difference 1 2 0 10·66

The Pes is the standard from which the contents of the amphora, and of the other names of weights and measures in the table are deduced; and, as our authorities assign slightly different estimates to the length of the pes, the other measures in the table are consequently affected by this difference in the assumed standard. Arbuthnot assumes the pes to be 11·604 inches, whereas Conger, with the later authorities, makes it to be ·97075 ft. or 11·649 inches. Now the amphora, being the cube of the pes, equals, according to Arbuthnot, 1562·5112 solid inches, whereas the cube of Conger’s pes makes the amphora to contain 1580·75 solid inches.

Having thus pointed out the source of the discrepance between the tables of Arbuthnot and the later authorities, we shall now proceed with our extracts, beginning with Dr. Milligan, who, although he can have no pretensions to be reckoned an original authority on the subject, has been particularly fortunate in giving from Targa and Arbuthnot, a very lucid exposition of the weights, measures, and characters, which occur in the works of Celsus.

Extracts from Dr. Milligan’s edition of Celsus.

Characterum in Celso obvenientium Tabula.

P = Pondo: cum aliis notis junctum quasi pondere; Anglice, by weight, significat. P., per se = 1 Libra. 𐆖 = 1 Denarius. 𐆐 non per se = 1 sextantem denominationis antecedentis signat. 𐆐 per se = fere unius drachmæ sextantem. 𐆐 𐆐 = 2 sextantis. ⍪ = 1 sextantem. — = ½ sextantis. Z = 1 sextantem. 8 = 1 sextantem.

Porro P. 𐆐, P ⍪, P Z, P 8, characteres compositi sunt, qui omnino secundum tabulam superiorem, libræ sextantem singuli significant. Pari quoque ratione, P. 𐆖. 𐆐, P. 𐆖. ⍪, P. 𐆖. Z, P. 𐆖. 8, denarii sextantem, vel unciæ quadrigesimam secundam partem designat.

Notæ Celsi lectoribus negotii nonnihil facessere solent. Cum ipso igitur, id anticipandum nobis erit; ut ponderum divisio quam decimo septimo libri quinti capite descripsit, hic quasi prærogetur.

Libra } { Uncias duodecim. Uncia } { Denarios septem. Denarius } valet { Sextantes sex. Sextans } { Obolum unum. Obolus } { Scrupulum dimidium.

Denarius autem (Greaves, Diss. on the Denarius) grana 62 (English Troy weight) habebat; unde unciæ essent 434, sextanti ejus 10⅓ grana; fere scrupulum dimidium, ut Celsus, loco citato, docet.

His præposites scire licet,

ά. Notam P., per se libram significare.

β´. Notam 𐆐, sextatem indifferenter significare, sed non drachmæ magis quam libræ, vel cujuslibet denominationis præcedentis, sextantem. Sic Notam P. 𐆐, uncias duas æquare.

γ´. Notam 𐆐 𐆐, duos sextantes indicare.

δ´. Notam 𐆑, sextantis dimidium representare.

έ. Notam 𐆖, Denarium indicare 𐆐 ⅐ unciæ. Quam vero notam, propter similitudinem, librarii sæpe cum X, decem indicante confundunt. Nam 𐆖, perinde ac X decem olim significabat.

Videmus ergo Notam P, libram esse; cum aliis autem notis pondo significat, quasi pondere (Anglice by weight) adeo ut ista textus P. 𐆖 𐆐, Denarii sextantem pondere, vel grana 10⅓ indicet. Pari ratione P. 𐆖, denarius pondere, vel absolute denarius, qui grana 62, est.

Porro P. 𐆐, P Z, P 8, P⍪, libræ sextantem pondere: P. 𐆖. 𐆐, P. 𐆖 Z, P. 𐆖 8, P. 𐆖 ⍪, denarii sextantem, vel unciæ quadragesimam secundam partem, designant.

Constat 1. Denarium Romanum grana Trojana Britannica 62⁴⁄₇ pependisse.

2. Pedem Romanum pollicum Britannicorum 11·604 valuisse.

Ab his sequitur, pedem Romanum, ad pendulum latitudinis Londinii per spatium inane, ad 62 Farenheiti thermometri calefactum, oscillans, rationem habere quam 11·604 ad 39·1393. Porro congium Romanum ad congium (gallon) Britannicum Imperialem, ut 189·64 ad 274, esse.

Tabula Ponderum et Mensurarum Pliniana.

= 1 obolus = 10 chalci. 1 denarius argenteus = 1 drachma Attica = 6 oboli = 60 chalci. 1 cyathus = 10 drachmæ = 60 oboli = 600 chalci. 1 acetabulum = 15 drachmæ = 90 oboli = 900 chalci. 1 hemina = 60 drachmæ = 360 oboli = 3600 chalci. 1 mna = 100 drachmæ = 600 oboli = 6000 chalci.

Tabula Ponderum Celsiana.

1 sextans = 1 obolus. 1 scrupulus = 2 + sextantes = 2 + oboli. 1 denarius = 3 scrupuli = 6 sextantes = 6 oboli. 1 uncia = 7 denarii = 21 scrupuli = 42 sextantes = 42 oboli.

Sed ut ostendemus, 1 denarius = 62 grana (Troy weight), hinc 62 grana = 1 denarius = 6 sextantes = 6 oboli; dividendo, 10⅓ grana = 1 sextans = 1 obolus.

Tabula, pondera Trojana, tam mensurarum capacitatis, tam gravitatis, Romanorum sistens.

Urna. Libra. Uncia. Denarius. Scrupulus. Sextans. Chalcus. Grana. Amphora = 2 = 80 = 960 = 6720 = 20160 = 40320 = 403200 = 420480 Urna 1 = 40 = 480 = 3360 = 10080 = 26160 = 210600 = 210240 Congius ¼ = 10 = 120 = 840 = 2540 = 5040 = 50400 = 52920 Sextarius 1⅔ = 20 = 140 = 420 = 840 = 8400 = 8760 Libra 1 = 12 = 84 = 252 = 504 = 5040 = 5256 Hemina 8⁴⁄₇ = 60 = 180 = 360 = 3600 = 3759 Acetabulum 2⅐ = 15 = 45 = 90 = 900 = 939 Sesqi-cyathus 2⅐ = 15 = 45 = 90 = 900 = 939 Cyathus 1³⁄₇ = 10 = 30 = 60 = 600 = 626 Sescuncia 1½ = 10½ = 31½ = 63 = 630 = 657 Uncia 1 = 7 = 21 = 42 = 420 = 438 Cochleare 2½ = 7½ = 15 = 150 = 156 Drachma 1 = 3 = 6 = 60 = 62⁴⁄₇ Denarius 1 = 3 = 6 = 60 = 62⁴⁄₇ Scrupulus 1 = 2 = 20 = 20⅔ Scrupulus dimidiatus ½ = 1 = 10 = 10⅓ Obolus 1 = 10 = 10⅓ Sextans 1 = 10 = 10⅓ Chalcus 1 = 1¹⁄₃₆

Denario infra hanc lineam 62 grana, compendii numerique rotundandi gratia tribuimus. Qui accuratiora volunt ⁴⁄₇ illud Grævii in valorem per denariorum columnam ducant, et nostris superaddant.

Sed post tot annorum lapsum, quomodo ista pondera ad nostra Trojana referamus? Diligentia antiquariorum illud perfacile effecit. Inclytus enim J. Grævesius Angliæ decus, pondus Denarii, per plurima exemplarium centena, in Italicis aliisque cimeliis conservata, ipsa statera trutinavit: et pondus omnium meliorum denariorum ad grana Trojana 62⁴⁄₇ librare reperit. Sed cognito denarii, qui veteribus non tantum nummus fuit, sed ponderis rerum arbiter, pondere, ceterarum denominationum valorem calculo simplicissimo, in granis Trojanis habebis.

Tabula Ponderum ac Mensurarum relationis quas passim Celsus usurpavit.

Septunx. Semis. Bes. Quincunx. Dodarans. Triens. Dextans. Quadrans. Deunx. Sextans. Quævis Unc. unctar. 1 Uncia 1 = ½ = ⅓ = ¼ = ⅕ = ⅙ = ⅐ = ⅛ = ⅑ = ⅒ = ¹⁄₁₁ = ¹⁄₁₂ 2 Sextans 1 = ⅔ = ½ = ⅖ = ⅓ = ²⁄₇ = ¼ = ²⁄₉ = ⅕ = ²⁄₁₁ = ⅙ 3 Quadrans 1 = ¾ = ⅗ = ½ = ³⁄₇ = ⅜ = ⅓ = ³⁄₁₀ = ³⁄₁₁ = ¼ 4 Triens 1 = ⅘ = ⅔ = ⁴⁄₇ = ½ = ⁴⁄₉ = ⅖ = ⁴⁄₁₁ = ⅓ 5 Quincunx 1 = ⅚ = ⁵⁄₇ = ⅝ = ⁵⁄₉ = ½ = ⁵⁄₁₁ = ⁵⁄₁₂ 6 Semis 1 = ⁶⁄₇ = ²⁄₄ = ⅔ = ⅗ = ⁶⁄₁₁ = ½ 7 Septunx 1 = ⅞ = ⁷⁄₉ = ⁷⁄₁₀ = ⁷⁄₁₁ = ⁷⁄₁₂ 8 Bes 1 = ⁸⁄₉ = ⅘ = ⁸⁄₁₁ = ⅔ 8 Octunx 1 = ⁸⁄₉ = ⅘ = ⁸⁄₁₁ = ⅔ 9 Dodrans 1 = ⁸⁄₁₀ = ⁹⁄₁₁ = ¾ 10 Dextans 1 = ¹⁰⁄₁₁ = ⅚ 11 Deunx 1 = ¹¹⁄₁₂

Unc. |Characteres. 1 Uncia | ⊥ 2 Sextans | 𐆐, Z 3 Quadrans | 𐆐 𐆑 4 Triens | 𐆐 𐆐 5 Quincunx | 𐆐 𐆑 𐆐 6 Semis | S. S.ʺ 7 Septunx | V. 8 Bes | 𐆑 S. 𐆑 8 Octunx | 𐆑 S 𐆑 9 Dodrans | S 𐆐 𐆑 10 Dextans | S 𐆐 𐆐 11 Deunx | S 𐆐 𐆑 𐆐

His cujusvis unitatis, libræ, unciæ, denarii, congii, partes duodecimæ, hoc est unciæ, distributæ erant.

Extracts from Dr. ARBUTHNOT’S Tables of Ancient Coins, Weights, and Measures.

1. Roman Measures of Capacity for things Liquid.

English Wine Measure. Gall. Pints. Sol. Inc. Dec.

Ligula 0 0¹⁄₄₈ 0·117⁵⁄₁₂ +-----+ | 4| Cyathus 0 0¹⁄₁₂ 0·469⅔ +-----+------+ | 6| 1½| Acetabulum 0 0⅛ 0·704½ +-----+------+----+ | 12| 3 | 2| Quartarius 0 0¼ 1·409 +-----+------+----+----+ | 24| 6 | 4| 2| Hemina 0 0½ 2·818 +-----+------+----+----+----+ | 48| 12 | 8| 4| 2| Sextarius 0 1 5·636 +-----+------+----+----+----+---+ | 288| 72 | 48| 24| 12| 6| Congius 0 7 4·942 +-----+------+----+----+----+---+---+ | 1152| 288 | 192| 96| 48| 24| 4| Urna 3 4½ 5·33 +-----+------+----+----+----+---+---+--+ | 2304| 576 | 384| 192| 96| 48| 8| 2| Amphora 7 1 10·66 +-----+------+----+----+----+---+---+--+--+ |46080|11520 |7680|3840|1920|960|160|40|20| Culeus 143 3 11·095 +-----+------+----+----+----+---+---+--+--+-----------------------------

2. Attic Measures of Capacity for things Liquid.

English Wine Measure. Gall. Pints. Sol. Inc. Dec.

Κοχλιάριον 0 ¹⁄₁₂₀ 0·0356 +------+ | 2 | Χήμη 0 ¹⁄₆₀ 0·0712 +------+------+ | 2½ | 1¼ | Μύστρον 0 ¹⁄₄₈ 0·089 +------+------+----+ | 5 | 2½ | 2| Κόγχη 0 ¹⁄₂₄ 0·178 +------+------+----+----+ | 10 | 5 | 4| 2| Κύαθος 0 ¹⁄₁₂ 0·356 +------+------+----+----+-----+ | 15 | 7½ | 6| 3| 1½ | Ὀξύβαφον 0 ⅛ 0·535 +------+------+----+----+-----+---+ | 60 | 30 | 24| 12| 6 | 4| Κοτύλη 0 ½ 2·141 +------+------+----+----+-----+---+---+ | 120 | 60 | 48| 24| 12 | 8| 2| Ξέστης 0 1 4·283 +------+------+----+----+-----+---+---+--+ | 720 | 360 | 288| 144| 72 | 48| 12| 6| Χόυς 0 6 25·698 +------+------+----+----+-----+---+---+--+--+ |8640 |4320 |3456|1728|864 |576|144|72|12| Μετρητής 10 2 19·626 +------+------+----+----+-----+---+---+--+--+---------------------------

3. Attic Measures of Capacity for things Dry.

English Corn Measure. Pecks. Gals. Pints. Sol. Inch.

Κοχλιάριον 0 0 0 0·276 +----+ | 10| Κύαθος 0 0 0 2·763 +----+-----+ | 15| 1½ | Ὀξύβαφον 0 0 0 4·144 +----+-----+---+ | 60| 6 | 4| Κοτύλη 0 0 0 16·579 +----+-----+---+---+ | 120| 12 | 8| 2| Ξέστης 0 0 0 33·158 +----+-----+---+---+----+ | 180| 18 | 12| 3| 1½ | Χοῖνιξ 0 0 1 15·705 +----+-----+---+---+----+--+ |8640|864 |576|144|72 |48| Μέδιμνος 4 0 6 3·501 +----+-----+---+---+----+--+---------------------------------------

N.B. Besides this Medimnus, which is the Medicus, there was a Medimnus Georgius, equal to 6 Roman Modii.

4. Less ancient Grecian and Roman Weights reduced to English Troy Weight.

Lb. Oz. Dwts. Grs.

Lentes 0 0 0 0⁸⁵⁄₁₁₂ +----+ | 4| Siliquæ 0 0 0 3¹⁄₂₈ +----+----+ | 12| 3| Obolus 0 0 0 9³⁄₂₈ +----+----+---+ | 24| 6| 2| Scrupulum 0 0 0 18³⁄₁₄ +----+----+---+---+ | 72| 18| 6| 3| Drachma 0 0 2 6⁹⁄₁₄ +----+----+---+---+----+ | 96| 24| 8| 4| 1⅓ | Sextula 0 0 3 6⁶⁄₇ +----+----+---+---+---------+ | 144| 36| 12| 6| 2 | 1½ | Sicilicus 0 0 4 13²⁄₇ +----+----+---+---+----+----+----+ | 192| 48| 16| 8| 2⅔ | 2 | 1⅓ | Duella 0 0 6 1⁵⁄₇ +----+----+---+---+----+----+----+--+ | 576| 144| 48| 24| 8 | 6 | 4 | 3| Uncia 0 0 18 5⅐ +----+----+---+---+----+----+----+--+--+ |6912|1725|576|288|96 |72 |48 |36|12| Libra 0 10 18 13⁵⁄₇ +----+----+---+---+----+----+----+--+--+---------------------------

N.B. The Roman ounce is the English avoirdupois ounce which they divided into 7 denarii as well as 8 drachms; and since they reckoned their denarius equal to the Attic drachm, this will make the Attic weights ⅛ heavier than the correspondent Roman weights.

The above Tables are thus given by CONGER.

I. Roman Measures of Capacity.

For Liquids (Unit: Amphora = 5⁷⁄₁₀ gallons).

Cub. inch.|Gal. Pints. | Qts. Ligula 0·69| 0·02 +-----+ | | 4| Cyathus 2·74| 0·08 +-----+------+ | | 6 1½| Acetabulum 4·12| 0·12 +------------+---+ | | 12 3 2| Quartarius 8·23| 0·24 +----------------+----+ | | 24 6 4 2| Hemina 16·47| 0·48 +---------------------+----+ | | 48 12 8 4 2| Sextarius 32·93| 0·95 +--------------------------+---+ | | 288 72 48 24 12 6| Congius 197·59| 2 1·70 +------------------------------+---+ | | 1152 288 192 96 48 24 4| Urna 799·38| 2 3 0·82 +----------------------------------+--+ | | 2304 576 384 192 96 48 8 2| Amphora 1580·75| 5 2 1·64 +-------------------------------------+--+ | |46080 11520 7680 3840 1920 960 160 40 20| Culeus 31615·01|114 0 0·80 +----------------------------------------+-----------------+-------------

II. Grecian Measures of Capacity.

For Liquids (Unit. Μετρητής = 8½ gallons).

Cub. inch.| | Κοχλιάριον 0·27| +-----+ | | 2 | Χήμη 0·55| +-----+----+ | | 2½ 1¼| Μύστρον 0·69| +----------+---+ | | 5 2½ 2| Κόγχη 1·37| +--------------+----+ | | 10 5 4 2| Κύαθος 2·74| +-------------------+----+ | | 15 7½ 6 3 1½| Ὀξύβαφον 4·12| +------------------------+--+ | | 30 15 12 6 3 2| Τέταρτον 8·23| +---------------------------+---+ | | 60 30 24 12 6 4 2| Κοτύλη 16·47| +-------------------------------+---+ | | 120 60 48 24 12 8 4 2| Ξέστης 32·93| +-----------------------------------+--+ | | 720 360 288 144 72 48 24 12 6| Χοῦς 197·59| +--------------------------------------+--+ | |4320 2160 1782 864 432 288 144 72 36 6| Διώτη 1185·56| +-----------------------------------------+-+ Cub. ft. | |8640 4320 3456 1728 864 576 288 144 72 12 2|Μετρητής 1 643·13| +-------------------------------------------+ 10 13 1247·26| | 100 137 375·60| | 1000 1372 310· | +-------------------+

|Gal. Qts. Pints. | Κοχλιάριον | 0·008 +-----+ | | 2 | Χήμη | 0·016 +-----+----+ | | 2½ 1¼| Μύστρον | 0·02 +----------+---+ | | 5 2½ 2| Κόγχη | 0·04 +--------------+----+ | | 10 5 4 2| Κύαθος | 0·08 +-------------------+----+ | | 15 7½ 6 3 1½| Ὀξύβαφον | 0·12 +------------------------+--+ | | 30 15 12 6 3 2| Τέταρτον | 0·24 +---------------------------+---+ | | 60 30 24 12 6 4 2| Κοτύλη | 0·48 +-------------------------------+---+ | | 120 60 48 24 12 8 4 2| Ξέστης | 0·95 +-----------------------------------+--+ | | 720 360 288 144 72 48 24 12 6| Χοῦς | 2 1·70 +--------------------------------------+--+ | |4320 2160 1782 864 432 288 144 72 36 6| Διώτη | 4 1 0·23 +-----------------------------------------+-+ | |8640 4320 3456 1728 864 576 288 144 72 12 2| | 8 2 0·46 +-------------------------------------------+ | 85 2 0·60 | | 855 2 1·97 | |8557 1 1·70 +-----+--------------

III. Grecian Measures of Capacity.

For things Dry (Unit. Μεδιμνος = 1½ bushels).

Cub. inch.|Bus. Pks. Qts. | Pints. Κοχλιάριον 0·22| ·008 +-----+ | | 10| Κύαθος 2·74| ·079 +-----+-----+ | | 15 1½| Ὀχύβαφον 4·12| ·12 +-----------+--+ | | 60 6 4| Κοτύλη 16·47| ·48 +--------------+---+ | | 120 12 8 2| Ξέστης 32·93| ·95 +------------------+--+ | | 240 24 16 4 2| Χοῖνιξ 65·86| 1·90 +---------------------+--+ | | 960 96 64 16 8 4| Ἡμίεκτον 263·46| 3 1·61 +------------------------+--+ | | 1920 192 128 32 16 8 2| Ἑκτος 526·92| 7 1·21 +---------------------------+-+ | | 3840 384 256 64 32 16 4 2| Τριτὸς 1053·83| 1 7 0·43 +-----------------------------+-+ Cub. ft. | |11520 1152 768 192 96 48 12 6 3|Μέδιμνος 1 143·35| 1 1 5 1·28 +-------------------------------+ 10 18 511· | 14 1 0 0·8 | 100 182 1654· | 142 2 3 2· | 1000 1829 989· |1426 0 7 2· +--------------------+-------------------

IV. Roman Weights.

(Unit: Libra = 10 oz. 10 dwts. 9·5 grs. Troy weight.)

Troy weight. | | | Lb. Oz. Dwts. Grs.| | Siliqua 2·9| +------+ | | 3| Obolus 8·8| +------+-----+ | | 6 2| Scrupulum 17·5| +------------+-----+ | | 12 4 2| Semisextula 1 11·1| +------------------+-----+ | | 24 8 4 2| Sextula 2 22·1| +------------------------+-----+ | | 36 12 6 3 1½| Siciliquus 4 9·2| +------------------------------+----+ | | 48 16 8 4 2 1⅓| Duella 5 20·3| +-----------------------------------+----+ | | 72 24 12 6 3 2 1½| Semiuncia 8 18·4| +----------------------------------------+---+ | | 144 48 24 12 6 4 3 2| Uncia 17 12·8| +--------------------------------------------+----+ | | 1728 576 288 144 72 48 36 24 12| Libra 10 10 9·5| +-------------------------------------------------+---+ | | |Cent. | | |pod. | |172800 57600 28800 14400 7200 4800 3600 2400 1200 100| 87 7 19 17·1| +-----------------------------------------------------+--------------+

| Avoirdupois | weight. | |Lb. Oz. Dwts. | Siliqua | 0·11 +------+ | | 3| Obolus | 0·32 +------+-----+ | | 6 2| Scrupulum | 0·64 +------------+-----+ | | 12 4 2| Semisextula | 1·28 +------------------+-----+ | | 24 8 4 2| Sextula | 2·56 +------------------------+-----+ | | 36 12 6 3 1½| Siciliquus | 3·85 +------------------------------+----+ | | 48 16 8 4 2 1⅓| Duella | 5·13 +-----------------------------------+----+ | | 72 24 12 6 3 2 1½| Semiuncia | 7·69 +----------------------------------------+---+ | | 144 48 24 12 6 4 3 2| Uncia | 15·39 +--------------------------------------------+----+ | | 1728 576 288 144 72 48 36 24 12| Libra | 11 8·67 +-------------------------------------------------+---+ | |172800 57600 28800 14400 7200 4800 3600 2400 1200 100| |72 2 2·85 +-----------------------------------------------------+----+-----------

The denarius was the chief silver coin among the Romans. As a weight it was the 7th part of a Roman ounce. It is from this standard that both the value of the Roman weights and coins are deduced.

The industrious, learned, and honest Mr. Greaves affirms that having in Italy and elsewhere perused many hundred Denarii consulares, he found, by frequent and exact trial, the best of them to amount to 62 grains English.

The Roman ounce is certainly our avoirdupois ounce; but I must own that I have differed in a small matter from Mr. Greaves in settling the quantity of Troy grains contained in an ounce avoirdupois. The denarius, according to my supposition, will come out 62²²⁄₄₉ grains.

That the denarius was the 7th part of the Roman ounce is clear from multitudes of passages. Celsus (v, 17): Sed et antea sciri volo in uncia pondus denariorum esse septem.

Celsus divided the denarius into six parts, which he called, unciæ; uncia being a general word for the division of any integer. This was done in imitation of the Greek physicians, who, after the manner of their country, divided their drachma into 6 oboli.

The common mark of the denarius was an X or 𐆖, in imitation of which, among the Latin physicians, it grew to an *.

Of the Roman Pondo. The pondo argenti, amongst the Romans, is a sort of numeral expression of sums of money, and is different from the common libra which consisted only of 84 denarii, or 96 drachms, for as, æs, pondo, and mina, amongst ancient authors generally pass for the same.

Pondo is an indeclinable word, and when it is joined with numbers it signifies libra; but when it is joined to other weights, it stands for the same thing as σταθμῆ, or ὅλκη in the Greek, signifying the same with pondus, or weight in general.

Of Roman Weights. The Romans used the libra, which they divided into 12 unciæ, or ounces, and the later Greeks, in imitation of them, had their litra, which they divided after the same manner.

They divided their ounce into 3 duellæ, and likewise into 6 sextulæ (sextula among the Greeks was called ἑξάγιον, and corruptly, στάιγιον). Another division of their ounce was into 4 sicilici. They likewise divided their ounce into 7 denarii. Then they divided it into 8 drachms. The 12th part of an ounce they called dimidia sextula. It was likewise divided into 24 scrupula, or rather scriptula, called by the Greeks, γράμματα.

The denarius was divided into 2 victoriati, not only as a piece of money but as a weight. The denarius was also divided into 6 sextantes, in imitation of the 6 oboli of a drachm; according to which division a sextans would contain, in English Troy weight, about 6⅓ grains. Celsus mentions the quadrans denarii and the triens denarii.

The value of the Roman pound is determined, as in the tables, from the value of the denarius, viz. 5245⁵⁄₇ Troy grains; according to the common reckoning it is 5256; this small difference proceeds from assuming the avoirdupois ounce to the Troy ounce precisely as 51 to 56.

Greek Weights. The talent was the greatest weight as well as the greatest sum of money among the Greeks. And this ponderal talent was divided, as the nummary talent, into 60 minæ, and every mina into 100 drachmæ.

A drachma was ⅛ of the ounce and ¹⁄₁₀₀ part of a mina. The Greeks used the expression τρίτον ἡμιδράχμον to signify 2½ drachms. The old division of drachma was into 6 oboli.

An obolus contained 6 χαλκὸι, or, as the Latins call them, æreoli.

An ἡμιώβολον, or semiobolus, contains 1 siliqua and a half, and 4 æreoli, according to Cleopatra, but 3 only according to Diodorus (Ap. Suidam.)

Χαλκὸς, or æreolus contained the 6th part of an obolus, and 7 λεπτὰ, according to Suidas.

The Λεπτὸν was the 7th part of an æreolus, and was called by the Latins minuta, and sometimes minutia, and is not divided into any lesser weight.

The Greeks used the ὀυγγία, and divided it as the Romans did. They used the κεράτιον, in Latin, siliqua, which was the ¹⁄₁₈ of a drachma.

The medical weights were the mina, of 16 Roman ounces, as appears from Dioscorides and Galen, and Cleopatra (in Cosmeticis) who tells you that mina, as a weight, contains 16 ounces, 128 drachms, 384 scriptula, 768 oboli, 1052 lupini, 2304 siliquæ, 6144 æreoli. But when Celsus and Scribonius Largus make use of a denarius of about 62²²⁄₄₉ grains, the drachma being supposed equal to that; 100 such drachmæ must have made a mina of 6222²²⁄₄₉ grains, whereas, a mina of 16 ounces is about 7000 Troy grains, or our avoirdupois pound.

The physicians likewise made use of the litra of 96 drachms. The ὀυγγία, or uncia, being divided as usually. The κεράτιον, or siliqua, as mentioned before, was likewise a common weight among the physicians; and the σιτάριον, or grain, ¼ of the siliqua.

The Romans dividing their ounce into 7 denarii, and likewise into 8 drachms; the Greeks of later ages dividing likewise their ounce into 8 drachms, and the Roman denarius being supposed equal to the Greek drachma, have occasioned great confusion in the expressions of authors about the weights of both nations. It is evident there was an Attic mina of 16 Roman ounces, namely, the more ancient one, and another of 12½ ounces. By ounces is here meant Roman ounces, which is our avoirdupois ounce. So that the most ancient mina Attica was exactly our avoirdupois pound. Cleopatra speaks of the two different minæ, the first of 16 and the other of 12½ ounces. Dioscorides mentions only that of 16 ounces; and though it is mentioned by the physicians, it is not what they prescribed by, but perhaps like our avoirdupois weight, what their gross drugs were at first bought and sold by.

Of Arabian Weights. The Arabian weights used by their physicians, Serapion, Rhases, and Avicenna, are a mixture of the Greek and Roman weights, and derived from them. Their manes is a corruption of the Hebrew maneh, or the Greek mina: there were two of them, one of 20 ounces, and another of 16.

The ancient Arabian weights reduced to Troy weights.

Lb. Oz. Dwts. Grs.

Kestuf 0 0 0 1²⁹⁄₅₆ +-----+ | 2 | Kirat 0 0 0 3¹⁄₂₈ +-----+-----+ | 4 | 2 | Danich 0 0 0 6¹⁄₁₄ +-----+-----+-----+ | 6 | 3 | 1½| Onolossat 0 0 0 9³⁄₂₈ +-----+-----+-----+----+ | 12 | 6 | 3 | 2 | Garme 0 0 0 18³⁄₁₄ +-----+-----+-----+----+----+ | 36 | 18 | 9 | 6 | 3 | Darchimi 0 0 2 6⁹⁄₁₄ +-----+-----+-----+----+----+---+ | 41⅐|20⁴⁄₇|10²⁄₇|6⁶⁄₇|3³⁄₇| 1⅐| Denarius 0 0 2 14²²⁄₄₉ +-----+-----+-----+----+----+---+----+ | 144 | 72 | 36 | 24 | 12 | 4 | 3½| Sextarium 0 0 9 2⁴⁄₇ +-----+-----+-----+----+----+---+----+--+ | 288 | 144 | 72 | 48 | 24 | 8 | 7 | 2| Sacros 0 0 18 5⅐ +-----+-----+-----+----+----+---+----+--+--+ |3456 |1728 | 864 |576 |288 | 96| 84 |24|12| Ratel 0 10 18 13⁵⁄₇ +-----+-----+-----+----+----+---+----+--+--+---+ | | | | | | | | | | |Manes |4608 |2304 |1152 |768 |384 |128|112 |36|16| 1⅓|Alicatica 1 2 11 10²⁄₇ +-----+-----+-----+----+----+---+----+--+--+---+-------------------------

Greek Measures of Capacity. In reducing the Greek solid measures to the English, I shall make use of the χοῦς, which made in weight 720 drachms, according to all authors; suppose of rain-water, the ancients making no difference betwixt the weight of that and of wine. Taking the heaviest Attic drachm, which is the 100th part of the old Attic mina, or our avoirdupois pound, and neglecting the small difference in the tables, I shall state it at 70 grains Troy. According to this drachm, the weight of the Attic χοῦς must be 50,400 grains. There are in a solid foot 1728 solid inches, weighing 76 pounds of rain water: by this experiment 760 grains make 3 solid inches; therefore, 50,400 make 198·94737 solid inches, the number of the solid inches in the χοῦς; which is 6 pints, 25,698 solid inches, somewhat less than the Roman congius, though the Greek χοῦς and Roman congius are used indifferently as the same measure by ancient authors; as likewise are the 6th part of them, the ξέστης and sextarius, and the 12th the κοτύλη and the hemina. There is great probability that the Greeks measured the capacity of their vessels by the weight of oil, the product of their country. For the physicians, speaking of these measures, always mention their weight in oil; and Galen, speaking of the cotyla, saith that Heras understood the cotyla to be of 60 drachms reducing the weight to oil. I find likewise that it is a general supposition among the ancients that the weight of oil was to that of wine, as 9 to 10; so 72 pounds of oil is made equal in bulk to 80 pounds of wine, 9 pounds of oil to 10 of wine, and so everywhere. According to our experiments, the weight of oil is to that of wine or fresh-water, as 476 to 527, which is very near, as 9 to 9·96. So small a difference may be accounted for by the oil weighing less in a warm country than in ours.

The largest Greek measure for things liquid was the Attic μετρητής, which contained 12 choes. It is also called ἀμφορεὺς, κάδος, κεράμιον.

The χοῦς, or χοεὺς contained 12 cotylæ. It is also called λάγυνος, or λάγυνον, λάγηνον, or lagena. The Greek physicians sometimes use χοῦς for the Roman congius, the difference being but small. The Grecians in later times borrow the ξέστης from the Roman sextarius. It was the 6th part of the χοῦς.

The Attic κοτύλη was one half of the ξέστης. It is also called τρύβλιον.

The ὀξύβαφον was a measure answering to the Roman acetabulum. Pliny saith it was the 4th part of the hemina. (H. N. xv, c. ult.) Hesychius saith it was called ἄις, ἄλις, βάφιον, and γάβενον.

Κύαθος was the 12th part of the ξέστης.

Κόγχη was so called from a shell. There were a greater and a less. The greater was equal to the oxybaphum, and the lesser to one half of the cyathus.

Μύστρον, or μύστλον, so called from μῦς. Of this measure there were two kinds, the greater of which was the 16th part of the cotyla, and the lesser the 4th part of the cyathus. The mystrum is called βάρβος by Hesychius.

Χήμη was so named from a shell-fish. There was a greater or rustic cheme, the 20th part of the cotyla; but the lesser, which the physicians used, was the 30th part of the cotyla.

The κοχλιάριον, in Latin, cochlear, was the smallest measure for liquids: it is equal to one half of the cheme. See the Table.

Greek Measures of things Dry. Μέδιμνος, or μέδιμνον, was a measure for dry things, such as wheat, barley, flour, &c., and contained 48 chœnices.

Χοῖνιξ is a dry measure containing 3 cotylæ, and so was 1½ of the ξέστης: κοτύλη, ὀξύβαφον, κύαθος, and κοχλιάριον were also used as measures for things dry. Their capacity and proportion to one another is the same as when they are measures for liquids, which have been shown already.

The Roman Measures of Capacity. The amphora, which contained 8 congii, was the cube of a pes, or foot. The congius itself, the cube of ½ foot. The pes being settled, as equal to 11·604 inches, its cube 1562·5112, gives the contents of the amphora in solid inches; and divided by 8, gives 195·3139 inches for that of the congius.

The greatest measure among the Romans of liquid things, was the culeus, or culleus, containing 20 amphoræ. A culeus also contains 40 urns, the urn being half the amphora.

The amphora is otherwise called quadrantal, ceramium, cadus, and μετρητὴς Ιταλικὸς. The urna is the 40th part of the culeus, and the half of the amphora.

The congius was the 8th part of the amphora, and the 4th of the urna: it contained 6 sextarii. The congius in English measure contains 207·0676 solid inches, that is, 7 pints 4·942 solid inches.

The sextarius urbicus was the 6th part of the congius. This sextarius is divided into two heminæ, or cotylæ. It is also divided into four quartarii which are the half of a hemina. A sextarius is also divided into 8 acetabula. The parts of the sextarius were like those of the as, uncia, sextans, quadrans, triens, quincunx, semis, septunx, bes, dodrans, dextans, deunx, by which words a certain number of cyathi is meant, a cyathus being the 12th part of the sextarius. The sextarius castrensis was double of the urbicus.

Hemina, the half of the sextarius, contains 2 quartarii, 4 acetabula, 6 cyathi, 24 ligulæ.

Quartarius, as we have said, was the fourth part of the sextarius.

The acetabulum was the half of the quartarius.

Cyathus was the 12th part of the sextarius.

The ligula, or lingua, contained one 48th of the sextarius.

Cochlear, cochleare, and cochlearium, often denote a spoon, and sometimes a measure equal to the ligula.

There was also among the Romans a libra mensuralis, which the Greeks called λίτρα μετρικὴ, and distinguished from the λίτρα σταθμικὴ, or libra ponderalis. This consisted of 12 ounces, and was divided as the as. It was made commonly of horn, and divided by 12 lines, marking the ounces. This libra mensuralis weighed 10 ounces of oil, and of wine, 11 oz. 2 scr., 1 obolus, and 1 siliqua, according to the ponderal libra. The ancients all along supposed the weight of oil to be, to that of wine, as 9 to 10. This proportion of the specific gravity of these two liquors holds in this computation; for 11 oz., 2 scr. 1 ob. 1 sil., make 1600 siliquæ; and 10 ounces make 1440 siliquæ; and dividing both by 160, makes it as 9 to 10. According to this weight of wine assigned by Galen, the libra mensuralis contained 19·085 solid inches, somewhat less than ¾ of our pint, wine measure. But the Roman measures varying, in all appearance this originally was designed to contain 12 ponderal ounces of water, according to which weight it would be equal to 20·612 solid inches, the difference between the two being only 1·527 solid inches.

Roman Measures of Capacity for things dry. The modius was the third part of the amphora, or quadrantal, which was one half of the medimnus. The semimodius contained 8 sextarii. Sextarius and hemina are also measures of dry things, as so also quartarius, acetabulum, cyathus and concha.

Table of the Roman Measures of capacity for things Dry.

English Corn Measure. Pecks. Gals. Pints. Sol. Inch.

Ligula 0 0 ¹⁄₄₈ 0·01 +---+ | 4| Cyathus 0 0 ¹⁄₁₂ 0·04 +---+----+ | 6| 1½| Acetabulum 0 0 ⅛ 0·06 +---+----+---+ | 24| 6 | 4| Hemina 0 0 ½ 0·24 +---+----+---+--+ | 48| 12 | 8| 2| Sextarius 0 0 1 0·48 +---+----+---+--+--+ |384| 96 | 64|16| 8| Semimodius 0 1 0 3·84 +---+----+---+--+--+--+ |768|192 |128|32|16| 2| Modius 1 0 0 7·68 +---+----+---+--+--+--+---------------------------------------

Of the Arabian Measures. The knowledge of the Arabian measures is necessary for those who read the Arabian physicians, such as Avicenna, Rhases, Serapion, Mesue, and Haly Abbas.

Dorach, equal to the Roman amphora.

Aldorach, equal to 2 xestæ.

Johem, equal to the congius of the Romans.

Kist, equal to a Roman sextarius.

Korboni, equal to the hemina.

Kiliathi, equal to one half of the cotyla.

Kestuf, equal to the acetabulum.

Cuathum, equal to the cyathus.

Falgerin, equal to the cochleare parvum.

Briala, a measure of uncertain capacity.

Mustarum, the greater equal to ⅓ hemina, the lesser equal to ½ cyathus. A corruption of the Greek μύστρον.

Decimal Tables.

Roman Measures for things Dry.

Hemina 0·5074 pint. Sextarius 1·0148 pints. Modius 1·0141 pecks.

Attic Measures for things Dry.

Ξέστης 0·9903 pint. Χοῖνιξ 1·486 pints. Μέδιμνος 1·0906 bushels.

Roman Measures for things Liquid.

Hemina 0·59759 pint. Sextarius 1·19518 pints. Congius 7·1712 pints. Urna 3·5857 gallons. Amphora 7·1712 gallons. Culeus 2·27 hogsheads.

Attic Measures for things Liquid.

Κοτύλη 0·5742 pint. Ξέστης 1·1483 pints. Χοῦς 6·8900 pints. Μετρητής 10·335 gallons.

A Table of the more usual Characters of Weights and Measures used by the Greek and Roman Authors. From Paucton, ‘Métralogie,’ p. 95.

NOTES pondérales des Romains.

NOTES pondérales des Grecs.

NOTES mensurales des Romains.

NOTES mensurales des Grecs.

The end of the Commentary on PAULUS ÆGINETA.

GENERAL INDEX.

Abrong, an article in the Arabian Materia Medica, vol. iii, p. 471.

Abrotanum, see Southernwood.

Abscess, on the nature and general treatment of, ii, 54-9; surgical treatment of, 305-8; of the womb, and treatment thereof, 385-6.

Absinthium, varieties of, and their uses in medicine, iii, 63, 64.

Acacia, its medicinal properties, iii, 26.

Acallis, its properties in medicine, iii, 26.

Acanthium, its medicinal properties, iii, 28.

Acanthus, its medicinal properties, iii, 27.

Acarus, its medicinal properties, iii, 29.

Acetabulum, one of the ancient measures. See Measures.

Achates, or Agate, its medicinal powers, iii, 221, 223.

Achores, an eruptive disease of the scalp, i, 346, 348.

Acinus, account of, and its properties as a medicine, iii, 28.

Aconite, symptoms and treatment of poisoning by, ii, 220; its uses in medicine, iii, 29.

Acopa, or Restorative Ointments, on the composition of, iii, 581-9.

Acorns, sometimes used as articles of food by the ancients, i, 137.

Acrochordones, description and general treatment of, ii, 48; surgical treatment of, 276.

Actual cautery, application of, to the head, ii, 248, 250.

Adarce, probably a species of zoophyte, iii, 22; its uses in medicine, ibid.

Adhesion of the eyelids, surgical treatment of, ii, 273, 274.

Ægilops, symptoms and nature of the disease, with general treatment, i, 413, 427; surgical treatment of, ii, 285-8; an article in the Mat. Med., iii, 24.

Ærugo, or Verdigris, nature of, and its uses in medicine, iii, 142.

Æs, or Copper, see Copper.

Æthiopis, its properties as a medicine, iii, 25.

Affusion of cold water, its use in tetanus, i, 404, 406, 407.

Agallochum, its properties as a medicine, iii, 18.

Agaric, its uses in medicine, iii, 19.

Ageratum, its uses in medicine, iii, 20.

Agglutinants, list of used in the treatment of ulcers, ii, 101 et seq.

Agrostis, or Grass, its properties as a medicine, iii, 20.

Airs, on the different kinds of, i, 161.

Alauda, or Lark, its uses in medicine, iii, 190.

Albaras, a term used by the Arabians for Lepra, ii, 21.

Alchemy, the ancient writers on medicine make no allusions to, iii, 17; Firmicus the earliest writer on, ibid.

Alcæa, or Vervain-mallow, its medicinal uses, iii, 33.

Alcyonia, on the varieties of, and their medicinal properties, iii, 33, 34.

Ale, see Zythus.

Alica, a preparation from spelt, nearly the same as chondrus, i, 123.

Alkalies, their use in pneumonia, i, 481; general properties in medicine, iii, 185. See further Lixivial.

Almonds, description of their dietetical properties, i, 136; their uses in medicine, iii, 41.

Alabastrites, account of, and its uses in medicine, iii, 226.

Aloe, varieties of, and their medicinal properties, iii, 34.

Alopecia, see under Hair.

Alphos, description of, ii, 16, &c., 33-5; the Lepra alphoides of modern nosologists, 23.

Alsine, or Chickweed, its medicinal properties, iii, 35.

Alsander, see under Smyrnium.

Althæa, or Marshmallow, its medicinal properties, iii, 32.

Alum, different kinds of, known to the ancients, and their uses, iii, 360, 361.

Alvine discharges, their characters in fevers, i, 222.

Alypon, its medicinal properties, iii, 35.

Alysson, or Madwort, its medicinal properties, iii, 36.

Amaracus, or Marjoram, its uses in medicine, iii, 36.

Amaranth, its medicinal properties, iii, 37.

Amaurosis, symptoms and treatment of, i, 421, 434.

Amber, see under Electrum, Ambergris, and Karabe.

Ambergris, its medicinal properties as given by the Arabians, iii, 426; unknown to the Greeks and Romans, ibid.

Ambrosia, account of its medicinal properties, iii, 27.

Amenorrhœa, treatment of, i, 609-14.

Amethyst, account of the gem, and its medicinal properties, iii, 224.

Amiantus, its uses in medicine, iii, 228.

Aminæan Wine, used in the treatment of lientery, i, 521.

Ammi, or Bishop’s Weed, its medicinal properties, iii, 38.

Ammoniac, description of the different kinds of, and their uses, iii, 38, 39.

Amomum, discussion on the ancient, and its medicinal properties, iii, 42; amomum grana paradisi, known to Ebn Baithar, 436.

Ampeloprasum, its uses in medicine, iii, 40.

Amphisbæna, treatment of persons stung by, ii, 180, 181.

Amphora, see under Weights.

Amputation of the extremities, ii, 409-414.

Amulets, their use in quartans, i, 248; in epilepsy, 378, 381; in gout, 670.

Amurca, or Lees of Oil, its medicinal properties, iii, 39.

Amygdalæ, see Almonds.

Amylum, or Starch, its medicinal uses, iii, 41.

Anabrochismus, description of the operation, ii, 270.

Anacardium, treatment of poisoning by, ii, 242; its uses in medicine, iii, 450.

Anagallis, or Pimpernel, its uses in medicine, iii, 43.

Anagyrus, its medicinal uses, iii, 43.

Anchusæ, or Alkanets, their varieties and medicinal properties, iii, 21.

Anethum, or Dill, its medicinal properties, iii, 46.

Aneurism, surgical treatment of, ii, 312-6.

Angina, see Quinsy.

Angiology, description of the operation, ii, 254-6.

Animals, parts of, used as articles of food, i, 149.

Anisum, or Anise, its uses in medicine, iii, 46.

Ankle, on dislocations at, ii, 506-8.

Anonis, Ononis, or Rest-harrow, its uses in medicine, iii, 47.

Antirrinon, or Snapdragon, its medicinal uses, iii, 47.

Anthrax, or Carbuncle, treatment of the disease, ii, 78, 79; the gem, its uses in medicine, iii, 221, 224.

Anthyllis, its medicinal powers, iii, 46.

Antiades, or Indurated Tonsils, treatment of, ii, 299.

Antimony, account of its medicinal uses, iii, 356.

Anus, on Imperforate, and the treatment thereof, ii, 405; on fistulæ of, and their treatment, 399; general diseases of, i, 600, 605.

Aphace, or Wild Vetch, its medicinal uses, iii, 62.

Aphronitrum, account of it, and its powers in medicine, iii, 62.

Apochyma, or Old Pitch, its medicinal uses, iii, 48.

Apocynum, its deleterious effects, ii, 242. See also Brassica canina.

Apolinose, application of it to fistulæ and hemorrhoids, ii, 401, 403.

Apoplexy, symptoms and treatment of, i, 392.

Appetite, loss of, in fevers, and treatment thereof, i, 311.

Apples, their characters as articles of food, i, 134; their uses in medicine, iii, 250.

Apricot, its characters as an article of food, i, 133.

Arabs, eulogium on the ancient, by Beckmann, iii, 479.

Arabian Stone, account of, and its powers in medicine, iii, 225.

Arbute, its characters in medicine, iii, 184.

Arcion, or Burdock, its medicinal powers, iii, 51.

Arctium, its medicinal powers, iii, 51.

Ardent Fevers, symptoms and treatment of, i, 260 et seq.

Arena, or Sand, its uses in medicine, iii, 38.

Argemone, or Prickly Poppy, its medicinal powers, iii, 49.

Arisarum, or Friar’s Cowl, its uses in medicine, iii, 49.

Aristolochia, or Birthwort, varieties of, and their medicinal powers, iii, 50.

Armeniacum, or Armenium, account of, and its uses, iii, 52.

Arm, on fractures of, and their treatment, ii, 456-64.

Armpits, of fetid smells in the, i, 506.

Arnabo, difficulty of determining what it was, iii, 52.

Arsenic, treatment of poisoning by, ii, 235, 236; kinds known to the ancients, 236; iii, 54; its uses in medicine, iii, 53, 54. See also Sandarach.

Artamita, its virtues in medicine, iii, 457.

Artemisia, or Mugwort, its medicinal powers, iii, 52.

Arteriacs, on the nature and composition of, i, 473.

Arteriotomy, description of the operation, ii, 253.

Arthritis, symptoms and treatment of, i, 657 et seq.

Artichoke, not described by any of the ancients but Columella, i, 114.

Artologani, a species of bread, i, 122.

Arum, a plant resembling the dragon-herb, i, 114.

Arum, or Wakerobin, its medicinal powers, iii, 53.

Asarabacca, its properties as a medicine, iii, 55.

Asclepias, or Swallow-wort, its medicinal powers, iii, 56.

Ascyrron, a species of hypericum, its medicinal uses, iii, 57.

Ash, its virtues as a medicine, iii, 247.

Ashes, nature of the ancient, and their medicinal powers, iii, 372.

Asian Stone, its medicinal powers, iii, 221, 224.

Asp, treatment of persons stung by, ii, 187, &c.; a variety of the common viper, 189.

Aspalathus, its medicinal powers, iii, 57. See Rosewood.

Asparagi, the young shoots of plants, i, 116; uses of asparagus in medicine, iii, 58.

Asphaltos, or Bitumen, its medicinal powers, iii, 60.

Asphodel, or Kingspear, its uses in medicine, iii, 61.

Asplenium, or Spleenwort, its medicinal powers, iii, 58.

Ass, flesh of the wild, sometimes used as an article of food, i, 149.

Aster Atticus, account of, and its virtues in medicine, iii, 59.

Asthma, symptoms and treatment of, i, 475, &c.

Astragalus, or Wild Liquorice, its virtues in medicine, iii, 60.

Astragalus, on dislocations of the bone, ii, 507, 508.

Atheroma, description and general treatment of, ii, 94, 95; surgical treatment of, 311, 312.

Atractylis, or Distaff-thistle, its uses in medicine, iii, 61.

Atramentum sutorium, sometimes used as a poison, ii, 242; account of, and its uses in medicine, iii, 402.

Atriplex, or Orache, its medicinal powers, iii, 61.

Autopyrus, a coarse kind of bread, i, 122.

Azederach, introduced into the practice of medicine by the Arabs, iii, 449.

Baccharis, or Ploughman’s Spikenard, its uses in medicine, iii, 66.

Baldness, treatment of, see under Hair.

Balaustium, or Flower of Pomegranate, its uses in medicine, iii, 66.

Balote, or Base Horehouud, its medicinal uses, iii, 67.

Balsamum, or Balsam-tree, its uses in medicine, iii, 67.

Bamboo-cane, sugar procured from, i, 319. See Sugar.

Barb, the fish, described by Ausonius, i, 161.

Barley, its character as an article of food, i, 123; its medicinal uses, iii, 195.

Basil, as an article of food, i, 115; its virtues in medicine, iii, 423.

Basilisk, treatment of persons stung by, ii, 189 et seq.

Bass, the fish, its characters as an article of food, i, 161.

Bastard Saffron, see Cnicus.

Baths, description of the ancient, i, 67-73; public, of the Romans, 68; mode in which the ancients took them, 68; natural baths or spas, 71.

Batos, or Bramble, its medicinal uses, iii, 68.

Baum, its medicinal uses, iii, 248.

Bay-tree, its uses in medicine, iii, 93, 94.

Bdellium, account of, iii, 70, 439.

Bean, characters of the different varieties of, i, 126; its uses in medicine, iii, 199.

Bear’s Grease, its use in the cure of baldness, i, 342.

Bear’s Breech, see Acanthus.

Beasts, general characters of their flesh as food, i, 145; formed the principal part of man’s food in the heroic age, ibid.

Beccafigo, the ficedula of the Romans, i, 142.

Bee-glue, see Propolis.

Beef, its characters as an article of food, i, 148.

Beet, used as an article of food, i, 112; its uses in medicine, iii, 371.

Behen, dissertation upon, iii, 478.

Benet noctis, see Epinyctis.

Ben-nut, or Nut-ben, its medicinal powers, iii, 65.

Berberis, or Berberry, its introduction into medicine, iii, 438.

Berengemish, or Ozimum Gariofilatum, iii, 477.

Bettonica, or Bettony, on its characters as a medicine, iii, 71.

Bezoar, account of its introduction into medicine, iii, 426.

Bindweed, its medicinal powers, iii, 283.

Bird-lime, see Viscum.

Birthwort, see Aristolochia.

Bishop’s Weed, see Ammi.

Bitumen, see Asphaltos.

Blatta Pistrina, its uses in medicine, iii, 337.

Blitum, or Blite, its properties as a pot-herb, i, 114; its uses in medicine, iii, 72.

Blood, medicinal properties of the various kinds of, iii, 25.

Bones, their medicinal uses, iii, 287.

Borax, or Tincar, account of, iii, 476.

Bothrion, see Ulcers of the Eyes.

Botrys, or Goose-foot, its medicinal uses, iii, 73.

Brain, ancient physiology of the, i, 83; its uses in medicine, iii, 99.

Bramble, see Batos.

Bran, see Crimnon.

Bread, description of the varieties of, known to the ancients, i, 122; prepared with leaven or yeast, 123; its uses in medicine, iii, 55.

Breasts, on the diseases of, i, 504; male, morbidly resembling female, ii, 336.

Brine, see Muria.

Britannica, account of, and its uses in medicine, iii, 77, 78.

Brocoli, its dietetical characters according to Rhases, i, 113.

Bronchocele, surgical treatment of, ii, 316.

Bronchotomy, said to have been performed by Hippocrates in quinsy, i, 166. For a description of the operation, see Laryngotomy.

Broom, its uses in medicine, iii, 351.

Broth, account of its medicinal uses, iii, 126.

Bruised nail, on the treatment of, ii, 415.

Bryon, or Lichen, its medicinal uses, iii, 78.

Bryony, its uses in medicine, iii, 79.

Bubo, nature and treatment of, ii, 71-3.

Bubonocele, general account of, and its treatment, i, 589; surgical treatment of, ii, 377-9.

Bubonium, see Aster Atticus.

Buccellatum, the name of a sort of bread, i, 125.

Buccellatus, a compound purgative medicine, iii, 494.

Buccinæ, their uses in medicine, iii, 170.

Buckthorn-plantain, see Coronopus.

Buckthorn, see Rhamnus.

Bugs, see Cimices.

Buglossum, used as an article of food, i, 115; its medicinal powers, iii, 77.

Bulbi, the esculent, difficult to determine exactly, i, 118; medicinal powers of the esculent and emetic, iii, 73.

Bulimia, or Bulimos, treatment of, in fevers, i, 313.

Bullæ, see Phlyctænæ.

Bull’s-blood, treatment of poisoning by, ii, 230, 231.

Bunium, or Earth-nut, its medicinal powers, iii, 74.

Buphthalmum, or Ox-eye, its medicinal powers, iii, 76.

Buprestis, treatment of poisoning by, ii, 203; its uses in medicine, iii, 74.

Burncow, see Buprestis.

Burns, on the treatment of, ii, 42-5.

Burning, or application of the Cautery to, the eyelids, ii, 265; the armpits, 330; for empyema, 332; over the liver, 335; over the spleen, 336; over the stomach, 336; over the hip-joints, 394.

Bustard, or Otis, a delicious article of food, i, 142.

Butcher’s-broom, its medicinal powers, iii, 94.

Butter, its uses by the ancients in food and medicine, iii, 74-6.

Buzeiden, probably the Orchis morio, iii, 459; its uses in medicine, ibid.

Cabbage, its properties as a pot-herb, i, 113; taken to prevent intoxication, 176; its uses in medicine, iii, 193.

Cacalia, see Cacanus.

Cacanus, account of, and its uses in medicine, iii, 148.

Cachexia, nature and treatment of, i, 568.

Cactos, nature of, and its effects as a poison, ii, 240, 241.

Cadmia, or Calamine, its uses in medicine, iii, 149.

Cæliac affection, symptoms and treatment of, i, 520.

Calais, account of, as a medicine, iii, 228.

Calamagrostis, or Bull-reed, its medicinal powers, iii, 151.

Calaminth, its uses in medicine, iii, 151.

Calamus aromaticus, or Sweet-cane, its medicinal powers, iii, 152.

Calculus, see Lithotomy; general treatment of, i, 541; of the uterus, 632.

Callus, treatment of redundant, in fractures, ii, 476; of distortion from, 477; on bones which have not united for want of, 477.

Camphora, its characters as given by the Arabians, iii, 427.

Canals, nature of these surgical instruments, ii, 471.

Cancers, symptoms and general treatment of, ii, 79-83; surgical treatment of, ii, 334-336.

Canine appetite, in fevers, treatment of, i, 314.

Canker-worms of Pines, their uses in medicine, iii, 302.

Cannabis, or Hemp, its uses in medicine, iii, 155.

Canopum, or Elder, see under Elder.

Cantharis, treatment of poisoning by, ii, 201 et seq; uses of in medicine, iii, 153.

Caparis, or Caper-tree, its uses in medicine, iii, 155.

Carbuncle of the eyelids, treatment of, i, 419, 432; general nature and treatment of, ii, 75, 79; the gem scarcely used as a medicine, iii, 224.

Carcinoma, of the eyelids, i, 419, 432.

Cardamom, its medicinal properties, iii, 157.

Cardiac disease, account of from Celsus, C. Aurelianus, and Aretæus, i, 292 et seq.

Carline Thistle, its characters as an article of food, i, 113.

Carobs, or Siliquæ, an inferior article of food, i, 137.

Carious Wood, its uses in medicine, iii, 326.

Carpesia, treatment of poisoning by, ii, 218.

Carpesium, falsely taken for cubebs, its uses in medicine, iii, 159.

Carrot, or Staphylinus, its characters as an article of food, i, 118.

Cartilaginous fishes, their characters as articles of food, i, 169 et seq.

Carum, or Caraway, its virtues as a medicine, iii, 158.

Carus, symptoms and treatment of the disease, i, 372.

Caryophyllon, or Cloves, its properties as a medicine, iii, 160.

Cassamum, the fruit of the Balsam-tree, iii, 161.

Cassia, its virtues as a medicine, iii, 161.

Cassia fistula, its medicinal characters as given by the Arabians, iii, 429-31; of the Greeks a very different substance, iii, 161.

Cassia lignea, same as the Cassia bark of the moderns, iii, 161.

Castor, supposed by the ancient authorities the testicles of the beaver, iii, 162; its characters as a medicine, 163.

Castor-oil Plant, its characters as a medicine, iii, 170, 171. See Ricinus.

Castration, description of the operation, iii, 379.

Catalepsy, symptoms and treatment of, i, 369, &c.

Cataphora, treatment of in fevers, i, 301.

Cataract, surgical treatment of, ii, 280-5.

Caterpillar, or Eruca, its properties as a medicine, iii, 153.

Catarrh, symptoms and treatment of, i, 469.

Caucalis, or Wild Carrot, its uses in medicine, iii, 163.

Cauda pudendi, symptoms and treatment of the disease, ii, 381-382.

Causus, see Ardent Fevers.

Catheterism, description of the operation, ii, 351.

Cedrus, or Juniper, its medicinal uses, iii, 164.

Celandine, or Chelidonium, its uses in medicine, iii, 412.

Cenchrinus, treatment of persons stung by, ii, 186.

Centaury, its uses in medicine, iii, 165.

Cepæa, its uses in medicine, iii, 169.

Cephalalgia, symptoms and treatment of, i, 350.

Cephalæa, symptoms and treatment of, i, 355.

Cera, or Wax, its uses in medicine, iii, 169.

Cerastes, a variety of the Egyptian viper, ii, 189; treatment of persons stung by, 187-9.

Cerasia, or Cherries, history of, as an article of food, i, 132, 133; their uses in medicine, iii, 167.

Ceratonia, see Carob-tree.

Ceruse, treatment of poisoning by, ii, 234; nature of, 235; its characters as a medicine, iii, 420.

Cetacea, or Large Fishes, account of, i, 170.

Ceterach, see Asplenium.

Chalazia of the eyelid, surgical treatment of, ii, 275.

Chalcanthos, disquisition on, iii, 402. See Atramentum sutorium.

Chalcitis, disquisition on the nature of, iii, 399-401.

Chamæleon, treatment of poisoning by, ii, 208; its characters as a medicine, iii, 407.

Chamædrops, its characters as a medicine, iii, 410.

Chamædrys, or Germander, its uses in medicine, iii, 406.

Chamæleuce, or Ground Poplar, its uses in medicine, iii, 407.

Chamæmelum, or Chamomile, its uses in medicine, iii, 408.

Chamæpitys, or Ground Pine, its virtues in medicine, iii, 409.

Chamæsyce, or Ground Fig, its virtues in medicine, iii, 410.

Chamelæa, its characters in medicine, iii, 410, 412. See Mezereon.

Characters for the different weights and measures, iii, 626-28.

Chaste-tree, see Vitex.

Cheese, varieties of, and their characters in dietetics, i, 155, 156; its uses in medicine, iii, 382.

Chemosis, symptoms and treatment of, i, 412, 425.

Cherry, see Cerasion.

Chesnuts, their characters as articles of food, i, 138.

Chickweed, see Alsine.

Chickpea, see Cicer.

Chilblains, treatment of, i, 676.

Chironian Ulcers, symptoms and treatment of, ii, 114.

Cholagogues, nature of, and list according to Mesue, iii, 489; to Margravius, 490.

Cholera, symptoms and treatment of, i, 515 et seq.

Chondrile, or Gum Succory, its characters as a medicine, iii, 414.

Chondrus or Farro, is a sort of shelled grain prepared from spelt, i, 123; used as a medicine, iii, 415.

Cicada or Tree-hopper, its uses in medicine, iii, 390.

Cicatrices of the eyes, treatment of, i, 418; treatment of black, ii, 118.

Cicer, or Chickpea, its uses as a medicine, iii, 112.

Cichorium, or Succory, its medicinal powers, iii, 176.

Cider, ancients well acquainted with the preparation of, i, 134.

Cimices, or Bugs, their medicinal powers, iii, 188.

Cinara, difficulty of determining what it was, i, 113.

Cinnabaris or Sanguis Draconis, its uses in medicine, iii, 171.

Cinnamon, its medicinal powers, iii, 172.

Cinquefoil, see Quinquefolium.

Circæa, or Enchanter’s Nightshade, its medicinal powers, iii, 173.

Circumcision, description of the operation, ii, 349, 350.

Circocele, surgical treatment of, ii, 370, 372.

Cistus or Rock-rose, its virtues as a medicine, iii, 174.

Citron, its characters as an article of food, i, 137.

Clavus, or Corns, on the treatment of, i, 678; of the feet, treatment of, ii, 416, 417.

Clavicle, on fractures of, ii, 447, 450; on dislocations of, ii, 482, 484.

Clematis, or Virgin’s Bower, its medicinal uses, iii, 177.

Clinopodium or Field-basil, its medicinal uses, iii, 178.

Clitoris, surgical treatment of enlarged, ii, 381, 382.

Clysters, description of the ancient, i, 57.

Cnicus, or Bastard Saffron, its powers as a medicine, iii, 178; used as an antidote to poisons, ibid.; its general uses in medicine, iii, 175.

Coagulated Milk, treatment of poisoning by, ii, 231.

Cocoa-nut, its characters as a medicine, iii, 438.

Cochleæ, or White Snails, esteemed as a delicacy by the Romans, i, 168; uses of, in medicine, iii, 192.

Cockle, see Ægilops.

Coeloma, see Ulcers.

Cold, treatment of persons injured by, i, 49.

Collyria, varieties of, and their composition, iii, 548, 558.

Colic, symptoms and treatment of, i, 531, &c.

Coltsfoot, its medicinal uses, iii, 72.

Colocynth, description of, and its uses in medicine, iii, 183.

Comfrey, see Symphytum.

Conchylia, their uses in medicine, iii, 178.

Condisi, poisonous substance treated of by the Arabians, ii, 242.

Condyloma of the Uterus, treatment of, iii, 382, 383; of the anus, treatment of, 405.

Congius, see Weights.

Contagion, history of ancient opinions on, i, 284, 288.

Continued or Synochous Fevers, symptoms and treatment of, i, 256.

Contusion of the Ears, treatment of, i, 440, 445.

Conyza, or Fleabane, its medicinal uses, iii, 185.

Copper, the ancient varieties of, and their uses in medicine, iii, 404, 406.

Copperas, see under Chalcanthos.

Corallium, or Coral, its medicinal uses, iii, 187.

Cordial Medicines, Arabian doctrines regarding the nature of, iii, 473.

Coriander, its medicinal properties, iii, 189.

Coris, its uses in medicine, iii, 189.

Cork, its uses in medicine, iii, 393.

Cornus, or Cornel, its medicinal uses, iii, 193.

Corns, see Clavus.

Coronopodium, probably the same as the Coronopus, i, 670; its purgative powers, iii, 495.

Coronopus, or Buckthorn-plantain, its characters as a medicine, iii, 190.

Cos, or Whetstone, account of, iii, 227.

Cosmetics of the ancients, see under Hair.

Costus, account of, and its properties in medicine, iii, 190, 192.

Cotton, the Horon, or Bombax of the Arabians, iii, 464, 465.

Cotton-thistle, see Acanthium.

Cotyledon, or Navel-wort, its uses in medicine, iii, 192.

Cough, treatment of, i, 309, 470, &c.

Counter-fissure, ancient opinions regarding, ii, 440.

Crab, its uses in medicine, iii, 158.

Crab-tree, see Epimelis.

Crane, a nutritious but indigestible article of food, i, 143.

Crane-bill, see Geranium.

Cratæogonon, its medicinal uses, iii, 194.

Cress, used as a seasoner by the ancient Persians, i, 114.

Crimnon, or Bran, its medicinal uses, iii, 196.

Crises in Fevers, account of, i, 198, &c.

Critical Days, ancient opinions regarding, i, 190, &c.

Crithmon, or Samphire, its uses in medicine, iii, 195.

Crocodiles, treatment of persons bitten by, ii, 193.

Crocodilium, its medicinal uses, iii, 197.

Crocomagma, composition of, iii, 531, 593.

Crustacea, their characters as articles of food, i, 170.

Crocus, or Saffron, its uses in medicine, iii, 198.

Cubebs, introduced into medicine by the Arabians, iii, 463.

Cucumber, its characters as an article of food, i, 128, 129; its uses in medicine, iii, 335.

Cucurbita, see Gourd.

Cudweed, see Gnaphalium.

Culeus, see Weights.

Cumin, its uses in medicine, iii, 203.

Cupping, ancient modes of performing, iii, 326, 330.

Curds and Whey, the Schiston of the ancients, i, 155.

Cuttle-fish, see under Sepia.

Cyanus, account of, and its medicinal uses, iii, 200.

Cyathus, see under Weights.

Cynanche, see under Quinsy.

Cyperus, its uses in medicine, iii, 204.

Cyphi, composition of, iii, 599, 600.

Cypress, its uses in medicine, iii, 204.

Cytisus, its medicinal uses, iii, 206.

Daffodil, or Narcissus, its medicinal uses, iii, 266.

Damascenes, their characters in dietetics, i, 136.

Darnel, its medicinal virtues, iii, 26.

Date, used in various ways as an article of food, i, 135; wine prepared from, ibid.

Daucus, see Carrot.

Defluxion on the Eyes, treatment of, i, 411.

Deliquium Animi, treatment of, in fevers, i, 327; distinction between it and syncope, 328.

Delirium Tremens, case of, related by Hippocrates, i, 407.

Demoniacs, what the persons so designated in Scripture probably were, i, 383.

Dende of the Arabians, either the lignum colabrinum or croton tiglium, iii, 448.

Dentifrices, list of, and their uses, i, 455.

Depilatories, composition of, and their uses, i, 342, 588.

Dessert, or Mensa secunda, articles served at the, i, 131.

Diabetes, symptoms and treatment of, i, 547.

Diarrhœa, general treatment of, i, 520; colliquative in fevers, i, 298, 299.

Dictamnus, or Dittany, its uses in medicine, iii, 95.

Dietetics, ancient authorities on, i, 107.

Diets, or Meals, of the ancients, i, 108.

Difficult Labour, treatment of, i, 646 et seq.

Dill, see Anethum.

DIOCLES, epistle of, to Antigonus, i, 183; remarks on, 186.

Diospolites, composition of, iii, 519.

Diphryges, or Husk of Brass, its uses in medicine, iii, 95.

Dipsacus, or Teasel, its medicinal powers, iii, 95.

Disorder of the Eye, treatment of, i, 423.

Distaff-thistle, see Atractylis.

Dislocations, see Luxations.

Dittany, see Dictamnus.

Diudar, an Indian pine described by the Arabians, iii, 450, 451.

Diuretics, officinal, for persons in health, i, 54.

Dock, or Rumex, noticed as an article of food, i, 115. See Lapathum.

Dogsbane, or Brassica canina, its medicinal properties, iii, 48.

Dog-rose, or Hip-tree, its uses in medicine, iii, 203.

Dorcas, the Gazelle, its flesh reckoned wholesome and delicious, i, 148; pulse named from, i, 212, 216, 221.

Dorycnium, modern opinions regarding, ii, 225; its medicinal uses, iii, 96.

Dracunculus, or Dragon-herb, its characters as a pot-herb, i, 114; its medicinal virtues, iii, 97.

Drachm, see Weights.

Dropaces, or Calefacient Plasters, composition of, iii, 581, 587.

Dropsy, treatment of, i, 569 et seq.; surgical treatment of, see Paracentesis.

Dross of Silver, its uses in medicine, iii, 106.

Dryinus, treatment of persons stung by, ii, 181, 182.

Dryopteris, or Oak-fern, its medicinal virtues, iii, 97.

Duck, its characters as an article of food, i, 143.

Duella, see Weights.

Dung, its uses in medicine, iii, 186.

Dyspepsia, symptoms and treatment of, i, 513, &c.

Dysentery, symptoms and treatment of, i, 505, &c.

Dysuria, treatment of, i, 517.

Ear, on the diseases of, i, 437 et seq.

Eagle-stone, or Ætites, its uses in medicine, iii, 227.

Earths, the medicinal, of the ancients, iii, 83, 85.

Earthworms, the uses of, in medicine, iii, 85.

Ebeny, its medicinal powers, iii, 98, 99.

Ecchymosis, treatment of, ii, 87.

Echidna, treatment of persons stung by, ii, 177-180.

Echinos, different kinds of, and their uses in medicine, iii, 121.

Echium, or Viper’s Bugloss, its medicinal properties, iii, 122.

Ecpiesmus, a disease of the eye, treatment of, i, 422, 436.

Ectropion, symptoms and general treatment of, i, 413, 427; surgical treatment of, ii, 427.

Eel, its characters as an article of food, i, 160.

Eggs, their characters as given by the dietetical authorities, i, 144; how the ancients preserved them, ibid.; their uses in medicine, iii, 422.

Elaphoboscus, its medicinal powers, iii, 104.

Elaterium, treatment of poisoning by, ii, 239, 240; its medicinal powers, iii, 102, 103.

Elatine, or Toadflax, its medicinal powers, iii, 104.

Elbow, on dislocations at the, ii, 489-492.

Elder, two species of, and their uses in medicine, iii, 30.

Elæomeli, nature of, and its uses in medicine, iii, 102.

Electrum, or Amber, its medicinal uses, iii, 129.

Elecampane, its uses in medicine, iii, 105.

Elephant, use of its hoofs in medicine, iii, 106.

Elephantiasis, symptoms and treatment of, ii, 1-14; probably the original of syphilis, 14; still prevalent in certain countries, 15.

Elechrysum, or Shrubby Everlasting, its uses in medicine, iii, 109.

Elm, its medicinal powers, iii, 312.

Emaciation, on the treatment of, i, 82-84.

Embryotomy, or Embryulcia, description of the operation, ii, 387-392.

Emery, description of, and its uses in medicine, iii, 226.

Emetics, on the administration of, iii, 503-510.

Emmenagogues, account of, i, 612, &c. See Menstrual Discharge.

Emphysema, symptoms and treatment of, ii, 84, 86; of the eyes, i, 412, 426.

Empetrum, or Black-berried Heath, its uses in medicine, iii, 100.

Emplastic medicines, description of, iii, 7.

Encanthis, symptoms and treatment of, i, 430, &c.; surgical treatment of, ii, 276.

Endive, its characters as an article of food, ii, 113; its uses in medicine, iii, 319.

Enterocele, description and general treatment of, i, 589; surgical treatment of, ii, 372, 377.

Ephemeral Fevers, symptoms and treatment of, i, 225, 235.

Ephemeron, treatment of poisoning by, ii, 222; same as the colchicum and hermodactylus; its medicinal powers, iii, 119.

Epidemic diseases, account of, i, 273, &c.

Epimedium, or Barrenwort, its uses in medicine, iii, 111.

Epimelis, or Crab-tree, its medicinal uses, iii, 112.

Epinyctis, symptoms and treatment of the disease, ii, 39, 40.

Epistaxis, general treatment of, i, 457; in fevers, treatment of, i, 325.

Epipactis, or Bastard Hellebore, its uses in medicine, iii, 112.

Epithymum, or Dodder of Thyme, its uses in medicine, iii, 111.

Epulis, surgical treatment of, ii, 294.

Erica, see Heath.

Erinos, or Water-basil, its medicinal powers, iii, 114.

Eruca, or Rocket, its virtues in medicine, iii, 118.

Eryngo, its medicinal uses, iii, 132.

Erysipelas, symptoms and treatment of, ii, 65-70; on the use of liquid applications for, 70; of the brain, i, 365; of the anus, i, 602.

Erysipelatous Fevers, on the treatment of, i, 269 et seq.

Erysimum, or Hedge-mustard, its medicinal uses, iii, 117.

Erythrodanum, or Madder, its medicinal uses, iii, 116.

Euphorbium, treatment of poisoning by, ii, 241; its uses in medicine, iii, 119.

Eupatorium, doubts respecting, and its uses in medicine, iii, 118.

Exanthemata of the head, and treatment of, i, 345; symptoms and treatment of, ii, 37-39.

Excoriations, treatment of, ii, 47.

Exercises, description of those used by the ancients, i, 20-27.

Exomphalos, or Umbilical Hernia, treatment of, ii, 340-342.

Eye, on the general diseases of, i, 409 et seq.

Face, on the affections of, i, 452.

Facies Hippocratica, description of, i, 190, 191.

Fagara or Fagre, a medicinal substance described by the Arabians, iii, 456.

Far, or Spelt, its dietetical characters, i, 123; its virtues in medicine, iii, 123.

Farro, see Chondrus.

Fats, their uses in medicine, iii, 354, 355.

Faufel, an Arabic medicine, probably areca catechu, iii, 454.

Favi, nature and treatment of, ii, 97-99.

Fel, an Arabic medicine not well understood, iii, 448.

Female Flux, symptoms and treatment of, i, 617 et seq.

Fennel, its uses in medicine, iii, 242.

Fennel, Giant, its uses in medicine, iii, 265.

Fenugreek, its medicinal powers, iii, 373.

Fermentum, or Leaven, its uses in medicine, iii, 126.

Fern, its uses in medicine, iii, 312.

Fevers, symptoms and treatment of, i, 187-335; ancient authorities upon, 187.

Fici, symptoms and treatment of, i, 347.

Field-basil, see Clinopodium.

Fig, its characters as an article of food, i, 129, 132; green figs, their medicinal uses, iii, 272; ripe figs, 362, 363.

Filix, or Female Fern, its uses in medicine, iii, 136.

Fingers, surgical treatment of preternatural, ii, 331.

Fir-tree, its medicinal powers, iii, 103, 104.

Fistula, general treatment of, ii, 129, &c.; surgical treatment of, 396-399.

Fistula Lachrymalis, see Ægilops.

Fishes, their characters as articles of food, i, 157 et seq.

Fissures of the uterus, i, 645, &c.; of the feet, 176; of the anus, ii, 405.

Flamingo, its tongue reckoned a great delicacy, i, 143.

Fleawort, treatment of poisoning by, ii, 211.

Foot, on the fractures at the, ii, 470.

Forceps, in midwifery known to Avicenna, i, 650; one found in the house of an obstetrix at Pompei, 652.

Fowls, account of as articles of food, i, 139, &c.

Fox, see Vulpes.

Fractures, account of, and their differences, ii, 427-478; of the skull, 429; complicated with a wound, 472.

Frankincense, its medicinal uses, iii, 217.

Freckles on the face, remedies for, i, 452.

Friar’s Cowl, see Arisarum.

Friction, the preparatory described, i, 19; different kinds of, 28.

Frog, not used as an article of food by the ancients, i, 166 (misspelt rog); uses in medicine, see Rana.

Fructus horæi, or Summer Fruits, their characters, i, 128.

Frumentacea, their characters as articles of food, i, 120, &c.

Fucus marinus, or Sea-weed, its uses in medicine, iii, 397.

Fuligo, or Soot, its medicinal powers, iii, 56.

Fumaria, or Fumitory, its medicinal uses, iii, 159.

Furunculus, symptoms and treatment of, ii, 73-75.

Gagate, or Jet, used as a test of epilepsy, i, 380; its virtues in medicine, iii, 225.

Galactites, account of, and its medicinal powers, iii, 222.

Galangal, or Galanga, account of its introduction into medicine, iii, 433.

Galbanum, its uses in medicine, iii, 398.

Galiopsis, its medicinal uses, iii, 81.

Galium, its medicinal uses, iii, 80.

Gall, or Bile, its uses in medicine, iii, 413.

Gallæ, or Galls, their medicinal uses, iii, 168.

Gall-stones, noticed by Alexander Trallian, i, 566; by Haly Abbas, and others, 586.

Ganglion, nature and treatment of, ii, 50, 51; surgical treatment of, 317, 318.

Gangrene, or Sphacelus, symptoms and treatment of, ii, 59-61.

Garlic, its uses in medicine, iii, 345.

Gastroraphe, description of the operation, ii, 342-345.

Gazelle, or Dorcas, used for food, i, 148.

Genital organs, on the diseases of, i, 600; Celsus the best authority on, 604.

Gentian, its uses in medicine, iii, 82.

Geodes, account of, iii, 226.

Geranium, or Cranebill, its medicinal uses, iii, 83.

Germander, or Chamædrys, its uses in medicine, iii, 406.

Gilbenee, or Cerbera manghas, its introduction into medicine, iii, 467.

Gilt-head, its characters as an article of food, i, 165.

Ginger, see Zingiber.

Gingidium, or Toothpick Fennel, used as a pot-herb, i, 113; its medicinal uses, iii, 86.

Gith, or Nigella, its uses in medicine, iii, 245.

Glass, account of the ancient, and its uses in medicine, iii, 383, 384.

Glaucium, or Horned Poppy, its medicinal uses, iii, 87.

Glaucoma, account of the disease, i, 421-434.

Glaux, or Milkwort, its medicinal uses, iii, 87.

Gluten, or Glue, its uses in medicine, iii, 181.

Glycyrrhiza, or Liquorice, its medicinal uses, iii, 88.

Gnaphalium, or Cudweed, its medicinal powers, iii, 89.

Goat’s-flesh, its characters as an article of food, i, 148.

Goat’s-horn, its uses in medicine, iii, 166.

Godwit, probably the attagen of the ancients, i, 140; much sought after as an article of food, ibid.

Gongylis, or Turnip, its medicinal uses, iii, 90. See Turnip.

Gonorrhœa, symptoms and treatment of, i, 593.

Goose, characters of as an article of food, i, 143.

Goose-foot, see Botrys.

Gordylium, see Tordylium.

Gourd, use of as an article of food, i, 127, 128; its medicinal uses, iii, 182.

Gout, varieties and treatment of, i, 657-676.

Gramen, or Grass, see Agrostis.

Granum Gnidium, account of, and its uses in medicine, iii, 179.

Granum tinctorum, iii, 180.

Granum Kelkel, iii, 466.

Grape, account of its qualities as an article of food, i, 132.

Grape-stones, their uses in medicine, iii, 86.

Gromwel, see Lithospermum.

Ground-ivy, or Chamæcissos, its uses in medicine, iii, 407.

Ground-poplar, or Chamæleuce, its uses in medicine, iii, 407.

Groundsel, see Senecio.

Gudgeon, used as an article of food, i, 163.

Gum, its medicinal powers, iii, 184.

Gypsum, or Mineral White, treatment of poisoning by, ii, 233; modern writers on toxicology have overlooked, 234; its characters as a medicine, iii, 91.

Gyris, or Pollen, its medicinal powers, iii, 91.

Hæmatite, or Bloodstone, its use in hæmoptysis, i, 489; its general uses in medicine, iii, 200, 222.

Hæmatemesis, described by Actuarius, i, 515.

Hæmorrhus, on the treatment of persons stung by, ii, 183-185; a variety of the viper, 185.

Hager Albuzedi, an Arabian medicine, iii, 476.

Hager Alcazaha, an Arabian medicine, iii, 477.

Hager Salachil, or Lapis corneolus, account of, iii, 476.

Haggis, see Isicia.

Hair, on the diseases of, i, 337, &c.; compositions for dyeing, 342; hair and nails said to grow after death, 345; its uses in medicine, iii, 380.

Hake, the fish, noticed by several ancient writers, i, 165.

Halimus, or Sea-purslane, used as an article of food, i, 113; its uses in medicine, iii, 32.

Hand and Fingers, on fractures of the bones of, ii, 465, 466.

Hare, characters of as an article of food, i, 149.

Hartshorn, its uses in medicine, iii, 166.

Heads, their medicinal uses, iii, 167.

Headache, treatment of in fevers, ii, 301; general treatment of, 350.

Heart, temperaments and physiology of, i, 94 et seq.; on the affections of, 501.

Hearing, difficult, treatment of, i, 440.

Heath, its medicinal powers, i, 113.

Hectic Fevers, symptoms and treatment of, i, 266, &c.

Hedera, or Ivy, its uses in medicine, iii, 175.

Hedge-mustard, see Erysimum.

Hedychroum, on the composition of, iii, 510.

Hellebore, the White and the Black, on poisoning by the White, ii, 239; their uses in medicine, iii, 107; modes of administering the White, 503 et seq.; Bastard, see Epipactis.

Heliotropium, or Sunflower, its medicinal uses, iii, 128.

Hemlock, treatment of poisoning by, ii, 211, &c.; effects of in the case of Socrates, 212; its uses in medicine, iii, 206.

Hemina, see Weights.

Hemerocallis, or Lily of the Valley, its uses in medicine, iii, 131.

Hemicrania, symptoms and treatment of, i, 355, &c.

Hemionitis, or Moonfern, its medicinal uses, iii, 131.

Hemiplegia, see Apoplexy.

Hemorrhage, ancient modes of treating, i, 448, and ii, 127, &c.; from the nose in fevers, i, 326.

Hemorrhoids of the Womb, general treatment of, i, 603; surgical treatment of, ii, 382, 383; of the anus, treatment of, 403.

Henbane, varieties of, and their uses in medicine, iii, 386.

Hepialus, a species of quotidian, i, 251, 252.

Hermodactylus, its use in gout, i, 660, &c.; its uses in medicine, iii, 114; preparation of, 494.

Hermaphrodites, account of, and their treatment, ii, 381.

Hernia, different species of, i, 589, &c.

Herpes, symptoms and treatment of, ii, 61.

Hiccup, treatment of in fevers, i, 321.

Hieræ, on the composition of, iii, 500-3.

Hieracites, description of, and its uses in medicine, iii, 227.

Hip-joint, symptoms and treatment of dislocations at, ii, 498-504; on fractures of its bones, ii, 454, 455.

Hippocampus, its medicinal powers, iii, 143.

Hippolapathum, its uses in medicine, iii, 143.

Hippomarathrum, or Horse-fennel, its uses in medicine, iii, 143.

Hippophaes, its medicinal uses, iii, 144.

Hippopotamus, or Sea-horse, its medicinal uses, iii, 144.

Hipposelinum, or Horse-parsley, its medicinal uses, iii, 144.

Hippuris, or Horse’s-tail, its uses in medicine, iii, 144.

Holostium, its medicinal powers, iii, 274.

Honey, its uses as an article of food, i, 178; its uses in medicine, iii, 246.

Honeysuckle, French, its medicinal powers, iii, 128.

Hops, or humulus lupulus, its medicinal powers, as stated by Mesue, iii, 471.

Hordeolum, or Stye, symptoms and treatment of, i, 414, 427.

Horehound, see Marrubium.

Horon, or Bombax, disquisition on, iii, 471. See also Cotton.

Horned Poppy, see Glaucium.

Husk of Brass, its medicinal uses, iii, 95. See Diphryges.

Hyacinth, the herb, its uses in medicine, iii, 382, 383; the gem, its uses in medicine, 475.

Hydatids, described by Aretæus, Galen, and Rhases, i, 574; by Hippocrates, 564; of the eyelids, operation for the removal of, ii, 271.

Hydragogues, list of, and their action, iii, 492.

Hydrargyrus, see Mercury.

Hydrocephalus, surgical treatment of, ii, 250-253.

Hydromel, account of its uses and modes of preparing, i, 179.

Hydrops uteri, described by Hippocrates, i, 573. See Dropsy.

Hydrocele, description of the operation for, ii, 365-368.

Hydrophobia, history of and modes of treatment, ii, 127 et seq.

Hydropiper, its uses in medicine, iii, 385.

Hydrus, treatment of persons stung by, ii, 185, 186.

Hypecoum, its uses in medicine, iii, 388.

Hypercatharsis, treatment of, iii, 499.

Hypericum, account of, and its uses in medicine, iii, 388.

Hypocistis, its uses in medicine, iii, 389.

Hypoglossum, its uses in medicine, iii, 389.

Hypopia, or Bruised Spots, treatment of, i, 452.

Hypopyon of the eye, general treatment of, i, 417, &c.; surgical treatment of, ii, 279, 280.

Hypospadiæum, or Imperforate Glans, treatment of, ii, 347.

Hypospathismus, description of the operation, ii, 256-258.

Hyposphagma of the eyes, treatment of, i, 412, &c.

Ichthyocolla, its medicinal uses, iii, 148.

Icterus, etymology of the term, i, 582. See Jaundice.

Idæan root, inquiry what it was, and its uses in medicine, iii, 140.

Ignis Persicus, inquiry what disease it was, ii, 70-78.

Ignis sacer, inquiry what disease it was, ii, 68.

Ileus, symptoms and treatment of, i, 539, &c.

Imagination, influence of, in pregnant women, on the fœtus, i, 2, 3.

Imperforate meatus auditorius, treatment of, ii, 288; pudendum, treatment of, 383, 384; anus, treatment of, 405.

Impetigo, term used by Celsus, ii, 19; misapplied by the Arabians, 21, &c.

Impotence, means for removing, i, 46, 599.

Impostors in the profession, account of, ii, 245.

Incubus, symptoms and treatment of, i, 388, &c.

Indigestion, on the treatment of, i, 44.

Infancy, diseases of, i, 10-12.

Infants, on the management of, i, 8 et seq.

Inflammation of the eyes, treatment of, i, 410 et seq.

Inflation of the stomach, symptoms and treatment of, i, 514; of the womb, treatment of, 632.

Ink, description of the ancient, iii, 243-4.

Inspectiones cadaverum, practised by the ancients, i, 503, 567.

Instruments for operations on the skull, ii, 434.

Intemperaments, description and treatment of, i, 101.

Intercurrent pulse, characters of, i, 220.

Intermitting pulse, characters of, ibid.

Intoxication, on the treatment of, i, 43.

Inula, see Elecampane.

Iris, varieties of, and their uses in medicine, iii, 145-6.

Iron, its uses in medicine, iii, 334.

Isatis or Woad, its medicinal uses, iii, 146.

Ischiatic disease, symptoms and treatment of, i, 682, &c.

Isicia, an account of, and their composition, i, 171.

Isinglass-fish, not used as an article of food, i, 162.

Isopyrum or Bogbean, account of, and its virtues in medicine, iii, 146-7.

Ixia, treatment of poisoning by, ii, 221; probably was the Carlina acaulis, ibid.

Jasper, its uses in medicine, iii, 221, 223.

Jaundice, symptoms and treatment of, i, 580.

Jaw, on fractures of the lower, ii, 445, 447; on dislocations of, 479, &c.

Jesemin, probably a species of jasminum, iii, 458.

Judaic Stone, its medicinal powers, iii, 221, 223.

Jujubes, their characters as articles of food, i, 137; are the serica of Galen, ibid.

Juniper, varieties of used in medicine, iii, 50, 164.

Jusculum, or Broth, its medicinal properties, iii, 126.

Kadi, an Arabian medicine, account of, iii, 460.

Karabe, disquisition on the, iii, 453-4; probably not amber as generally supposed, ibid.

Kidneys, on the diseases of the, i, 541, &c.; hemorrhage of, 546, 555; hardness of, 546, 556.

Kingspear, see Asphodelus.

Knapweed, see Stœbe.

Kustberkush, an Arabian medicine; the Tamarix orientalis, iii, 467.

Lactuca, or Lettuce, used in insomnolency by Galen, i, 182, 183; its medicinal uses, iii, 137, 138.

Ladanum, its uses in medicine, iii, 208.

Lagophthalmos, or Hare-eye, treatment of, ii, 266.

Lagopus, its uses in medicine, iii, 208.

Lampsana, or Nipplewort, its medicinal powers, iii, 209.

Lamprey, account of as an article of food, i, 165.

Lana, or Wool, its medicinal uses, iii, 113.

Lapathum, or Dock, its medicinal uses, iii, 210.

Lapis Lazuli, its medicinal uses, iii, 477. See Cyanus.

Lapis Lyncurius, account of, iii, 227.

Lapis Specularis, account of, iii, 351.

Lappa, or Cleavers, its characters as a medicine, iii, 47.

Lark, sometimes used as an article of food, i, 141; its medicinal uses, iii, 193.

Laryngotomy, description of the operation, ii, 303-5.

Lassitude, varieties of, and their treatment, i, 30-6.

Lathyris, a species of spurge, its uses, iii, 209.

Laurus, see Bay-tree.

Laurus Herba, see Butcher’s Broom.

Laxatives to persons in health, i, 54.

Lead, treatment of poisoning by, ii, 237; ancients well acquainted with its deleterious qualities, 237, 238; its uses in medicine, iii, 255.

Leaf, the Malabathrum, or Cassia-leaf, iii, 397.

Leaven, see Fermentum.

Leeches, treatment of persons who have swallowed, ii, 207, &c.; on bleeding by means of, 328, &c.

Leek, see Porrum.

Lees of Wine, their uses in medicine, iii, 380.

Leg, on fractures of the, ii, 469.

Lehibach, probably the Mussaenda frondosa, iii, 467.

Lemon, said to have been noticed by Avicenna, i, 137—statement corrected; described by Ebn Baithar, iii, 472.

Lentes, see Weights.

Lentils, used as articles of food, especially by the Egyptians, i, 126; their uses in medicine, iii, 392.

Lentiscus, or Lentisk, its medicinal uses, iii, 365.

Leontopetalon, or Lion’s Leaf, its uses in medicine, iii, 212.

Lepidium, or Pepperwort, its uses in medicine, iii, 212.

Lepra, or Leprosy, symptoms and treatment of, ii, 16, &c.; term lepra not used by Celsus, 19.

Lethargy, symptoms and treatment of, i, 366, &c.

Leucas, its medicinal powers, iii, 215.

Leucacantha, or White-thorn, its uses in medicine, iii, 214.

Leuce, description of the disease, ii, 31, 32; the snow-white leprosy of the Jews, 32; mixed with elephantiasis, 33.

Leucoma, symptoms and treatment of, i, 418, 431.

Lichen, description of the disease, ii, 24, &c.; tendency to pass into lepra and scabies, 25, 26; described by the Arabians under the term impetigo, 26; tropicus, by what ancient authors described, ibid.

Lichen, the vegetable, its uses in medicine, iii, 211.

Lientery, symptoms and treatment of, i, 520, &c.

Ligature, use of in wounds of arteries, ii, 130.

Lily, its uses in medicine, iii, 196. See under Nymphæa.

Lime, treatment of poisoning by, ii, 235, 236; its uses in medicine, iii, 380.

Limpets, see Tellinæ.

Limonium, or Sea Lavender, its uses in medicine, iii, 211.

Liniments, composition of, iii, 581-7; to the anus and navel, 502, 503; to the mouth and throat, 541, 544.

Linseed, sometimes used as an article of food, i, 127; its characters as a medicine, iii, 230.

Lipyria, account of the fever, iii, 252.

Liquorice, see Glycyrrhiza.

Litharge, treatment of poisoning by, ii, 236, 237; its uses in medicine, iii, 219.

Lithontriptics, ancient views regarding, i, 549 et seq.

Lithospermum, or Gromwel, its characters as a medicine, iii, 229.

Lithotomy, history of ancient opinions on, ii, 354-63.

Liver, physiology of, i, 98; affections of, 560 et seq.; of animals used as an article of food, 151; its properties and uses as a medicine, iii, 131.

Lividity, on the treatment of, i, 39.

Lixivia, or Lyes, account of the ancient, and their uses, iii, 184.

Lizard, its uses in medicine, iii, 328.

Locust, used as an article of food, i, 143; used in medicine, iii, 30.

Lolium, see Darnel.

Lonchitis, or Rough Spleenwort, its uses in medicine, iii, 233.

Looseness of the bowels, treatment of in fevers, i, 324.

Lotus-tree, account of as an article of food, i, 138; the medicinal powers of the herb, iii, 236.

Lovage, its characters as a medicine, iii, 219.

Love, symptoms and treatment of, i, 391.

Lungs, temperaments and physiology of, i, 83 et seq.; their uses in medicine, iii, 304.

Lupine, an inferior article of food, i, 127; its characters as given by Galen, ibid.; its uses in medicine, iii, 136.

Luxations, account of, ii, 478 et seq.; of the lower jaw, 479-82; sometimes fatal, 481, 482; complicated with a wound, 509; a fracture, 510, 511.

Lycanthropia, description of the disease, i, 389; Burton and Mead’s opinions respecting, 390.

Lycium, account of, and its virtues in medicine, iii, 234.

Lychnis, or Campion, its uses in medicine, iii, 235.

Lycopsis, or Hound’s-tongue, its uses in medicine, iii, 234.

Lydian Stone, its uses in medicine, iii, 327.

Lyes, see Lixivia.

Lysimachium, its medicinal powers, iii, 235.

Mace, improperly identified with Macer, iii, 436; its uses in medicine, 436-38.

Macer, conjectures respecting, iii, 237.

Mackerel, account of its qualities from Xenocrates, i, 162.

Mad Dogs, see Hydrophobia.

Madarosis, or Milphosis, treatment of, i, 415, 429.

Madder, see Erythrodanum.

Madwort, see Alysson.

Magnet, ancient opinions regarding the, and its uses in medicine, i, 225.

Mahaleb, what it probably was, iii, 458.

Maiden-hair, its properties as a medicine, iii, 22.

Maimed parts, treatment of, iii, 294.

Malabathrum, account of, and its uses in medicine, iii, 237.

Malingerers, on the detection of, ii, 244.

Mallows, characters as a potherb, i, 112; its uses in medicine, iii, 238.

Mamira, account of, iii, 239.

Mandragora, or Mandrake, treatment of poisoning by, ii, 218, 219; its uses in medicine, iii, 240.

Mania, symptoms and treatment of, i, 383 et seq.

Manna Thuris, description of, i, 451, and iii, 125; account of the different kinds of manna, iii, 443-45.

Margaritæ, or Pearls, their uses in medicine, iii, 473.

Marjoram, see Amaracus.

Marrow, its uses in medicine, iii, 257.

Marrubium, or Horehound, its characters in medicine, iii, 309.

Masticatories, on the composition of, i, 59, 60.

Mastich, its uses in medicine, iii, 423.

Masucha, composition of, iii, 601.

Maudlin, see Ageratum.

Materia Medica, list of ancient authorities upon, iii, 3.

Maza, how prepared, i, 124.

Meadow Rue, see Thalictrum.

Meadow Saffron, see Hermodactylus.

Meals of the ancients, i, 108. See Diets.

Measles, ancient history of, i, 330.

Measures, full account of those used by the ancients, iii, 609-27.

Meatus auditorius, imperforate, ii, 288; extraction of bodies from, 289-91.

Meconium, account of, iii, 250.

Medium, its characters as a medicine, iii, 249.

Medlars, their characters as an article of food, i, 135.

Meisce, or Mes, account of, iii, 464.

Meizaragi, the Cocculus Indicus, its uses in medicine, iii, 460.

Melas, symptoms and treatment of, ii, 16; the Lepra nigricans of Willan, 23, &c.

Melancholy, symptoms and treatment of, i, 380, &c.

Melæna, noticed by Actuarius, i, 515.

Melca, a preparation from milk, i, 155.

Melanogogues, list of, and their action, iii, 491.

Melanteria, account of, and its uses in medicine, iii, 244.

Melilot, its characters as a medicine, iii, 247.

Melititis, or Honey Stone, its uses in medicine, iii, 220, 222.

Meliceris, treatment of, ii, 94, 96.

Melon and Melopepon, account of, i, 129.

Memory, supposed to be connected with the posterior part of the brain, i, 90, 373; on the loss of, and of reason, 372.

Memphites, account of, iii, 228.

Men, on the bite of, ii, 193.

Mentagra, account of the disease, ii, 27.

Mentha, or Mint, its medicinal powers, iii, 127.

Menstrual Discharge, ancient theories regarding, i, 608; retention of, 609 et seq.

Mercury, treatment of poisoning by, ii, 238; knowledge of, possessed by the ancients, 239; its uses in medicine, iii, 385.

Merle, the fish, used as an article of food, i, 164.

Metasyncritica, or Alteratives, account of, i, 353.

Mezereon, see Chamelæa.

Mial, or Storax humida, probably the Liquidambar orientale, iii, 460; its uses in ancient medicine, ibid.

Milk, its characters as an article of food, i, 150 et seq.; methods of preparing and using it, 154 et seq.; characters of good milk in a nurse, and mode of correcting bad, 6, 7; its uses in medicine, iii, 79.

Milkwort, see Glaux.

Millet, its characters as an article of food, i, 124; its uses in medicine, iii, 163.

Millefoil, its medicinal powers, iii, 260.

Millepedes, or Slaters, their medicinal uses, iii, 276.

Misy, account of, and its uses in medicine, iii, 253.

Mole, two species of, in the uterus described, i, 630.

Mollusca, account of the articles belonging to this class, i, 169.

Moly, or Wild Garlic, its uses in medicine, iii, 262.

Moonfern, see Hemionitis.

Morphea, use of the term by the Arabians, ii, 23; by modern authorities, 35.

Morochthus, its medicinal uses, iii, 221, 223.

Mouth, on the diseases of the, i, 454.

Mugwort, see Artemisia.

Mulberry, its characters when used for food, i, 132; its uses in medicine, iii, 256.

Muluchia, or Jews’ Mallow, its virtues, iii, 468.

Murena, much esteemed as an article of food, i, 162; treatment of persons stung by, ii, 191.

Muria, or Brine, its medicinal powers, iii, 34.

Mus Araneus, treatment of persons stung by, ii, 175, 176.

Musa, the Musa paradisiaca, virtues of, iii, 473.

Mushrooms, their properties, as given by the dietetical writers, i, 119; treatment of persons poisoned by, ii, 228 et seq.; kinds of, known to the ancients, ii, 229; their uses in medicine, iii, 250.

Muscles, their uses in medicine, iii, 257.

Musk, its virtues, as stated by the Arabian authorities, iii, 468-70.

Must, account of, i, 177.

Mustard, its characters when used as an article of food, i, 115; its uses in medicine, iii, 263.

Mustela, or Weasel, its uses in medicine, iii, 8.

Mutton, its characters as an article of food, i, 148.

Myagrum, or Gold of Paradise, its uses in medicine, iii, 257.

Mydriasis, or Dilatation of the Pupil, treatment of, i, 133.

Myopia, treatment of, i, 422, 436.

Myrmecia, description and treatment of, ii, 48, 49; surgical treatment of, 417.

Myrobalans, description of, and their uses in medicine, iii, 440-3.

Myrrh, or Myrrhis, its uses in medicine, iii, 260, 261.

Myrrh, or Myrrha, the gum-resin, its uses in medicine, iii, 348.

Myrtle, its uses in medicine, iii, 261.

Nails, on the diseases of the, i, 680 et seq.

Nard, different species of, and their uses, in medicine, iii, 264, &c.

Nasturtium, its uses in medicine, iii, 156.

Nausea, in fevers, on the treatment of, i, 319.

Navel, protrusion of, and its treatment, i, 587.

Nefrin, or Nerfin, probably the Narcissus orientalis, its virtues, iii, 467.

Nerium, or Oleander, poisoning by, ii, 242; its virtues as a medicine, iii, 268.

Nerves, of motion and sensation distinct, i, 398; on wounds of, ii, 133 et seq.

Nettle, noticed as a potherb by Theophrastus, i, 113; its medicinal properties, iii, 27.

Neuras, what it probably was, and its uses in medicine, iii, 267.

Nightmare, see Incubus.

Nightingale, used as an article of food, i, 141.

Nipplewort, see Lampsana.

Nitre, nature of the ancient, and its medicinal powers, iii, 231.

Nitri spuma, description of, iii, 62, 63.

Noises in the ears, treatment of, i, 433, 439.

Nose, on diseases of the, i, 446; on fractures of the, ii, 443.

Nutmeg, see Mace.

Nurse, on the choice of, i, 3, 4.

Nux Henden, or Banden, account of, iii, 463.

Nux Mechil, account of, iii, 463.

Nux Methel, account of, iii, 462.

Nux Vomica, disquisition on, iii, 461.

Nux Juglans and Avellana, their uses in medicine, iii, 159.

Nyctalopia, symptoms and treatment of, i, 420, 433.

Nymphæa, or Water-lily, its uses in medicine, iii, 268, 269.

Oak, medicinal powers of the different kinds of, iii, 98.

Oak-fern, see Dryopteris.

Oats, their character as an article of food, i, 124.

Obesity, on the treatment of, i, 80.

Obolus, see Weights.

Ocimoides, its uses in medicine, iii, 424.

Ocymum, or Basil, not esteemed as a potherb, i, 115.

Œdema, symptoms and treatment of, ii, 83, 84.

Œnanthe, its medicinal powers, iii, 271.

Œnantharia, description of, iii, 598, 599.

Œsypum, or Unscoured Wool, its uses in medicine, iii, 272.

Oils, on the composition of, iii, 589-98; their medicinal powers, 100, &c.

Ointments, composition of, iii, 589-98.

Old age, regimen suitable for, i, 36, 37.

Oleander, its effects as a poison, ii, 242; its uses in medicine, see Nerium.

Olive, greatly esteemed by the ancients, i, 135; its medicinal uses, iii, 99, 100.

Olyra, see Spelt.

Omphacium, or Juice of the Unripe Grape, its uses in medicine, iii, 274.

Onagra, or Tree Primrose, its medicinal uses, iii, 275.

Oneirogmon, symptoms and treatment of, i, 594.

Onion, its dietetical qualities as given by various authorities, i, 118; its medicinal virtues, iii, 199.

Onobrychis, or Cockshead, its uses in medicine, iii, 276.

Ononis, or Restharrow, its medicinal powers, iii, 278.

Onosma, its uses in medicine, iii, 275.

Onyx, what it was, and its uses in medicine, iii, 277.

Operative surgery, ancient writers upon, ii, 247.

Ophthalmy, symptoms and treatment of, i, 409, &c., 423.

Ophites, description of, and its powers in medicine, iii, 226.

Ophiasis, see Hair.

Opium, see Poppy, disquisition on its action, ii, 215; particular account of its uses in medicine, iii, 279-83.

Orache, its characters as a potherb, i, 114.

Orange, not noticed by any ancient author, i, 134—this statement corrected; described by the Arabians, iii, 472.

Orchis, its medicinal properties, iii, 286.

Orobanche, or Holly-rose, its medicinal virtues, iii, 285.

Orpine, see Telephium.

Orthopnœa, see Asthma.

Os Sacrum, on ulceration over, in fevers, i, 329; on fractures of, ii, 455, 456.

Osiris, or Toad-flax, its uses in medicine, iii, 287.

Ostracites, its uses in medicine, iii, 226.

Othonna, or African Marygold, its medicinal uses, iii, 271.

Oxyacantha, its uses in medicine, iii, 279.

Oxygal, a preparation from milk, i, 155.

Oxylipus, a species of bread described by Galen, i, 123.

Oxymel of Julian, composition of, iii, 493.

Oysters, British, highly esteemed, i, 169; their uses in medicine, iii, 288.

Ozæna, symptoms and treatment of, i, 447-50.

Pain, the different kinds of, and their treatment in fevers, i, 296 et seq.

Paleness, how to be remedied, i, 39.

Paliurus, description of, and its uses in medicine, iii, 290.

Palm-tree, characters of its fruit, i, 135.

Palpitation of the heart, nature and treatment of, i, 502.

Panaces, or All-heal, the medicinal uses of its different varieties, iii, 290-92.

Pancratium, or Sea-daffodil, its uses in medicine, iii, 290.

Panchrestos, a collyrium of Erasistratus, i, 413.

Panic, a variety of Millet, which see; its medicinal uses, iii, 110.

Pap, description of, and its uses in medicine, iii, 23.

Papyrus, its uses in medicine, iii, 292.

Paracentesis abdominis, description of, ii, 337.

Paralysis, treatment of, i, 392 et seq.; of the bladder, 548.

Paraphimosis, description and treatment of, ii, 348.

Parget, see Gypsum.

Paronychia, or see Whitlow.

Paronychia, or Whitlow Grass, its uses in medicine, iii, 292.

Parotis, treatment of the disease, i, 441-45.

Parsley, Marsh, its medicinal powers, iii, 106; mountain, 284; stone, 298.

Partridge, its characters as an article of food, i, 140.

Parulis, or Gum-boil, treatment of, i, 455; surgical treatment of, ii, 294.

Pastinaca marina, its uses in medicine, iii, 380.

Patella, on the fractures of, ii, 468.

Pea, characters and varieties of, i, 127.

Peacock, first used as an article of food by Q. Hortensius, i, 141.

Peach, doubtful if the Persica of the ancients, i, 132.

Pear, its character as an article of food, i, 134.

Pear-quinces, or Struthia, uses in medicine, iii, 251.

Pediculi of the head, treatment of, i, 349; of the eyebrows, treatment of, 414, 429.

Pellis, or Skin, its medicinal uses, iii, 94.

Pennyroyal, see Pulegium.

Peplus and Peplium, their medicinal uses, iii, 294.

Pepper, ancient opinions regarding corrected; its uses, iii, 294, 295.

Peppermint, see Lepidium.

Perch, its characters as an article of food, i, 163.

Perfumes, account of, iii, 599, 600.

Periclymenon, its uses in medicine, iii, 296.

Periscyphismus, description of the operation, ii, 259; similar to “the long issue of the scalp,” ibid.

Perry, well known to the ancients, i, 134.

Persica, account of as an article of food, i, 133.

Perspiration, how to render fragrant, i, 38.

Pessaries, description of, iii, 601, 602.

Petroselinon, see Parsley.

Peucedanum, or Hog’s Fennel, its uses in medicine, iii, 298.

Phalangia, or Venomous Spiders, symptoms and treatment of persons stung by, ii, 169, 170.

Phalangites or Spiderwort, its uses in medicine, iii, 393.

Phalaris, its uses in medicine, iii, 393.

Pharicum, treatment of poisoning by, ii, 226; opinions regarding this poison, 227.

Pharynx, treatment of substances fixed in, ii, 302.

Pheasants, characters of their flesh when used for food, i, 141.

Phillyrea, or Mock Privet, its uses in medicine, iii, 394.

PHILO, antidote of, iii, 515.

Phimosis, surgical treatment of, ii, 347.

Phimus of the womb, treatment of, ii, 383, 384.

Phlegm, collections of in the stomach, i, 51.

Phlegmagogues, list of, and their action, iii, 49.

Phlegmon of the brain, treatment of, i, 364.

Phlyctænæ, ii, 41.

Phœnix, the herb and tree, account of, iii, 393.

Phormium, account of, iii, 396.

Phrenitis, symptoms and treatment of, i, 359 et seq.

Phrygian Stone, its medicinal powers, iii, 221, 223.

Phthisis, symptoms and treatment of, i, 493; of the eyes, i, 420.

Phthiriasis, description of the disease, i, 30.

Phyllites, its uses in medicine, iii, 398.

Pica, a disease of pregnancy, i, 2, 3.

Pickled Fishes, account of, i, 171.

Pickles, their uses in medicine, iii, 368.

Picra of Galen, account of, iii, 520.

Pigeon, its characters as an article of food, i, 140.

Pike, the lucius of Ausonius, its characters, iii, 161.

Piles, see Hemorrhoids.

Pimpernel, see Anagallis.

Pine, fruit of, used as an article of food, i, 132; medicinal qualities of the wild, iii, 207.

Pintada, or Guinea-fowl, the Afra avis of Horace, and the meleagris of Ælian, i, 142.

Pistachio-nut, its characters as an article of food, i, 136.

Pitch-tree, its uses in medicine, iii, 299, 300.

Pityusa, its medicinal powers, iii, 303.

Pityocampa, or Pine Caterpillar, treatment of poisoning by, ii, 205.

Pityriasis, symptoms and treatment of, i, 345 et seq.

Placenta, treatment of retention of, ii, 392-94.

Plague, symptoms of, from Ruffus, i, 277; ancient history of the, i, 280 et seq.

Plane-tree, its uses in medicine, iii, 303.

Plantain, or Plantago, its medicinal uses, iii, 52.

Plasters, composition of, iii, 558-76; emollient, composition of, 576-81.

Pleurisy, symptoms and treatment of, i, 496 et seq.

Plumbago, its medicinal powers, iii, 254.

Pneumatic sect, in medicine; Aretæus belonged to the, i, 467.

Pneumatocele, surgical treatment of, ii, 370-2.

Pneumonia, symptoms and treatment of, i, 480.

Poisons, preservatives from, ii, 193; general treatment of, 196 et seq.; catalogue of, 200.

Polenta, a sort of malt prepared from barley, i, 123.

Poley, its uses in medicine, iii, 204.

Polycnemon, its medicinal powers, iii, 307.

Polygalon, or Milkwort, its medicinal powers, iii, 305.

Polygonaton, or Solomon’s Seal, its medicinal powers, iii, 305.

Polygonum, or Knot-grass, its medicinal powers, iii, 306.

Polypody, its medicinal powers, iii, 307.

Polypus, or Sarcoma of the Nose, treatment of, i, 447-9; surgical treatment of, 291-4.

Pomegranate, its characters as given by the dietetical authorities, i, 134.

Pompion, its characters as an article of food, i, 127; its uses in medicine, iii, 195.

Pompholyx, description of, and its uses in medicine, iii, 308.

Pondo, on the meaning of the term, iii, 614, 619.

Poplar, the White, its medicinal uses, iii, 206.

Poppy-juice, treatment of poisoning by, ii, 213 et seq.; poisoning by horned poppy, 226.

Poppies, their uses in medicine, iii, 249.

Pork, greatly esteemed by the ancients as an article of food, i, 147; Arabian authorities prejudiced against, ibid.

Porrum, or Leek, its characters as an article of food, i, 118; as a medicine, iii, 310.

Potamogiton, or Pondweed, its medicinal powers, iii, 309.

Poterrhium, its medicinal powers, iii, 309.

Potherbs, used by the ancients, i, 110-15.

Potions, officinal, on the composition of, iii, 544-7.

Powders, preparations of, iii, 536-41.

Powder of Iollas (misspelt gollas), iii, 541.

Prepuce, treatment of deficiency of the, ii, 346; adhesion to the glans, 349.

Priapism, symptoms and treatment of, i, 597 et seq.

Prickly Poppy, see Argemone.

Privet, its uses in medicine, ii, 205.

Procidentia oculi, symptoms and treatment of, i, 417-30.

Procidentia ani, symptoms and treatment of, 604.

Prognostics, Hippocrates the great master of, i, 190; of fevers, 191 et seq.

Prunus, or Plum, its characters as a medicine, iii, 186.

Pruritus, or Prurigo, description and treatment of, ii, 27 et seq.

Propolis, or Bee-glue, its uses in medicine, iii, 311.

Propoma, account of, iii, 546.

Pseudo-bunium, or Bastard Rape, its uses in medicine, iii, 419.

Pseudo-dictamnus, or Bastard Dittany, its uses in medicine, ibid.

Psora, symptoms and treatment of, ii, 16 et seq.

Psoricum, account of, and its uses in medicine, iii, 421.

Psorophthalmia, symptoms and treatment of, i, 413-26.

Psydracia, description of, i, 345.

Psyllium, on poisoning by, ii, 211; its uses in medicine, iii, 420, 421.

Ptarmica, or Sneezewort, its uses in medicine, iii, 311.

Pterygia of the eyes, symptoms and treatment of, i, 418 et seq.; of the nails, treatment of, 680-3; surgical treatment of, ii, 275.

Ptillosis, symptoms and treatment of, i, 415.

Ptisan, preparation and uses of, i, 123, 124.

Pubes, on fractures of the bones of the, ii, 454.

Pulegium, or Pennyroyal, its medicinal uses, iii, 87.

Pulse, or Legumen, varieties of, and their characters as articles of food, i, 125 et seq.

Pulse, arterial, abstract of Galen’s system of the, i, 202 et seq.

Pumex, or Pumice-stone, its medicinal uses, iii, 173.

Purgatives, simple, account of, iii, 480-93; compound, account of, 493 et seq.; modus operandi of, according to the ancient authorities, 485-88; modern opinions on, 488; management of those who have taken, 497.

Purpuræ, their uses in medicine, iii, 308.

Putrid Fevers, symptoms and treatment of, i, 235-7.

Pycnocomon, its medicinal powers, iii, 313.

Pyrethrum, or Pellitory, its medicinal powers, ibid.

Pyrites, its uses in medicine, iii, 221, 223.

Pyrum, or Pear, characters of the fruit as an article of food, i, 134; its uses in medicine, iii, 48.

Pyrum sylvestre, its uses in medicine, iii, 63.

Quails, characters of their flesh as an article of food, i, 141.

Quartans, symptoms and treatment of, i, 249 et seq.

Quartarius, see Weights.

Quercus, see Oak.

Quince, in great repute as an article of food, i, 134.

Quinquefolium, or Cinquefoil, its uses in medicine, iii, 293.

Quinsy, symptoms and treatment of, i, 464 et seq.

Rabbit, little used by the ancients as an article of food, i, 149.

Radish, its characters as an article of food, i, 118; its characters as a medicine, iii, 315.

Rags, the uses of in medicine, ibid.

Raisins, their uses in medicine, iii, 59.

Râle, remarks on the ancient terms for, i, 482.

Ranæ, see Frogs.

Ranula, symptoms and treatment of, i, 456-61.

Ranunculus, or Crowfoot, its uses in medicine, iii, 69.

Rapum, see Turnip.

Recrementum, or Dross, different kinds of, and their medicinal uses, iii, 347.

Regimen, rules regarding, i, 73-84.

Regius morbus, the same as jaundice, i, 584.

Rell-mouse, the glis of the Romans, used for food, i, 149.

Rennets, the uses of in medicine, iii, 314.

Repletion, nature and treatment of, i, 41, 42.

Resinæ, or Resins, their uses in medicine, iii, 317.

Restharrow, see Onions.

Rhabarbarum, or Rhubarb, account of its introduction into medicine, iii, 478, 479.

Rhacosis of the scrotum, surgical treatment of, ii, 479.

Rhagadia, or Fissures of the Anus, i, 607.

Rhamnus, or Buckthorn, its uses in medicine, iii, 315.

Rhaphanus, see Radish.

Rheum, discussion on the ancient plant; and its uses in medicine, iii, 317.

Rheumatism, see Arthritis.

Rhodomel, purgative medicine from, iii, 493.

Rhus Coriaria, or Sumach, its uses in medicine, iii, 321.

Rhyas, symptoms and treatment of, i, 416.

Ribes, what plant it was, and its characters in medicine, iii, 472.

Ribs, fractures of, and their treatment, ii, 452, 454.

Rice reckoned an astringent article of food, i, 124.

Ricinus, or Palma Christi, its medicinal uses, iii, 170.

Rigors in fevers, treatment of, i, 305, 306.

Rocket, see Eruca.

Rock-rose, see Cistus.

Roe, characters of its flesh as an article of food, i, 149.

Roses, their uses in medicine, iii, 318.

Rosea radix, or Rosewood, its uses in medicine, iii, 319.

Rosemary, its uses in medicine, iii, 216.

Roughness of the tongue in fevers, treatment of, i, 318.

Rupture of the flesh, treatment of, ii, 86.

Ruta, or Rue, its medicinal uses, iii, 300.

Rush, varieties of, and their uses in medicine, iii, 366.

Sabina, or Savin, its uses in medicine, iii, 77.

Saffron, see Crocus.

Sagapen, its medicinal uses, iii, 322.

Sage, or Salvia, its medicinal uses, iii, 104.

Salamander, treatment of poisoning by, ii, 204; its characters in medicine, iii, 323.

Sales, or Salts, their medicinal characters, iii, 31.

Salix, or Willow, its medicinal uses, iii, 147.

Salmon, not noticed by any Greek writer, i, 164; description of, from Ausonius, ibid.

Salts, see Sales.

Salvia, see Sage.

Sambucus, see Elder.

Samphire, or Crethmum, its uses in medicine, iii, 195.

Sampsuchum, its uses in medicine, iii, 324.

Sandal-wood, its uses in medicine, iii, 488.

Sand, see Arena.

Sandarach, or Realgar, treatment of poisoning by, ii, 235, 236; its medicinal uses, iii, 324.

Sandarach, or Gum-vernix, account of, iii, 451.

Sandyx, its uses in medicine, iii, 325.

Sanguis Draconis, see Cinnabaris.

Sapphire of the ancients, what it probably was, iii, 228.

Sarcocele, surgical treatment of, ii, 369.

Sarcocol, its characters in medicine, iii, 327.

Sardonian Herb, what it was, and treatment of poisoning by, ii, 225, 226.

Satyriasis, symptoms and treatment of, i, 596 et seq.

Satyrion, its medicinal uses, iii, 327.

Saxifrage, its uses in medicine, iii, 327.

Scabies, disease not unknown to the ancients, ii, 23.

Scammony, its uses in medicine, iii, 341.

Scapula, on fractures of, ii, 450, 451.

Scandix, or Shepherd’s Needle, in little repute as a potherb, i, 114; its uses in medicine, iii, 342.

Scarus and Sparus, their characters as articles of food, i, 165.

Scirrhus, of the uterus, i, 629; symptoms and general treatment of, ii, 89, 90.

Schœnanth, or Lemon-grass, account of, and its uses in medicine, iii, 366.

Sclerophthalmia, symptoms and treatment of, i, 413, 426.

Scolopendra, treatment of persons stung by, ii, 174; its uses in medicine, iii, 344.

Scolopendrium, its uses in medicine, iii, 344.

Scolymus, used as a potherb, the Scolymus Hispanicus, i, 114; its uses as a medicine, iii, 341.

Scordium, or Water Germander, its uses in medicine, iii, 345.

Scordoprason, or Garlick-leek, its uses in medicine, iii, 346.

Scorpioides, its uses in medicine, iii, 346.

Scorpion, on persons stung by, ii, 171, 172.

Scourges, treatment of persons beaten with, ii, 45.

Scrofula, symptoms and general treatment of, ii, 91-94; surgical treatment of, 309, 310.

Scrupulum, see Weights.

Scurvy, supposed to be alluded to by Hippocrates, i, 579.

Scytala, treatment of persons stung by, ii, 180, 181.

Sea-dragon, treatment of persons stung by, ii, 191.

Sea-hare, treatment of poisoning by, ii, 205.

Sea-scorpion, treatment of persons stung by, ii, 192.

Sea-tortoise, or Turtle, preparation from the blood of, ii, 192.

Seasons, regimen befitting the different, i, 73.

Sea-water, its medicinal uses, i, 133.

Sebesten-plum, its uses in medicine, iii, 258.

Secacul, a species of pastinaca, its virtues in medicine, iii, 459.

Secundines, see Placenta.

Selenite, account of, and its uses in medicine, iii, 229.

Semen, on redundance of, i, 48.

Semi-tertians, symptoms and treatment of, ii, 271.

Sempervivum, or Wall-pepper, its uses in medicine, iii, 23.

Senecio, or Groundsel, its uses in medicine, iii, 132.

Senna, account of its medicinal uses, from the Arabians, iii, 431.

Sepia, or Cuttlefish, its uses in medicine, iii, 331.

Seps, or Chalcidic Lizard, its uses in medicine, iii, 332.

Service, its characters as an article of food, i, 135; its uses in medicine, iii, 270.

Seriphon, what it was, and its virtues in medicine, iii, 329.

Serpyllum, or Wild Thyme, its uses in medicine, iii, 116.

Serran, a fish used as an article of food, i, 164.

Sesame, a heavy article of food, i, 127; its characters in medicine, iii, 331.

Sesamoides, its characters as a medicine, iii, 331.

Seseli, or Hartwort, its medicinal uses, iii, 330.

Sextarius, see Weights.

Sextula, see Weights.

Shad-fish, or Silurus, its uses in medicine, iii, 337.

Shells, their medicinal uses, iii, 288.

Shoulder, on dislocations at the, ii, 484-9.

Sicilicus, see Weights.

Sideritis, or Ironwort, its virtues in medicine, iii, 333.

Sight, on dimness of, i, 40.

Siligo, a variety of the ancient flour, i, 120, 121.

Siliqua, see Weights.

Silk, medicinal virtues attributed to by the Arabians, iii, 474.

Silphium, or Laserwort, account of, and its uses in medicine, iii, 337.

Similago, a variety of the ancient flour, i, 120, 121.

Simples, number of, described by Ebn Baithar, iii, 4; by Avicenna, iii, 5; by Rhases, iii, 5; by Dioscorides, iii, 5; in the Edinburgh Dispensatory, iii, 5.

Sinapisms, account of, and their uses, iii, 582, 588.

Sinuous Ulcers, description of, ii, 119.

Siriasis, a disease of infancy, i, 16.

Sirsen frigidum, the Arabian name for lethargy, i, 369.

Sisarum, or Garden Parsnip, its virtues in medicine, iii, 340.

Sison, or Bastard Stone-parsley, its uses in medicine, iii, 339.

Sisymbrium, its uses in medicine, iii, 340.

Sium, or Water Parsnip, its uses in medicine, iii, 339.

Skink, its uses in medicine, iii, 342.

Skull, fractures of, and their treatment, ii, 429-42.

Sleep, on the philosophy of, and its application to medicine, i, 181.

Slough of a serpent, its medicinal uses, iii, 85.

Smaragdus, or Emerald, little used in the practice of medicine, iii, 229.

Smallpox and Measles, history of ancient opinions upon, i, 320 et seq.

Smilax, see Yew.

Smegmata, nature and varieties of, iii, 540, 541.

Smyrnium, its characters as a potherb, i, 114; its uses in medicine, iii, 349.

Snail, its uses as an article of food, i, 168.

Snap-dragon, see Antirrhinum.

Sneezing, treatment of in fevers, i, 300.

Sneezewort, see Ptarmica.

Soap, account of the ancient, and its uses in medicine, iii, 326.

Soda, an Arabico-barbaric term for cephalæa, i, 355.

Somnolency, see Cataphora.

Sonchus, or Sow-thistle, its uses in medicine, iii, 350.

Soot, see Fuligo.

Sordes balneorum, its uses in medicines, iii, 88; palestræ, its uses in medicine, 322; gymnasiorum, its uses in medicine, ibid.

Sori, disquisition on the nature of, and its uses in medicine, iii, 367.

Sotera, antidote of, iii, 517.

Southernwood, its properties as a medicine, iii, 17.

Sow-bread, its effects as a poison, ii, 242; its medicinal uses, iii, 201.

Sparganium, its uses in medicine, iii, 350.

Spasms, symptoms and treatment of, i, 401.

Specillum, description of the instrument, ii, 273, 402.

Spelt, its characters as an article of food, i, 123; its medicinal uses, iii, 123.

Specularis, account of, and its uses in medicine, iii, 229.

Sphacelus of the Brain, treatment of, i, 315.

Sphondylium, or Sow-parsnip, its medicinal uses, iii, 365.

Spider, treatment of persons stung by the, ii, 171; and Spider’s-web, their uses in medicine, iii, 49.

Spignel, or Meum, its properties as a medicine, iii, 252.

Spikenard, its uses in medicine, iii, 264.

Spina alba, see Thorn.

Spina ventosa, description of the disease, ii, 497.

Spine, see Vertebræ.

Spinach, a wholesome and laxative pot-herb, according to Rhases and Haly Abbas, i, 113; the Greeks and Romans unacquainted with, ibid.; its uses in medicine, iii, 478.

Spitting of blood, symptoms and treatment of, i, 483 et seq.

Spleen, on the diseases of, i, 577.

Spleenwort, see Asplenium.

Spodium, account of, and its uses in medicine, iii, 352.

Sponge, the medicinal uses of, iii, 351.

Spontaneous generation, ancient opinions upon, ii, 145, 149.

Sprains, on the treatment of, ii, 86.

Spurges, variety of, and their uses in medicine, iii, 374.

Sputa, characters of in fevers, i, 228.

Spurge Olive, see Chamelæa.

Squama æris and Squama ferri, their uses in medicine, iii, 213, 214; squama æris resembles æs ustum (misspelt astum), ibid.

Squash, whether or not the melopepon of the ancients, i, 129.

Squill, or Scilla, its medicinal uses, iii, 157; vinegar of squills, 514; oxymel of squills, 515; Galen’s medicine from, ibid.

Stachys, or Base Horehound, its uses in medicine, iii, 354.

Stag, see Roe.

Starch, its characters as an article of food, i, 123; its uses in medicine, see Amylum.

Staphylinus, probably included both the carrot and parsnip, i, 118; its uses in medicine, iii, 353.

Starling, its flesh used as an article of food, i, 140.

Staphyloma, surgical treatment of, ii, 278, 279.

Steatoma, general treatment of, ii, 94-96; surgical treatment of, 311, 312.

Stellio, symptoms and treatment of poisoning by, ii, 175; its properties as a medicine, iii, 56.

Stercus, see Dung.

Sterility, causes and treatment of, i, 641.

Sternutatories, list of, and modes of using, i, 447-51.

Sternum, on fractures of, ii, 451, 452.

Stock Gillyflower, its uses in medicine, iii, 215.

Stœbe, or Knapweed, its uses in medicine, iii, 356.

Stœchas, or Cassidony, its uses in medicine, iii, 357.

Stomach affections, physiology of, i, 90; treatment of, 303, 507 et seq.

Stones, account of those used in medicine by the ancients, iii, 220 et seq.

Stones in sponges, account of, iii, 226.

Storax, its uses in medicine, iii, 362.

Stork, sometimes used as an article of food, i, 143.

Strabismus, or Squinting, treatment of, i, 422-35.

Strawberries, noticed by Virgil and Ovid, i, 138.

Strychnos, or Nightshade, its uses in medicine, iii, 358; varieties of, 359.

Struthium, account of, in medicine and otherwise, iii, 357.

Stucco, see Gypsum.

Sturgeon, its characters as an article of food, i, 165.

Succedanea, list of in medicine, iii, 604 et seq.

Succus Cyrenaicus, Medicus, and Syriacus, nature and uses of, iii, 283.

Succory, its characters as an article of food, i, 112; its uses in medicine, iii, 176, 177.

Sudor, or Sweat, its medicinal uses, iii, 140.

Sudorifics, on the nature of, i, 61.

Suffusion, symptoms and treatment of, i, 420.

Sugar, anciently procured from the bamboo-cane, i, 179; its virtues in medicine, iii, 246, 247.

Sun, treatment of persons injured by the, i, 52.

Sunflower, see Heliotropium.

Sulphur, varieties of, and their uses in medicine, iii, 135, 136.

Suppositories, composition of, i, 58.

Surmullet, its characters as an article of food, i, 162. See Trigla.

Swallows, their uses in medicine, iii, 413.

Swallow-wort, see Asclepias.

Swan sometimes used at the table, i, 143.

Sweat, see Sudor.

Swine’s flesh, see Pork.

Sycamores used as an article of food, i, 137; its uses in medicine, iii, 363.

Symphytum, or Comfrey, its uses in medicine, iii, 364.

Synchysis of the eyes, treatment of, i, 422, 436.

Syncope, treatment of in fevers, i, 288.

Synochous fevers, treatment of, i, 256.

Syphilis probably a modification of elephantiasis, ii, 14.

Tamarinds, their characters in medicine, iii, 439, 440.

Tamarisk, its medicinal uses, iii, 259.

Tar-water, its uses in medicine, iii, 301.

Tastes, definitions of the different kinds of, iii, 6-16.

Taurocolla, its uses in medicine, iii, 369.

Teasel, see Dipsacus.

Tedæ, or Dead Pines, their uses in medicine, iii, 91, 92.

Teeth, preservatives of, i, 39; treatment of diseases of the, i, 454 et seq.; extraction of, ii, 296, 297.

Telephium, or Orpine, its uses in medicine, iii, 373.

Telephian ulcers, description of, ii, 114 et seq.

Tellinæ, or Limpets, uses of in medicine, iii, 369.

Tembul, the piper betel, its uses in medicine, iii, 454, 455.

Temperaments, account of the, i, 84 et seq.

Tench, described by Ausonius, and probably by the Greeks, i, 165.

Tenesmus, symptoms and treatment of, iii, 523 et seq.

Tertian fevers, symptoms and treatment of, ii, 238.

Terminthus, nature and treatment of, ii, 75; a species of ecthyma, ibid.

Testacea, or Shell-fish, i, 166, &c.

Testicle, on the physiology of the, i, 100; of the diseases of the, 591.

Tetanus, account of the symptoms and treatment of, i, 403.

Teucrium, or Tree-germander, its uses in medicine, iii, 371.

Thalictrum, or Meadow-rue, its medicinal uses, iii, 134.

Thapsia, or Deadly Carrot, treatment of poisoning by, ii, 239, 240; its uses in medicine, iii, 134.

THEODORETUS, antidote of, iii, 520.

Therapeutics, the Galenic system of, as given by Aëtius, iii, 6-16.

Theriac trochisks, composition of, iii, 511; salts, composition of, 512; general history of the theriac of Andromachus, 525-28.

Thigh, on the fractures of the, ii, 466, 467.

Thirst, treatment of in fevers, i, 316.

Thorn, White, its uses in medicine, iii, 28.

Thrush, much esteemed by the ancients as an article of food, i, 140.

Thyites, account of, and its uses in medicine, iii, 228.

Thymbra, or Savoury, its uses in medicine, iii, 139.

Thymelæa, or Spurge-flax, its medicinal uses, iii, 139.

Thymi, on the penis, treatment of, ii, 350; womb, treatment of, 382, 383.

Thymus, or Thyme, its uses in medicine, iii, 138.

Tinea, a term used in the Arabian translations, i, 349.

Toad, treatment of poisoning by the, ii, 206.

Tongue-tied, surgical treatment of infants so affected, ii, 297, 298.

Tonsils, on inflammation of the, i, 457, 462; indurated, surgical treatment of, ii, 299.

Toothpick Fennel, see Gingidium.

Tophi, or Chalk-stones, account of, i, 664.

Tordylium, probably a species of seseli, iii, 90, 91.

Torpedo, its application in medicine, i, 359, and iii, 266.

Toxicology, ancient authorities upon, ii, 156.

Toxicum, symptoms and treatment of poisoning by, ii, 227, 228; uncertainty regarding the nature of, ibid.

Trachoma, symptoms and treatment of, i, 414-28.

Tragum, or Stinking St. John’s Wort, its medicinal characters, iii, 377.

Tragoriganum, its uses in medicine, iii, 377.

Tragus, account of, and its uses in medicine, iii, 378.

Travellers, proper regimen for, i, 76.

Tremblings, symptoms and treatment of, i, 407 et seq.

Tribulus, or Caltrops, its medicinal characters, iii, 378.

Trichiasis, description and general treatment of, i, 415, 430; surgical operation for, ii, 259-65.

Trigla, or Surmullet, its uses in medicine, iii, 379.

Tripolium, its uses in medicine, iii, 379.

Trochisks, the composition of, iii, 528-536.

Truffle, its characters as an article of food, i, 119; Romans passionately fond of, 120; its uses in medicine, iii, 385.

Turbot, what species of the rhombus it was, and its dietetical characters, i, 161.

Turnip, varieties of, cultivated by the Romans, i, 117; its dietetical characters, ibid.; its medicinal characters, iii, 90.

Turpentine, its uses in medicine, iii, 369.

Turpeth, one of the medicines introduced by the Arabians, iii, 369.

Turtle, the Land, its dietetical characters, i, 141.

Turtle, or Sea-tortoise, sometimes used as food by the ancients, i, 168.

Tussilago, see Coltsfoot.

Tutia, see under Pompholyx.

Typhus, original meaning of the term, i, 253.

Ulceration, over the os sacrum in fevers, i, 329.

Ulcers, of the eyes, treatment of, i, 416-430; of the ears, 439-43; of the nose, 447-50; of the uterus, 628; list of ancient authorities upon, ii, 99; treatment of, in general, 99 et seq.

Ulna and Radius, on the fractures of the, ii, 464.

Umber, much esteemed as a pickle, i, 164.

Urchin, the Sea, its characters as an article of food, i, 168.

Urine, characters of, i, 224; ancient authorities upon, 225; unpublished MSS upon, 228; incontinence of, 548; its properties in medicine, iii, 289.

Urna, see Weights.

Urtica, see Nettle.

Usnen, probably the Salsola fruticosa, its medicinal uses, iii, 456.

Uterine hemorrhage, treatment of, i, 615 et seq.

Uterine inflammation, treatment of, 620 et seq.

Uterus, ancient descriptions of, i, 623; abscess of the, 623 et seq.; ulcers of the, 625 et seq.; cancers of the, 627 et seq.; scirrhus and scleroma of the, 629 et seq.; mole of the, see Mole; inflation of the, 632; suffocation of the, 633; prolapsus of the, 638 et seq.

Uva of the tonsils, treatment of, ii, 300, 302.

Uvula, on the diseases of the, i, 457.

Valerian, Greek, its uses in medicine, iii, 304; common, its uses in medicine, 396.

Varices, excision of, ii, 406-10.

Vari, on the treatment of, on the face, i, 452, 453.

Venery, on the effects of, i, 44.

Venesection, description of the operation, ii, 318-26.

Venomous animals, preservatives from, ii, 155; treatment of persons stung by, 157.

Venter, or Stomach, uses of the different kinds of, i, 179.

Verbascum, or Petty Mullein, its uses in medicine, iii, 394.

Verdigris, see Ærugo.

Vermes in the ears, treatment of, i, 439-444.

Vermilion, see Granum Tinctorum.

Vertebræ, on fractures of the, and their treatment, ii, 455; on luxations of the, 493.

Vertigo, symptoms and treatment of, i, 374 et seq.

Vertz, disquisition on the nature of, iii, 457.

Vervain, or Verbenum, its uses in medicine, iii, 296.

Vervain Mallow, see Alcæa.

Vetch, varieties of, and characters as an article of food, i, 127.

Vinegar, its uses in medicine, iii, 278.

Vinous tinctures of the ancients, iii, 546, 547.

Violet, its medicinal characters, iii, 142.

Viper, treatment of persons stung by the, ii, 177-80; its uses in medicine, iii, 120.

Viper’s Bugloss, see Echium.

Virgin’s Bower, see Clematis.

Viscum, or Birdlime, its medicinal uses, iii, 141.

Vitex, its properties as a medicine, iii, 20.

Vitis sylvestris, or Wild Vine, its medicinal characters, iii, 40.

Vociferation, description of the ancient mode of performing, i, 29.

Volubilis, account of the different articles described under this name, iii, 470.

Vulpes, or Fox, its uses in medicine, iii, 36.

Wakerobin, see Arum.

Walnuts and Filberts, their dietetical characters, i, 136.

Wall-pepper, its properties as a medicine, iii, 23.

Wasps and Bees, treatment of persons stung by, ii, 168, 169.

Watchfulness, causes and cure of, i, 152; treatment of in fevers, i, 299, 300.

Water, its uses in medicine, iii, 386.

Waters, on the different kinds of, and their qualities, i, 64-7.

Water-basil, see Erinos.

Water-pepper, its uses in medicine, iii, 385.

Water, or Wine, dangerous effects of a large draught of, ii, 243.

Wax, see Cera.

Weapons of war, treatment of wounds inflicted by, ii, 418-27.

Weasel, see Mustela.

Weights, full account of those used by the ancients, iii, 609-27.

Wheat, full account of its dietetical characters, i, 121; its uses in medicine, iii, 314.

Whites, see Female Flux.

Whitlow, on the treatment of, i, 678.

Wild Thyme, see Serpyllum.

Willow, see Salix.

Wine, dietetical characters of, i, 172 et seq.; ancient mode of forcing by heat, 174; of cooling with ice, ibid.; its medicinal uses, iii, 272.

Woad, see Isatis.

Wolfsbane, see Aconite.

Womb of a sow reckoned a delicate article of food, i, 151.

Wool, see Lana; scourings of, used in medicine, iii, 272.

Worms, intestinal, description of, and their treatment, ii, 139 et seq.; list of ancient writers on, 145; earth, in ulcers, treatment of, ii, 107; their uses in medicine, iii, 85.

Wren, recommended in calculus, i, 542.

Wrinkles, how to be treated, i, 37.

Wrist, on dislocations at the, ii, 492, 493.

Xanthium, or Clutburr, its uses in medicine, iii, 269.

Xerophthalmia, symptoms and treatment of, i, 413, 426.

Xiphium, or Bulbous Iris, its uses in medicine, iii, 270.

Xyris, or Wild Cornflag, its uses in medicine, iii, 269.

Yarrow, or Achillea, uses of in medicine, iii, 358.

Yew, treatment of poisoning by, ii, 223, 224.

Zambach, a species of jasminum, first described by the Arabians, iii, 458.

Zeduary, account of, and its uses in medicine, iii, 434, 436.

Zerumbet, see under Zeduary.

Zingiber, or Ginger, uses of in medicine, iii, 123.

Zythus, or Ale, medicinal uses of, iii, 124.

THE END.

C. AND J. ADLARD, PRINTERS, BARTHOLOMEW CLOSE.

Spotted a typo or a problem in this chapter? Tell us