Haly Abbas makes some acute remarks on the action of Cathartics. Every purgative, he says, attracts the humour, to which it is allied. Different opinions, he adds, have been entertained regarding the modus operandi in this case. Some maintain that, when such a medicine is swallowed, it goes to the members where its cognate humour is lodged, from which both are expelled by the expulsive faculty of the part, and return to the bowels together. This theory, however, he rejects. He mentions further that others maintain that the medicine attracts its peculiar fluid, as a magnet does iron; and of this theory he adopts a modification. He states it as his opinion that, when such a medicine has been swallowed, it attracts its cognate fluid from the surrounding parts, to which all the similar fluids in the body are afterwards determined, being conveyed thither by the veins. He gives a full account of all the purgatives known in his time. (Pract. iii, 53, 54.) Much the same theory is advocated, and fully explained by Serapion. (De Antidot. vii, 10.)

Avicenna and Rhases object to the doctrine of Galen that he appears to have maintained that there is a peculiar alliance between a purgative medicine of a certain class and the fluid or humour which it attracts, whereas they argue that, as there is no alliance between the magnet and the iron which it attracts, so is it in like manner with purgatives and the peculiar fluids which they evacuate. This, however, is only a more precise exposition of the theory advanced by Galen. Rhases (Cont. xii, 1); Avicenna (i, 4, 4.) The ancient theory is very acutely stated by Averrhoes (Collig. v, 21.) See also Mesue (Canones universales.) There appears to be some originality in the theory of Mesue. He says that a purgative medicine operates by occasioning a preternatural increase of the vital, or, as it is now called, animal heat of the part to which it is applied, whereby its attractive powers are increased. He maintains very ingeniously that purgation is an act of Nature, that is to say, an operation of the vis medicatrix naturæ, and that the medicine is merely the instrument of Nature in this case, for, he adds (as Hippocrates says), it is Nature, and not the physician, that cures diseases. A purgative medicine, then, he argues, acts by rousing the expulsive power of Nature. He joins the preceding authorities, however, in illustrating the attractive power of purgatives, by comparing it to the property which the magnet has of attracting iron, and amber of attracting straws. Purgative medicines, he says, have the faculty of clearing away the humours from the different parts of the body; from the stomach and intestines they do so readily; from the meseraic veins less easily; still more difficultly from the liver, and with the greatest possible difficulty from the joints, especially when the humours are impacted there. He forbids purgatives to be given in the extremes, either of hot or cold; in this practice observing the rule of Hippocrates. In hot weather, he says, emetics, and not purgatives, are indicated. The directions which he gives for correcting the noxious qualities of purgative medicines are highly important, but they are too lengthy for our limits. Aromatics added to purgatives, he says, dispel flatus; bitters do the same, and strengthen the stomach; saltish things increase their purgative powers; unctuous, by lubricating the intestines, accelerate their operation, and render it easier; and sweet substances render them less nauseous, and diminish their acrimony.

On the ancient arrangement of purgative medicines Dr. Paris makes the following pertinent remark: “It is impossible to concede to the opinion of Dr. Hamilton, that the different species of purgative medicines do not possess distinct powers over the different species of matter to be evacuated; on the contrary, there is reason for reviving the ancient theory, too inconsiderately abandoned, and which acknowledged these different distinctions in the operations of cathartic medicines under the appropriate names of hydragogues, cholagogues, &c.” (Pharmacop.) Dr. Alston likewise writes thus: “We have a very learned essay in confirmation of the ancient doctrine of the specific operation of purgatives by Dr. G. Martyn (Lond. 1740, in 8vo.) I shall not enter into the controversy, but only observe that there is nothing impossible, yea, nor improbable in the theory.” (Lectures.) See a learned dissertation on the action of purgatives in Mangeti ‘Bibliotheca Anatomica,’ i, 159. We may mention further that Dr. Murray in his Materia Medica inclines to the Galenic theory of the specific operation of purgatives. (c. viii.)

On Cholagogues. Most of these medicines are sufficiently well known, and therefore do not require to be treated of at greater length. See also Aëtius (iii) and Oribasius (M. Col. vii.)

The Arabian author Mesue gives the following table of Cholagogues:

It will be perceived that this list contains several articles with which the Greeks were unacquainted, namely, myrobalani, tamarindi, manna, and turbith. Of all these substances we have already given some account in the Appendix to the Third Section. Mesue calls the tamarinds, the fruit of an Indian palm-tree, the word tamur signifying a date. He says, that they are excellent medicines for repressing the acrimony of the humours, purging bile, cooling the heat of the blood; that they prove useful in hot fevers, jaundice, inflammation of the stomach and liver, and that they stop vomiting. He calls them refrigerants and desiccants of the second order. To prevent them from hurting the stomach by their coldness, he recommends to give them with spikenard, mace, mastich, wormwood, fennel, or any such calefacients. Avicenna states their medicinal characters in the same terms. Serapion says, that they are desiccants and refrigerants in the third degree. Averrhoes ranks them among the refrigerants of the third, and desiccants of the second order. We have already mentioned, that the earlier commentators are decidedly of opinion, that the tripolium of the Greeks was turbith, but this is now generally acknowledged to have been a mistake. Mesue calls it the root of a milky herb, having leaves like a ferula, but smaller. Probably, however, as his commentator Manardus remarks, there is some mistake in the comparison of it to the ferula, as there is no resemblance between them. An accurate modern author, Moses Charras, calls it the bark of a milky root, which is chosen by its weight, dark-coloured without, white within, and clear from its pith, which is hard and fibrous. Mesue represents it to be a hot, nauseous purgative. It is given in powder, he says, to the amount of from one to two drachms.

Serapion recommends Cholagogues particularly in jaundice, inflammatory affections of the brain, mania, epilepsy, erysipelas, herpes, and tertian fever. He describes the following medicines as cholagogues: aloes, southernwood, black hellebore, scammony, colocynth, agaric, claterium, two species of mezereon, lathyris, the root of the lily, centaury, polypody, birthwort, myrobalaus (the yellow, the black, and the chebulic), pomegranate, cassia fistula, violet, ivy, and two Arabian substances anabac and alterariabin. We are unable to determine what the last two were.

A modern writer, Christianus Margravius, in his ‘Materia Medica Contracta,’ thus enumerates the cholagogues of his time.

Professor Alpinus gives an accurate account of the ancient cholagogues. (Meth. Med. iii, 9.) The following medicines are said to be used as purgatives by the Hindoos; we give the scientific names as given by Dr. Wise: 1. Convolvulus turpethum. 2. Panicum frumentaceum. 3. Croton polyandrum. 4. Anthericum tuberosum. 5. Abrus precatorius. 6. Cessampelos hexandra. 7. Asclepias geminata. 8. Clotoria ternata. 9. A kind of convolvulus. 10. Shabraba. 11. Cassia fistula. 12. Plumbago zeylanica. 13. Acheranthes aspera. 14. Poa cynosurides. 15. Saccharum spontaneum. 16. Jelaka?. 17. A variety of the convolvulus turpethum. 18. Ramaka. 19. Bignonia suaveolens. 20. Terminalia chebula. 21. Indigofera tinctoria. 22. Ricinus communis. 23. Costus speciosus. 24. Euphorbia. 25. Suptachetta. 26. Calotropis gigantea. 27. Halicacabum cardiospermum. Of these the turbet, myrobalans, and castor oil, are particularly commended. (On Hindoo Medicine.)

On Melanogogues. The other Greek authorities treat of nearly the same number of Melanogogues. They are treated of methodically by Galen, Oribasius, and Aëtius. The Alypias is supposed by Bernard (Nota in Nonni Epit.), and Prosper Alpinus, to have been the turbith; but, as is now maintained, erroneously. See Sprengel’s Notes on Dioscorides (iv, 177) and the preceding Appendix.

The following is Mesue’s list of Melanogogues:

Of these medicines, the only one which we owe to the Arabians is Senna. Mesue, it is true, quotes Galen as an authority on it, but this is most probably a mistake, as no mention of it is now to be traced in any part of his works. Averrhoes, accordingly, ranks it among the newly-discovered medicines. He says, that it is both phlegmagogue and cholagogue. Serapion and Rhases give nearly the same account of it. They state the minimum dose of the powdered leaves at one drachm, and of the decoction at five drachms. Mesue directs us to prepare a vinous tincture by infusing the leaves in musk. He recommends us to correct its nauseousness and unpleasant effects by the addition of ginger, and other cordials. He says that it cleanses the liver and spleen. Actuarius briefly notices it. He says it evacuates bile and phlegm. (Meth. Med. v, 8.) See Appendix. The Arabian authors represent the lapis lazuli to be the same as the lapis armenus of the Greeks. We have stated what we believe to be the truth of the matter in the preceding commentary. Margravius, in his enumeration of melanogogues, makes a distinction between them:

Averrhoes states that the lapis lazuli is the most potent medicine of this class. (Collig. v, 43.)

On Phlegmagogues. Mesue’s list is as follows:

Serapion directs us to administer these medicines to persons of a cold habit, in cold seasons of the year, to those affected with anasarca and apoplexy, in sciatica and hemorrhages. His list is little different from our author’s. Margravius enumerates the phlegmagogues as follows:

On Hydragogues. The hydragogue properties of the elder-tree are commended by Boerhaave and Sydenham. See the section on Dropsy in the Third Book.

There is some difficulty in determining what the cneoros was. We are inclined to think that it was the cassia fistula, the medicinal characters of which, as stated by Mesue among the Arabian, and Prosper Alpinus among the modern, authorities, correspond with the account of cneoros given by our author.

Gum ammoniac is an ingredient of the purgative salt, a receipt for which is given by Apicius. It also enters into the sales purgatorii of Myrepsus. (ii, 9 and 10.) See the commentary on the next Section.

Prosper Alpinus says of the coccum gnidium, or fruit of the thymelæa, that in doses of fifteen grains it is a strong purgative, and evacuates principally serous humours in dropsy. He reckons the squama æris among the drastic purgatives.

Serapion’s account of the hydragogues is nearly the same as our author’s. The following is Margravius’s list of them:

SECT. V.—ON COMPOUND PURGATIVES.

Pills from aloes. Of the medullary part of colocynth, p. j; of the juice of wormwood, p. j; of aloes, p. j; of scammony, p. ij; make with water pills of the size of a chick-pea. The dose xj grains.

The oxymel of Julian. Of rue, oz. iij; of marjoram, oz. iij; of the hair (capillary-leaves?) of thyme, oz. iv; of dill, oz. iss; of iris, oz. j; of the root of mandrake, oz. iss; of agaric, oz. ij; of fatty dead pines, oz. xij; of the granum Cnidium, oz. iv; of lathyrides, oz. iij; of alypias, oz. iij; of polypody, oz. ij; of the cassia-leaf (malabathrum), oz. j; of costus, oz. j; of spikenard, oz. j; of rha Ponticum, oz. iss; of squills, oz. iij; of the tops of the elder-tree, oz. iij; of canopus, which is the bark of elder, oz. iij; of asarabacca, oz. j; of pennyroyal, oz. iij; of dodder of thyme, oz. ij; of hellebore, oz. ij; of sweetflag, oz. ij; of water-parsnip, oz. j; of amomum, oz. j; of St. John’s wort, oz. j; of cumin, oz. j; of anise, oz. ij; of vinegar, ten sextarii; of honey, five sextarii: macerate the herbs in the vinegar for three days; then, having boiled it until more than one half be consumed, add the honey, and having strained, add the lathyrides, the costus, the granum Cnidium, and the spikenard triturated, and, if you please, after it is fully boiled, the oxymel. The full dose is oz. j; or according to the patient’s strength. It is useful in gouty affections and epilepsies; and when we require at the same time to evacuate or dislodge thick humours.

The purgative hydragogue from cloves. Of aloes, of dodder of thyme, of cloves, of granum Cnidium, of stone-parsley, of rha Ponticum, of each, oz. ss; of euphorbium, scr. iv; of honey, q. s. The dose is one spoonful.

The purgative medicine from rhodomel, of Alexander. Of the juice of roses, two sextarii; of honey, one sextarius; of scammony, oz. iv. A full dose is five spoonfuls, a small, two, a medium dose three spoonfuls.—Otherwise: of honey, lb. j; of the juice of roses, lb. j; of pepper, dr. ij; of scammony, dr. viij; of mastich, dr. iv; and of ginger, dr. ij.—Otherwise, one which I use: of spikenard, of asarabacca, of dodder of thyme, of each, oz. ss; macerate in a hemina of water for three days; and having boiled it to a moderate degree, mix with the water of the juice of roses, half a sextarius; of honey, half a sextarius; and having boiled it until it acquire consistence, add scammony to the amount of oz. iss.

A purgative medicine from quinces. Of roasted quinces, oz. iv; of pepper, oz. ss; of scammony, dr. j; of honey, oz. v. Having triturated it, give one spoonful, according to the strength.

The stomachic purgative from citrons. Boil of the bark of a citron, and of the flesh of the same, lb. j, in a sextarius and a half of water, until a third be left; add half a sextarius of honey, and having boiled until it acquire the consistence of honey, sprinkle of the powder of long pepper, oz. j; of scammony roasted in leaven, oz. j.

The purgative called Buccellatus. Of baked scammony, oz. j; of pepper and of parsley-seed, of each, scr. j; of fennel, of anise, of each, oz. j; of honey, lb. j; having roasted it moderately, give in hippocras to the amount of one ounce.

Purgative olives. Of scammony, oz. j; of pepper, oz. j; of dodder of thyme, of toasted cumin, of stone-parsley, of rue, of the green leaves of mint, of each, dr. iv; of laserwort, dr. j; of dates, oz. v; of honey, oz. v; of vinegar, two heminæ; of pickled olives (namely of schistous), one sextar. Some add a moderate quantity of fish-sauce. The dose is v, vij, or ix.

A purgative trochisk. Of scammony, dr. iv; of euphorbium, dr. iv; of the cassia-leaf (malabathrum), dr. ij; of pepper, dr. ij; of honey, lb. j. The dose is oz. j.

A purgative and stomachic posca. Of cumin, of fennel, of each, oz. j; of pennyroyal, of parsley, of anise, of each, oz. ss; of dodder of thyme, of scammony, of each, oz. j; of salts, oz. ij. The full dose is two scruples in the oxycrate. Some add also of euphorbium, scr. iv.

A purgative wine for dropsical cases. Of squills, oz. iij; of parsley-seed, oz. vi; of pepper, dr. j; of the root of capers, dr. iv; of the granum Cnidium stripped of its bark, dr. j; of the leaf malabathrum, two balls; of wine, twelve heminæ; of honey, oz. iij. Having pounded the squills, macerate in wine, and mix the other things when triturated.

Purgative salts. Of common salts toasted, dr. vj; of parsley-seed, of ginger, of dried bread, of each, scr. vj; of anise, of pepper, of each, oz. ss; of scammony, of dodder of thyme, of each, oz. j. The dose is one spoonful.

The podagric purgative from hermodactylus. Of hermodactylus, oz. iij; of anise, of Ethiopian cumin, of bishop’s weed, of the clusters of thyme, of white pepper, of ginger, of each, scr. iij; of dodder of thyme, oz. ss; the dose is scr. iv; some give scr. vj. It is administered in the morning with hippocras, honeyed water, or strong wine heated.

The same purgative otherwise. Of hermodactylus, oz. j; of Ethiopian cumin, of anise, of agaric, of ginger, of each, scr. vj; of mastich, scr. ij; of spikenard, scr. ij; of musk, one siliqua; of cnicus, scr. ij. The dose is scr. iv with hydromel. We reject scammony, because it is bad for the stomach. But if more evacuation be required, mix with the dose three siliquæ of scammony; give after the bath.

Pills from the lapis Armenicus, given principally in arthritic cases. Of aloes, oz. iv; of scammony, oz. vj; of agaric, oz. j; of dodder of thyme, oz. j; of lapis armenicus, scr. xij; of cassia, oz. j; of spikenard, oz. j; of baked squills, oz. ij; of saffron, scr. xij; add to rhodomel. The dose is scr. ij.

The purgative from coronopodium, applicable in the same cases as that from hermodactylus, a stomachic. Of ginger, scr. ij; of pepper, scr. j; of agaric, scr. j; of the internal part of cnicus, scr. iv; of the root of buckthorn plantain (coronopodium), scr. vj; the dose is scr. iij, but to those persons whose belly is difficult to move, twenty-three siliquæ, which make altogether seven oboli, or nearly eight. After evacuation, having bathed, let them take eggs and bread for food.

That from Cyrenaic juice, for quartans. Of Cyrenaic juice, of pepper, of ginger, of the leaves of rue, of each, dr. j. The dose is the size of a filbert.

A purgative pap, useful in cases of œdema and aggravated elephantiasis, and when one wishes to dislodge a thick and viscid humour. Having cut up two colocynths, evacuate the seed, and allowing the medullary part to remain, fill them with sweet oil, and covering them up with their proper covers allow them to remain a night and a day. On the following day, having evacuated the oil, boil the colocynths in water until they are reduced to a soft consistence; then throw them away, and the oil being mixed with water, add to it three oboli of black hellebore, and of scammony, dr. j; but boiling along with them a pap of similago, or dried bread pounded, and then give of it to the patient, who has been formerly restricted to a simple diet, to the size of eight, ten, or at most fourteen filberts; and let him drink hot water.

Commentary. It may be proper in this place to apprize the reader of the reason why he will not find the remainder of the work so copiously illustrated by notes as the preceding parts of it. The combination of simple medicines in pharmaceutical preparations is so arbitrary, and so little regulated by any fixed principle, that it is seldom we can find any two authors exactly agreeing as to the ingredients which enter into any one preparation. Now to follow all the ancient writers on pharmacy through all their complex formulæ, and point out every little difference which prevails among them, would be a very wearisome task, and one which would scarcely recompense us or our readers for the time and attention which such an undertaking would necessarily demand; and neither is it much required, since, as will be seen, our author’s system of pharmacy is sufficiently copious and accurate for all practical purposes. We shall therefore be content with giving a general explanation of each class of these medicinal preparations, and only offer some occasional remarks on a few of the more important articles.

Under this head we shall give some account of the Halatia Cathartica, or Purgative Salts of the ancients. The ἅλες κοινὰι πεφρυγμέναι are the same as the sal commune frictum of Apicius. Humelbergius thus explains it: “fricti, id est cremati et torrefacti.” The following is Apicius’s receipt for the “Sales conditi ad multa:” Of common salt roasted, lb. j; of sal ammoniac roasted, lb. ij; of white pepper, oz. iij; of ginger, oz. ij; of bishop’s weed, oz. iss; of thyme, oz. iss; of parsley-seed, oz. iss. The purgative salts of Aëtius contain sal ammoniac mixed up with many purgative and cordial medicines, such as scammony, laserwort, parsley-seed, ginger, pennyroyal, spikenard, and pepper. (iii, 109.) These are the ingredients of a sal purgatorius recommended by Actuarius. (Meth. Med. v, 10.) Myrepsus gives prescriptions for various purgative and stomachic salts. They all consist of sal ammoniac, or common salt mixed with scammony and aromatics in different proportions. (Sect. ii.) See also Haly Abbas. (Pract. x, 10.)

SECT. VI.—ON THE MANAGEMENT OF THOSE WHO TAKE PURGATIVE MEDICINES; AND WHAT IS TO BE DONE TO THOSE WHO ARE NOT PURGED BY A PROPER DOSE OF PURGATIVES.

In general when any of the drastic purgatives is to be taken, the medicine is to be given to the patient with an empty stomach, and after digestion has been performed; and he is to be prevented from sleeping until it has been wholly purged off, and if possible he should make moderate motion, and abstain during the time from all food and drink, until the purging is over.

From the works of Philagrius. But if he cannot endure abstinence from food, either because the mouth of the stomach is troubled with bile from long fasting, which has preceded, or any such cause, we must give him bread out of diluted wine, or the juice of ptisan, or of chondrus, not after the evacuation has begun, lest it spoil in the stomach, but straightway after the medicine has been taken; for in this way by its weight it contributes to the speedy evacuation of the medicine. But if, after taking any of the laxative medicines, one does not purge nor evacuate, provided the case be not at all serious, we need not be very solicitous about it; but if the greatness of the disease be urgent, or the patient experiences acute tearing pains with distension of the belly, we must necessarily administer a clyster. But if even thus the belly is not evacuated, and there is a pungent pain and disorder of the body, he is to be bathed and rubbed freely with oil; or if he feels full and heavy, a vein must be opened, more especially if he is of a sanguineous habit of body, and if his eyes be red and prominent, not naturally but incidentally, owing to his having drunk the medicine. When none of these symptoms trouble him, but he experiences a gnawing and lancinating pain, he may take food immediately after the bath, and drink wine freely, and in the meantime he is to receive a clyster, if he does not settle; and again he is to be bathed. The oil used in the clyster, should be that of rue or prepared from some other of the carminative medicines.

Commentary. Hippocrates, as Galen mentions, recommends a draught of ptisan to be swallowed immediately after taking a purgative medicine, in order to facilitate the operation of the medicine and wash away any particles of it which may lodge in the intestines. Both forbid it to be given after the operation has commenced, as it tends only to blunt the powers of the medicine. Galen remarks, that sometimes a purgative does not operate, either from idiosyncrasy of the patient, or from the smallness of the dose, or from the intestines being blocked up by indurated fæces, which must be removed by means of a clyster before the medicine can operate. At other times, he adds, the medicine is determined to the kidneys, or is digested and converted into food. As all purgatives are bad for the stomach, he recommends us to weaken the impression of them by the mixture of aromatic seeds, which possess attenuating and cutting powers—Quosnam oportet purgare, &c.

Oribasius treats fully of this subject in two extracts from the works of Galen and Ruffus. Ruffus directs us, when the bowels are difficult to move, to give beforehand a soup of shell-fish, with mallows, beet, and the like, or to administer a clyster. He forbids us to give purgatives to persons who are apt to vomit. (Med. Collect. vii, 26.)

Mesue has treated more fully of all the circumstances connected with the administration of purgatives than any other ancient author. When the operation of the medicine is retarded by flatus, or the bad state of the humours, he recommends us either to administer a clyster or give an emetic. When this arises from debility of the expulsive faculty of the intestines, he directs us to give, first, a moderate draught of cold water, and then some astringent potion, such as one from quinces, or pears. When the passage is obstructed, he directs a clyster to be administered; and in this case he forbids cold water to be given, as it will increase the contraction of the intestine. When violent pains are excited in the stomach by the medicine, he recommends an emetic, and if in the bowels, a clyster. (Canon. Univers. iii.) See also Avicenna (i, iv, 8), and Rhases (Contin. xii.)

SECT. VII.—ON THE TREATMENT OF HYPERCATHARSIS.

In cases of hypercatharsis the body is to be rubbed and bathed in hot water, and before the bath a thin, pale-coloured and yellow wine is to be given (for such is the most speedily distributed), and bread soaked in it, and pomegranates. But if the evacuation continue, the limbs are to be bound with ligatures, extending from above downwards, and tightened so as to intercept the blood and spirits. A moderate quantity of the theriac from the flesh of vipers is also to be given. For it soon passes to the skin, and quickly gives a counter-determination to the defluxion of fluids upon the belly, and blunts the poisonous and deleterious property as it were of the cathartics. When in want of it we may use the theriac trochisks, and also that from seeds, and the antidote called Philonius. Cupping-instruments are also to be applied over the stomach, and cataplasms from polenta, and wine and honey; after which we must use the astringent epithemes. But they will derive the most sensible advantage from frictions of the whole body, and draughts of the aforesaid medicines. They must abstain from very cold and very hot air; for the one occasions a determination from without inwards, and increases the discharge, and the other dissipates and reduces the strength. But if the evacuation is increased by irritation in the bowels, we must apply cataplasms of the afore-mentioned things, and injections of emollients, such as the fat of geese, sweet wine, nard, and the like.

Commentary. Oribasius remarks, that when an overdose of a purgative medicine has been taken, it purges first yellow bile, then black bile, and at last blood. He recommends us, in cases of hypercatharsis, to give a hot draught, to apply tight ligatures and violent friction to the extremities, and cupping-instruments to the hypochondrium and back. When the patient can readily be made to vomit, he directs us to produce this operation by the administration of a copious draught of tepid water, and by putting a feather or the fingers down the throat. This is in accordance with Celsus’s rule of practice: “Longas dejectiones supprimit vomitus.” (ii, 8.)

Hippocrates and Aëtius, in cases of excessive purging from the administration of medicine, recommend the bath and a light-coloured wine before and after it.

Avicenna lays down the rules of treatment with great precision, but they are mostly the same as our author’s. After friction, cupping, tight ligatures, and restorative draughts have been tried, should the excessive purging continue he recommends us to administer narcotics. (i, 4, 7.) See, in like manner, Rhases (Contin. xiii, 1, 2), and Serapion (de Antid.) But Mesue is the author who has treated of all the symptoms connected with hypercatharsis at the greatest length. He recommends us to reserve narcotics as an ultimum remedium, as from the unseasonable administration of them much harm might result. He directs us to add cordials and aromatics to the narcotics. When the tenesmus is severe he directs us to stop it by suitable enemata and suppositories. For the debility and lassitude occasioned by too great purgation he recommends a tepid bath of sweet water, and friction with warm oils. (Canones Universales.)

SECT. VIII.—ON THE ANTIDOTES CALLED HIERÆ.

The hiera of Antiochus. Of germander, of agaric, of the medullary part of colocynth, of cassidony, of each dr. x; of opoponax, of sagapen, of stone-parsley, of the species of birthwort called clematis, of white pepper, of each dr. v; of cinnamon, of spikenard, of troglodytic myrrh, of the leaves of saffron, of each dr. iv; of honey, q. s.—Another hiera. Of the medullary part of colocynth, dr. xx; of baked squills, of agaric, of ammoniac perfume, of the bark of black hellebore, of scammony, of St. John’s wort, of each dr. iij; of dodder of thyme, of dried polypody, of bdellium, of aloes, of germander, of horehound, of cassia, of each dr. viij; of troglodytic myrrh, of opoponax, of sagapen, of stone-parsley, of the common long, and white pepper, of cinnamon, of saffron, of castor, of the long birthwort, of each dr. iv; of honey, q. s.

The hiera of Justus. Of dodder of thyme, dr. xij; of horehound, of cassidony, of germander, of black hellebore, of scammony, of agaric, of long pepper, of baked squills, of each dr. xvj; of euphorbium, of the medullary part of colocynth, of aloes, of saffron, of gentian, of stone-parsley, of ammoniac perfume, of sagapen, of each dr. viij; of opoponax, of poley, of cinnamon, of myrrh, of spikenard, of the flower of the rush, of pennyroyal, of each dr. iv; of long and of round birthwort, of each dr. ij; of honey, q. s. The dose is two, three, or four scr., with honeyed water and salts.

The hiera of Galen. Of germander, of long pepper, of white pepper, of cassidony, of black hellebore, of scammony, of spikenard, of baked squills (and some of dodder of thyme), of each dr. xvj; of myrrh, of saffron, of ammoniac perfume, of euphorbium, of each dr. viij. Mix with honey.

The hiera of Ruffus. Of sicyonia, or the medullary part of colocynth, dr. viij; of germander, dr. x; of sagapen, dr. viij; of stone-parsley, dr. v; of round birthwort, dr. v; of white pepper, dr. v; of cinnamon, dr. iv; or of cassia, dr. viij; of base horehound, of saffron, of poley, of myrrh, of each dr. iv; of honey, q. s.

The hiera of Archigenes. Of horehound, of agaric, of germander, of the medullary part of colocynth, of cassidony, of each dr. x; of opoponax, of sagapen, of stone-parsley, of round birthwort, of white pepper, of each dr. v; of cinnamon, of spikenard, of myrrh, of the cassia leaf (malabathrum), of saffron, of each dr. iv; pound the dry things together, and strain. The opoponax, sagapen, and myrrh, being bruised, are to be put into a mortar to macerate with honeyed water for one night; then triturate and add the dry things; then mixing them with the finest honey lay them up in a glass or leaden vessel. This is the common method with all the hieræ. The full dose of them is dr. iv. Add to it also of salts, dr. j; of honey, two cyathi; of water, q. s. If we wish to make those compositions of this class which have not scammony more purgative, we must add to each of them an obolus of it.

Commentary. The hieræ, for the most part, consist of drastic purgatives, combined with aromatics. There is a great variety of these compositions described in the works of the ancient winters on pharmacy. Galen makes mention of an aloetic hiera, which was much used by the celebrated Archigenes. The following is his prescription for it: “R. Aloes, dr. c; cinnamomi, nardi, xylobalsami, mastichæ chiæ, asari, croci, ā ā dr. vj.” Galen remarks, however, that the proportion of aloes is too great, and recommends us to substitute xc or lxxx dr. instead of the quantity directed. (De comp. Med. acc. loc.) Mesue describes the composition of 6 hieræ, Haly Abbas of 5, and Serapion of a much greater number. But for variety, Myrepsus surpasses all the other authorities. He describes the composition of 30 hieræ. The following is his receipt for the Hiera Picra Galeni: “℞. Aloes flavæ, dr. xivss.; cinnamomi, croci, costi, floris junci odorati, xylobalsami, cassiæ fistulæ puræ, mastiches, asari, rosarum, amomi, absinthii, ā ā dr. j; Tere subigendo cum mellis Attici q. s.” Moses Charras’s receipt for it is very little different. (Royal Pharm. i, 20.)

SECT. IX.—ON LINIMENTS TO BE APPLIED TO THE ANUS, AND PURGATIVE APPLICATIONS TO THE NAVEL.

A liniment to the anus for the discharge of flatulence. Rue is triturated with honey so as to form one juice, and the inner parts of the fundament rubbed with it. It becomes more efficacious if a small quantity of cumin and natron, or the juice of sowbread be added. It is daubed upon flocks of wool and introduced; or a suppository is formed with the addition of honey. For the flatus escapes freely, affording relief.

A liniment to the anus, evacuating the belly; called Chezananche. Alum being triturated with honey is to be boiled until it become yellowish, and the anus is to be rubbed with it. It forces a free evacuation of many things, but not without trouble.

An application to the navel as a laxative of the bowels. Of sowbread, dr. iv; of natron, dr. iij; of black and white hellebore, of each, dr. ij; of colocynth, dr. iij; of scammony, dr. ij; of the juice of elaterium, dr. iv; of granum Cnidium, dr. iv; of fatty dried figs, oz. ij; of the gall of bulls, oz. j. Another very excellent one: of elaterium, of lathyrides, of galbanum, of sowbread, of black hellebore, of each, dr. iv; of the medullary parts of colocynth, dr. viij; of fresh wild cucumber, of scammony, of granum Cnidium, of each, dr. ij; of spurge, dr. ij; of turpentine, dr. iij; mix these with the gall of bulls, and use as a liniment. Some, by mixing with them of wax, oz. vij, and of Sicyonian oil, q. s., make it of the form of a plaster.

Commentary. It is clear that the liniments applied to the anus were a sort of suppositories. The Chezananche is described in much the same terms as our author’s by Myrepsus. The rest of his compositions of this class are also very similar to our author’s. (xxvi, 2.) Actuarius gives a full account of them. (Meth. Med. v, 9.)

Purgative applications to the navel were much trusted to by the ancient physicians as laxatives, but they are now seldom used. The late Dr. Kerr, of Aberdeen, however, sometimes had recourse to them, and spoke highly of their efficacy.

SECT. X.—ON EMETICS, AND THE MODE OF ADMINISTERING HELLEBORE.

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.