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.”
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.)
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.)
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.)
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: