of Inventions), that the Greeks and Romans made very little use of
butter as an article of food compared with the moderns, it is equally
clear that they were well acquainted with various kinds of it, and their
medicinal virtues. If, as he and Michaelis suppose, the Hebrew word,
which, in the Septuagint Scripture, is rendered _boutyron_, signifies
cream, or sour thick milk, the first mention of butter which occurs in
ancient literature is in the following passage of Hippocrates: “These
people (the Scythians) pour the milk of their mares into wooden vessels,
cause it to be violently stirred or shaken by their blind slaves, and
separate the part which arises to the surface, as they consider it more
valuable and more delicious than that which is collected below it.” (De
Aere, Aquis, etc.) The _Hippace_ is also described in another of the
Hippocratic treatises (De Morbis, iv.) Beckmann quotes a passage of
the poet Anaxandrides, preserved by Athenæus (iv, 131, ed. Casaubon),
to prove that butter is of Thracian origin. We having thus described
the origin of butter, shall now give a description of its medicinal
uses from the works of the medical authorities. In the Hippocratic
treatises butter is several times mentioned as an external medicine. (De
Natura Mulierum, v; De Morbis Mulierum, ii, 5.) But Dioscorides is the
first author who gives a distinct account of its medicinal properties.
Butter, he says, is possessed of emollient and oily powers, whence it
loosens the bowels when drunk in large quantity, and is useful in the
treatment of poisoning by deadly substances in the absence of oil; when
mixed with honey, and rubbed in, it is useful for painful dentition,
pruritus of the gums in children, and aphthæ; when rubbed in externally
it preserves the body plump and free from watery pustules (psydracia);
it is beneficial for inflammations and hardness of the womb, when not
fetid or old; for dysentery and ulceration of the colon, in a clyster;
it is mixed advantageously with suppurative applications, and more
especially in wounds of the nerves, membranes of the brain, the bladder,
and neck; it fills up, cleanses, incarnates, and proves useful as an
application in cases of persons bitten by the asp. Fresh butter in
cookery is used instead of oil, and in cakes instead of suet. His chapter
on butter concludes with directions for preparing the sort of butter,
which he represents as being desiccative and astringent in ophthalmic
applications, and capable of stopping defluxions and cicatrizing ulcers.
(ii, 81.) Pliny’s account of milk being mostly taken from Dioscorides,
we shall not dwell upon it. He is original, however, in stating that
most butter is got from cow’s milk. (H. N. xxviii, 35.) Celsus merely
enumerates butter among the articles which incarnate and fill up sores.
(v, 14.) Galen states that butter is contained in greatest quantity in
the milk of cows, and hence it derives its name. That it has concoctive
powers with a small portion of discutient, and is of intermediate powers
with regard to softness and hardness of the body, by which he means
that it has no powers to discuss preternatural tumours of very hard
bodies, but that it concocts and discusses soft inflammations, such as
parotis, bubo, boils in the mouth, and many others of a like nature. He
recommends it also in dentition and inflammatory affections of the mouth
in children. He also mentions it as a useful expectorant in pleurisy
and pneumonia, both when drunk and in the form of a linctus. (De Simpl.
ix.) Aëtius copies the description which he gives of butter from Galen.
(ii, 104.) Oribasius borrows from Dioscorides. (xv, 2.) Rhases quotes
Dioscorides, Galen, Oribasius, and Paulus, and gives nothing of his own.
(l. ult. 133.) Avicenna also recommends butter in exactly the same cases
as Dioscorides and Galen. (ii, 2, 110.) Serapion literally translates
Dioscorides and Galen. (De Simpl. 457.)
Βούφθαλμον,
Buphthalmum, _Oxeye_, has a flower like that of the camomile, but
much larger and more acrid. It is therefore discutient, so as to cure
indurations when mixed with cerate.
* * * * *
COMMENTARY. The old herbalists were much puzzled what to make of the
_Buphthalmum_, some contending for its being _Helleborus niger_, some a
species of _Consiligo_, some a _Chrysanthemum_, and so forth. See Gerard
(Herbal) and Sprengel (Ad Dioscor.) It would seem likely that it is the
_Anthemis Valentina_. Our author borrows all that was worth copying in
the chapter of Dioscorides (iii, 146.) Galen expresses himself respecting
it in nearly the same terms as Dioscorides. For the Arabians, see
Avicenna (ii, 2, 97.) It is not mentioned in the Hippocratic collection.
Βράθυς,
Sabina, _Savin_, being like the Cypress, it is heating and desiccative in
the third degree; and consisting of subtile particles, it is possessed
of subtilizing and discutient powers if drunk. It is applied to
mortifications like the Cypress.
* * * * *
COMMENTARY. The two species of savine described by Dioscorides are
probably the _Sabina cypressifolia_ and _tamariscifolia_. He recommends
it principally as an external application to spreading sores and
carbuncles. He says it produces bloody water and abortion when drunk in
wine, and when applied externally, or in the form of fumigation. (i,
104.) All the ancient authorities, including Macer Floridus (but his
works, we are well aware, are not generally reputed genuine), hold it to
be an uterine medicine. Its medicinal and deleterious powers are given
in like manner by the Arabians. See in particular Avicenna (ii, 2, 6);
Serapion (c. 255); Ebn Baithar (i, 5.) Apuleius praises it strongly in
jaundice. We need scarcely mention that savin still retains its place
in our Dispensatory, being, according to Pereira, “the most certain and
powerful emmenagogue of the whole Materia Medica.” With regard to its
action on the animal economy, “it operates,” according to Sundelin, as
quoted by Pereira, “as a specific excitant and irritant on the kidneys,
and yet more obviously on the uterus.” All this shows how correctly the
ancient authorities had judged of its powers.
Βρεττανίκη,
Bretannica, _Water-dock_, is possessed of astringent and agglutinative
powers, and in appearance resembles the Wild-dock. The juice of it cures
mortifications in the mouth.
* * * * *
COMMENTARY. It would not be worth while, even if this were the proper
place, to touch upon the lengthened controversy which has prevailed among
the old herbalists and botanical authorities with regard to this plant.
Whoever would wish to investigate the subject may consult Professor
Munting’s elaborate work ‘De Vera Herba Britannica,’ (Amst. 1698,) and
Sprengel’s ‘Annotations on Dioscorides’ (iv, 2.) Suffice it to say, that,
in all probability, the plant in question was some species of water-dock.
All the authorities who treat of it give it much the same character as
our author. See particularly Avicenna (ii, 2, 102); Serapion (c. 222.)
It held a place in our English Dispensatory as late as Quincy, who
represents it (“the hydrolopathum, supposed to be the Bretannica of the
ancients”) as a specific for scurvy.
Βρόμος,
Avena, _Oats_, has powers resembling those of barley. It is desiccative,
and moderately discutient without pungency. It has also some astringency,
whence it cures diarrhœas.
* * * * *
COMMENTARY. It is not well ascertained whether this be an _Avena_
or _Secale_. The chapter of Dioscorides under this head is probably
spurious. Our author abridges Galen. It is not treated of by Celsus nor
the Arabians.
Βρύον,
Bryum; the sea-bryum or lichen is cooling and astringent, and is
therefore useful when applied as a cataplasm to hot inflammations; that
kind which is called splanchnon, being found on oaks, white poplars, and
pitch-trees, is at the same time discutient and moderately emollient,
more especially that upon cedars.
* * * * *
COMMENTARY. It appears evident that it is a species of _Lichen_ or
_Usnea_, but what species is not clear. The term usnea is borrowed from
the Arabian authors. Our author copies closely from Galen. Dioscorides
recommends it as an astringent principally in affections of the womb, in
the form of a hip-bath or fumigation. Avicenna (ii, 2, 713) and Serapion
(c. 247) briefly notice several species of _usnea_ without appearing
to identify it with the bryon of the Greeks. Rhases, however, is quite
aware of their identity. (Contin. l. ult. i, 753.) Avicenna says it is
emmenagogue, and procures the delivery of the fœtus either dead or alive.
He adds that, in a dose of 10 drs. it acts as a deadly poison. Serapion
recommends it principally as being diuretic and emmenagogue. Several
species of the genera lichen and usnea are still to be found in the
shops, and have the reputation of being powerful astringents. See Gray
(Suppl. to the Pharmacop. pp. 11, 12.)
Βρυωνία,
Bryonia, _Bryony_; the White Vine is so named.
* * * * *
COMMENTARY. See under ἄμπελος. Mesue recommends it as a phlegmagogue,
deobstruent, and diuretic medicine; for epilepsy, vertigo, coldness of
the nerves, coughs, asthmas, especially in a linctus, in pleurisy, and as
an external application to hard aspostemes, inflammations of the spleen,
in the form of a plaster, with figs and wine; for the removal of whitlow,
spiculæ of bones, thorns, and the like. In a draught, he says, it proves
emmenagogue and procures abortion. He also commends it as a cosmetic in
diseases of the face. Both internally and externally he praises it in
scrofula. He adds further, that it is useful in the cure of persons who
have been bitten by venomous animals. In a word, no ancient author has
bestowed so flattering an eulogium upon bryony as Mesue (De Simplicibus.)
We need scarcely say that bryony (_Bryonia dioica_ or _alba_) is now
regarded in the light of a poison rather than a medicine. See Orfila
(Toxicol. Gen. i, 679), and Christison on Poisons (p. 445, First edition.)
Γἀλα,
Lac, _Milk_; every sort of milk consists of three substances, a cheesy, a
serous, and a fatty part, which last is contained in greatest abundance
in the cow’s milk, and from it butter is formed. Whey is possessed of
detergent properties, and hence it loosens the belly if separated by
boiling. The cheesy and thick part is more compact, and on that account
blunts acrid humours. When milk is boiled either by hot pebbles or any
other way, it is an excellent remedy for dysenteries and other acrid
defluxions on the bowels. The whole contents of milk are suitable
applications for acrid humours of the eye, and all other acrimonies. The
milk of a woman is of the best regulated temperament; after which the
goat’s, and then that of the ass and sheep; and last of all the milk of
cows.
* * * * *
COMMENTARY. We have treated of the properties of milk so fully in the
First Book that we need not enlarge on the subject in this place. Our
author’s account of it is abridged from Galen. Dioscorides, Galen,
Celsus, Serapion, and most of the authorities, recommend milk as a
remedy when acrid substances, such as cantharides or arsenic, have been
swallowed. Dioscorides says whey is beneficial in cases of melancholy,
epilepsy, lepra, elephantiasis, and exanthemata in all parts of the body.
He recommends new milk as a gargle in all ulcerations of the mouth, and
in defluxions on the bowels with ulceration and tenesmus. He says, the
milk of sheep, cows, or goats stops them, when boiled with pebbles, and
injected either by itself or with ptisan, or the decoction of chondrus;
it is also injected, he adds, in ulcerations of the womb. A woman’s milk,
he says, when sucked from the breast, relieves erosion of the stomach
and phthisis; it suits the cure of those who have drunk of the sea-hare,
and is otherwise useful as an application to the eyes, and to the
gout. All kinds of milk, he adds, are inapplicable in diseased spleen,
diseased liver, vertigo, epilepsy, all nervous affections, fevers, and
headaches, unless when the schiston is given to move the bowels. What
the schiston was we have explained in the First Book (§ 88.) All the
other authorities, whether Greek or Arabian, in treating of milk, follow
Dioscorides and Galen. See in particular Serapion (De Simpl. 457.)
Celsus entertained nearly the same views, with regard to milk, as the
Greek authorities. Thus he recommends it in phthisis, and as an antidote
to various poisons, but condemns it in headaches and acute fevers.
Hippocrates prescribes milk in various instances, and seems to have been
very partial to the use of it. He recommends the schiston, prepared with
pebbles, in affections of the bowels. (Epidem. vii.)
Γαλὴ,
Mustella, _the Weasel_; when burnt, its ashes are discutient. Wherefore
when rubbed in along with vinegar it relieves gout and rheumatism; when
prepared and dried it answers with epilepsies.
* * * * *
COMMENTARY. According to Sprengel, the Γαλη is a species of mustella, but
neither the _M. communis_, called _weasel_ in English, nor the _M. Furo_,
or _Ferret_. Our author’s description of its medicinal virtues is taken
from Dioscorides.
Γάλιον,
Galium, _Yellow Ladies’ Bedstraw_, or _Cheese Rennet_; it derives its
name of Galium from its coagulating milk. It resembles the cleavers, and
is desiccative and subacrid. The flower of it suits with hemorrhages and
burns.
* * * * *
COMMENTARY. The very name, _Galium verum_, now generally given to the
yellow bed-straw, implies that it is generally admitted to be the galium
of the ancients. Dioscorides, besides assigning to it the virtues
enumerated by our author, states, that it is aphrodisiacal (iv, 94.) It
was principally celebrated, however, as a styptic, and this character it
continued to hold as long as it obtained a place in the Dispensatory.
See Quincy. For the Arabians, see Avicenna (ii, 2, 317); Rhases (Cont.
l. ult. i, 327); Ebn Baithar (ii, 229.) They all merely copy from
Dioscorides and Galen. We have not been able to find it in the works of
either Hippocrates or Celsus.
Γαλίοψις,
Galiopsis (called also Galiobdolon), is like the nettle, but smoother and
fetid, and acts as a discutient and emollient application to indurated
tumours. It also agrees with spreading ulcers in the form of a cataplasm.
* * * * *
COMMENTARY. Our old herbalists generally held the galiopsis of
Dioscorides to be a species of _Lamium_. (See Gerard and Parkinson.) But
whether it be that or a species of figwort (the _Scrofularia peregrina_)
cannot be positively determined. Rutty says the _Lamium maximum_ of
C. Bauhin has all the marks which Dioscorides gives to the galiopsis.
It was used only externally in applications to foul ulcers, and this
character secured it a place in our Dispensatory until recent times. See
particularly Dioscorides (iv, 94.) Few of the other authorities have
noticed it.
Γάρος,
Garum, _Brine of Pickled Fish_, is powerfully calefacient and
desiccative, and is therefore used as an external application to putrid
ulcers, and is administered as an injection in dysentery and ischiatic
diseases.
* * * * *
COMMENTARY. “Garum est exquisiti liquoris genus, intestinis piscium
cæterisque quæ abjicienda sunt sale maceratis.” Rendtorpi Notæ ap.
Fabricii Bibl. Gr. iv, 333; Geopon. xx, 46; Pliny (H. N. xxxi, 43);
Athenæus (Deipnos. ii); Apicius (c. vii.) Coray defines it, “the juice
or brine of pickled fishes.” (Ad Xenocrat. Fragment.) Sauce prepared
by macerating the intestines of the tunny was particularly esteemed.
Cælius Aurelianus praises that from the silurus. (Tard. Pass. ii, 1.)
Dioscorides recommends the sauce of pickled fishes as a cataplasm to
persons bitten by dogs, and as an injection in dysentery and sciatica
(ii, 34.) All the other authorities that treat of it give it the same
character. See Aëtius (ii); Avicenna (ii, 2, 486); Serapion (c. 184.)
It occurs in the works of Celsus (ii, 21), and also frequently in those
of Hippocrates. Foës gives a learned dissertation on this article in
‘Œconom. Hippocrat.’
Γεντιανὴ,
Gentiana, _Gentian_; the root is sufficiently efficacious in subtilising
and cleansing, and as a detergent and deobstruent medicine.
* * * * *
COMMENTARY. Dioscorides states that the gentian (_Gentiana lutea?_)
has a heating and astringent faculty; that it is a remedy in cases of
persons bitten by venomous animals, with pepper and rue; that it is
useful in hepatic and stomachic affections; that it procures abortion
when applied in a collyrium; that it is a vulnerary herb, and is used
for many ulcers and other cutaneous affections. (iii, 3.) Galen justly
remarks that it owes its attenuant and deobstruent powers to its being
intensely bitter. (De Simpl. v.) Apuleius, like Dioscorides, recommends
it as an application for the bites of serpents. Hence it always obtained
a place in the Theriac. See Celsus (v, 23.) Serapion says it is the
best of all remedies in cases of hydrophobia, and this character it has
obtained in modern times. Avicenna gives a very circumstantial account
of it, enumerating all its virtues as stated by the Greek authorities,
namely, its abstergent, attenuant, deobstruent, diuretic, and emmenagogue
powers, and recommends it particularly as an application to parts stung
by venomous animals. (ii, 2, 281.) Ebn Baithar gives very interesting
extracts from Arabian authorities on this head. (i, 260.) It is found in
the Hippocratic collection. In the modern Greek Pharmacopœia it is stated
that the _G. lutea_ grows in the Alps of Switzerland. This would seem to
imply that it is not a native of Greece.
Γεράνιον,
Geranium, _Cranebill_; that species, the leaves of which resemble those
of the Anemone, and has edible roots, when drunk with wine to the amount
of a drachm, removes inflation of the uterus. The other species is of no
use in medicine.
* * * * *
COMMENTARY. Dioscorides and the other ancient authorities describe only
two species of the _Geranium_, the former of which would certainly seem
to be the _tuberosum_, and the other the _rotundifolium_. They were not
acquainted with the _Geranium Robertianum_. Dioscorides merely says of
the geranium that when drunk in wine, to the amount of a drachm, it cures
inflation of the womb (iii, 121.) Few of the other authorities notice
it. See Ebn Baithar (i, 10.) The geraniums held a place in our English
Dispensatory until a recent period. See Quincy (p. 88.)
Γῆ,
Terra, _Earth_; all kinds are desiccants; that which is unmixed with any
other substance is also free of pungency; but if any fiery quality is
mixed with it, it lays the same aside when washed. The fatty part, then,
of wrought earth is an useful application to all organs that require
drying; they use therefore the clay of _Egyptian earth_ to dropsical and
splenitic affections, and to soft swellings, with manifest advantage. Of
medicinal earths, the _Lemnia rubrica_, or _Sigillum_, as it is called,
in addition to its being moderately desiccative and astringent, proves
an antidote to deleterious medicines, cures malignant ulcers with wine
or vinegar, stops all kinds of hemorrhage, and removes dysentery and
spreading ulcers of the intestines, the gut being first washed out by an
injection of honied water, and then of brine. The _Rubrica Sinopica_, or
_vermilion_, being stronger than the Lemnian, is used as an ingredient
in plasters, and when drunk it kills worms. The _Samian_ is much more
emollient than the Lemnian, as being glutinous and viscid. It is to be
used then in all cases in which emollients are indicated; but it also
cures spitting of blood from whatever part it proceed. The _Selenusian_
and the _Chian_ are more detergent, and are therefore used by some women
in the cleansing applications to their faces. It also produces the
incarnation and cicatrization of ulcers, more especially of burns. The
unwashed _Cimolian_ is possessed of mixed powers, being refrigerant
and discutient; but the washed is more cooling, and cures burns with
oxycrate. The _Terra Ampelitis_ (it is the kind of earth which is rubbed
upon vines to destroy the worms which breed in them) is powerfully
desiccant and discutient, but not without pungency. The _Cretan_ is full
of air and detergent, without pungency. The _Eretrian_ is decidedly
astringent, but when burnt and washed it is desiccant without pungency;
but the cineritious is preferable. The _Pnigitis_ has powers resembling
the Cimolian, but is black. The _Armenian_, called also _Bole_, is
powerfully desiccative, and therefore agrees excellently with dysenteric
cases, fluxes of the belly, spitting of blood, consumption, dyspnœa from
humidity, humid ulcers, and pestilential affections. It is drunk with a
thin diluted wine, or, if fever be present, with water. The _Alanabolus_
is possessed of similar powers to the Armenian. _Ochre_ is discutient and
septic in its powers; it therefore restrains the fungous flesh of ulcers,
and fills hollow ones when mixed with cerate.
* * * * *
COMMENTARY. We shall now give a brief explanation of the medicinal
earths of the ancients, and for a fuller account of them we would beg
to refer to the Appendix to Dunbar’s ‘English and Greek Lexicon,’ to
Hill’s ‘Annotations on Theophrastus on Stones,’ and to Sprengel’s ‘Notes
on Dioscorides.’ Of the ancient writers, Dioscorides and Galen give the
fullest account of them. The Arabians, also, especially Rhases, Avicenna,
and Serapion, treat of them in the most ample manner, but supply little
additional information. Geoffroy says of the _Lemnian earth_, that it is
“a fat, viscid, slippery clay, of a pale red colour.” The Lemnian ruddle
(μίλτος) was the red Armenian bole, consisting of silex, alumine, oxyd
of iron, &c. The Lemnium Sigillum was the Lemnian earth, made into cakes
and stamped with a seal, as a guarantee of its purity. The _Cretan earth_
is white chalk. The _Samian earth_, as Sprengel states, appears to have
been pure argil; Kidd supposes it to have been pipeclay. The kind called
aster was globose and thick. The _Chian_, _Selenusian_, and _Pnigitid
earths_, are also argils, more or less pure. The Sinopic ruddle was a
compact kind of ochre or marl, nearly resembling the Lemnian earth. Pliny
ranks the _Cimolian earth_ among the chalks or clays (cretæ.) Sprengel
and Kidd suppose it an argil. The purple Cimolian earth of the ancients
was our steatitis or _soap-rock_. From Dioscorides’s account of the
_Melian earth_, it appears to have consisted principally of alum, and was
different from the _Terra Melia_ of Theophrastus. The _Ampelites_ would
seem to have been a bituminous earth, formed from stone-coal, probably
resembling cannel coal. The _Armenian earth_, as Matthiolus remarks,
was different from the _Armenian bole_ now brought from the East. The
ancient is described to be a very dry clay, having the appearance of
stone, and very triturable, like lime. It was much celebrated as a remedy
for the plague. See Galen, Aëtius, and Serapion. It was introduced into
practice by Galen. It is clear, as Dr. Hill remarks, that it was the
_yellow Armenian bole_ which Galen used; the red being first used by the
Arabians. Dr. Hill found it an excellent astringent and absorbent. The
_Eretrian earth_ was an impure argil, of a snow-white colour. Geber makes
frequent mention of _magnesia_.
Γήρας ὄφεως,
_Senecta Serpentis_, the Slough of a Serpent, is decidedly desiccative:
when boiled with vinegar it, therefore, cures toothache. That of the asp,
when triturated with honey and rubbed in, sharpens the powers of vision.
* * * * *
COMMENTARY. Galen and Serapion likewise recommend the skin of a snake,
when boiled in wine or vinegar, as a remedy for earache and toothache.
See also Haly Abbas (Pract. ii, 49, 530.) Dioscorides gives nearly
the same account of it, only he recommends the cast skin of the viper
as an ophthalmic remedy. (ii, 19.) The serpent’s slough is still used
medicinally in the East. See Ainslie (Materia Medica, ii, 291.)
Γῆς ἔντερα,
Vermes terreni, _Earthworms_, when pounded and applied to wounded nerves,
have immediately the most wonderful effects.
* * * * *
COMMENTARY. Dioscorides says that earthworms, pounded and applied,
agglutinate divided nerves, and stop tertians; that, when boiled with
the grease of a goose, they cure affections of the ears when injected;
that, in like manner, when boiled in oil and injected into the opposite
ear, they relieve toothache; and that they promote the flow of urine
when pounded and drunk in wine. (ii, 72.) Galen commends earthworms as
being diuretic when drunk in must. He mentions further, that, according
to the report of certain physicians, earthworms have been given
internally and applied externally without burning or boiling. Of all the
ancient authorities, Aëtius is the fullest on the medicinal virtues of
earthworms. (ii, 168.) The Arabians do little more under this head than
copy the descriptions of them given by Dioscorides, Galen, and Paulus.
Avicenna recommends them, when pounded and drunk in wine, not only
as being diuretic but also lithontriptic. (ii, 2, 198.) The Lumbrici
terrestres, or earthworms, are described and very much commended for
their medicinal virtues in Quincy’s ‘Dispensatory’ (p. 140), and Lewis’s
‘Materia Medica’ (ii, 76.)
Γίγαρτα,
Gigarta vinacea, _Grape-stones_, are desiccative in the second degree,
but refrigerant in the first. Being, therefore, cooling, they agree with
all defluxions.
* * * * *
COMMENTARY. Galen mentions _Grape-stones_ as sour and astringent
remedies, and, therefore, applicable in all defluxions from the bowels.
Avicenna recommends the ashes of grape-stones with vinegar in torsion of
the nerves, and along with oil for contusion of the limbs and softening
of the joints. (ii, 2, 723.) See also Rhases (l. ult. Cont. i, 745.)
Γιγγίδιον,
Gingidium, _Toothpick Fennel_, is possessed of no manifest heat, but
is desiccative in the third degree, and astringent. It is, therefore,
stomachic.
* * * * *
COMMENTARY. Dioscorides says of the _Daucus gingidium_, that it is a good
potherb, and that as a medicine, when taken in a decoction with wine, it
is diuretic and lithontriptic. (ii, 166.) Galen defines its virtues to be
considerable astringency with slightly heating powers. The others treat
of it in like terms. Few if any of the Arabians have noticed it.
Γλαύκιον,
Glaucium, _Horned Poppy_, is rather disagreeably astringent, but
decidedly refrigerant, so that it cures erysipelas when the attack is not
severe.
* * * * *
COMMENTARY. In the Fifth Book we have treated of the different species of
poppy used by the ancients. It appears from Dioscorides that it was its
expressed juice which was used in practice. It was used principally in
applications to the eyes. Our author borrows from Galen, and he follows
Dioscorides (iii, 90.) The Arabians recommend it, not only in affections
of the eyes, but also in boils and erysipelas. See particularly Avicenna
(ii, 2, 470); Rhases (Cont. l. ult. i, 464.) As far as we can discover,
it does not occur in the works of the Hippocratists, nor in those of
Celsus. It has been scarcely known in the modern practice of medicine.
Γλαὺξ,
Glaux, _Milkwort_; the herb is hot and humid in temperament, and,
therefore, promotes the formation of milk.
* * * * *
COMMENTARY. Dioscorides gives a very circumstantial description of it,
from which it has been concluded that the _Glaux_ was a species of
_Astragalus_. (iv, 139.) All the authorities mention it in the same light
as our author, but few of them have described it. We are not aware of its
having been used in modern practice.
Γλήχων,
Pulegium, _Pennyroyal_, is strongly calefacient and attenuant. Hence,
when applied externally, it proves rubefacient. It also promotes the
expectoration of thick and viscid humours lodged in the chest and lungs.
* * * * *