Parthenium, Sideritis, and Heraclea); its powers are detergent and
slightly astringent, with a coldish humidity. The Helxine, called also
Cissampelos, is possessed of discutient powers.
* * * * *
COMMENTARY. This is evidently the second species of Dioscorides (iv,
86), who represents the leaves as being cooling and astringent, and
consequently proving a suitable cataplasm in cases of erysipelas,
burning, and other inflammations, and as proving useful in chronic
coughs, inflammations of the tonsils, and so forth. That this plant
is the pellitory of the wall (_Parietaria officinalis_) has been long
pretty generally acknowledged. See Parkinson, Gerard, and Sprengel.
Galen ascribes the same medicinal virtues to it as Dioscorides; and
Aëtius and Oribasius treat of it in nearly the same terms. It is the
muralis of Celsus, who recommends the juice of it, added to ceruse, as
an application to the gout. (iv, 24.) It may be proper to mention that
Dioscorides (l. c.), Pliny (H. N. xxii, 19), and Apuleius (81), also
recommend it as an application in cases of gout. The Arabians give the
pellitory exactly the same characters as the Greeks do. See Avicenna
(ii, 2, 335) and Rhases (Cont. l. ult. 536.) The Arabians call it herba
vitri, because glass vessels were cleaned with it. It is now excluded
from the Dispensatory, but held a place in it down to a late date. See
Quincy, Hill, and Rutty. That the former species of helxine described
by Dioscorides was a species of _Convolvulus_ has long been known. See
Matthiolus and Parkinson. Dodonæus makes it the _niger_, and Sprengel
the _arvensis_. Dioscorides briefly states of its medicinal virtues,
that it is laxative. (iv, 39.) It is not treated of, as far as we have
discovered, by Galen, Aëtius, or Oribasius. The Arabians treat of it as a
species of _Volubilis_, by the name of _acfin_. See Serapion (De Simpl.
41); Mesue (De Simpl. 24.) Both agree with Dioscorides in making it to be
laxative. See further APP.
Ἔλυμος ἤ Μελίνη,
Panicum, _Panic_, is, like millet, desiccative and refrigerant in its
powers when applied externally. It also dries up alvine fluxes.
* * * * *
COMMENTARY. Panic, as Miller remarks, is a plant of the millet kind.
It is the _Panicum Italicum_. It is more an article of food than of
medicine. We have treated of it accordingly in the part of this work
devoted to Dietetics. See Vol. I, 124.
Ἔμπετρον ἤ Πρασσοδὲς,
Empetron, _Black-berried Heath_, is a medicine which purges phlegm and
bile. It is also saltish and therefore, detergent.
* * * * *
COMMENTARY. It is not well determined whether it be a species of
_Crithmum_, _Herniaria_, or _Salsola_. Dioscorides makes it to be a
purger of phlegm, bile, and water; and all the other authorities, both
Greek and Arabian, give it the same characters in the main. It does not
appear that the Arabians have noticed it; neither do we find it in the
works of Hippocrates or Celsus. In the modern Greek Pharmacopœia it is
set down as being the _Pimpinella Saxifraga_.
Ἐπίθυμον,
Epithymum (vel Cuscuta minor?) _Dodder of Thyme_, is desiccant and
calefacient in the third degree, being more drastic than thyme.
* * * * *
COMMENTARY. Dioscorides says of the _Cuscuta Epithymus_, or lesser dodder
of thyme, that it purges phlegm and black bile, and agrees particularly
with melancholic and flatulent cases. (iv, 176.) Aëtius, likewise, calls
it a melanogogue medicine. Galen and Oribasius give exactly the same
character of it as our author. Serapion gives a most graphic description
of this singular parasitic plant, in the present instance quoting solely
from Arabian authorities. They agree in general that it is deobstruent,
cathartic, and emmenagogue, and join in recommending it particularly in
jaundice, obstructions of the liver and spleen, and in the fevers of
children. (De Simpl. 39.) Mesue, also, gives nearly the same characters
of it; he mentions of it that it is a weak and slow purge, unless taken
in a large dose, and, therefore, he recommends it to be given with
Indian myrobalans, black hellebore, mulse, salts, or the like. (16.)
See also Avicenna (ii, 2, 226) and Rhases (Cont. 270.) It held a place
in our Dispensatory, with the character of being a cleanser, down to a
late period. See Rutty (Materia Medica, p. 80.); Quincy (Complete Engl.
Dispens. p. 117.)
Ἐπιμήδιον,
Epimedium, _Barren Wort_; its powers are moderately refrigerant, with a
watery humidity. When applied in the form of a cataplasm it preserves
the breasts in a right state. It is also said to prevent conception when
taken in a draught.
* * * * *
COMMENTARY. Our author borrows his description of the Epimedium Alpinum,
or Barren Wort, from Dioscorides; and none of the others supply any
additional information respecting it.
Ἐπιμηλὶς,
Epimelis, _Crab-tree_, called also Unedo by the Italian husbandmen. It
is a sort of wild apple, the fruit of which, being sour, is bad for the
stomach, and occasions headache.
* * * * *
COMMENTARY. It appears, from Dioscorides (i, 170), that it is a species
of Medlar. Probably, then, it was the _Mespilus Germanica_. Dioscorides,
Galen, and all the other authorities that treat of it give it the same
character as our author. As a medicine, it has the same characters as the
other Medlars.
Ἐπιπακτὶς,
Epipactis (called also Helleborine, or _Bastard Hellebore_), is drunk as
an antidote for deadly poisons, and for diseases of the liver.
* * * * *
COMMENTARY. The older herbalists, supported by the authority of
Anguillara, incline to refer this article to the genus _Herniaria_, or
Rupture Wort. The epipactis, it would seem, is still in great repute
throughout Greece, as being alexipharmic, and curing complaints of the
liver. Our author and all the others who notice it take its medicinal
characters from Dioscorides. (iv, 107.) As far as we have been able
to discover, it is not noticed by Hippocrates, Celsus, nor any of the
Arabians.
Ἐρέβίνθος,
Cicer, _Vetch_ or _Chick-pea_, a common kind of pulse; is flatulent,
nutritious, a proper medicine for the bowels, diuretic, engenders milk
and semen, and proves emmenagogue. The kind called Arietinum is more
diuretic than the others. A decoction of them, more especially the black
sort, breaks down stones in the kidneys. The species called Ervinum, is
hotter than the others, and bitterish. The wild are in every respect
stronger than the cultivated.
* * * * *
COMMENTARY. It comprehends several species of the Cicer. The κριὸς is
undoubtedly the _Cicer arietanum_. The two other species cannot be
so readily determined. Probably they are but varieties produced by
cultivation. We have treated of them among the articles of food, in the
79th section of the First Book. As a medicine, Dioscorides recommends
them especially in a cataplasm for inflammations of the testicles,
scabies, achor, lichen, cancerous and ill-conditioned ulcers. All kinds
of vetches, he says, are diuretic, and prove useful when given with
rosemary, for jaundice and dropsy. (ii, 126.) Galen gives the chiches the
same character, and further holds them to be lithontriptic. (De Simpl.
v.) Aëtius follows him closely. (i.) The Arabians in addition say that
chiches are anthelminthic, diuretic, and purgative, and that they are
useful in arthritic diseases. See Serapion (80); Avicenna (ii, 2, 128);
and Rhases (Cont. l. ult. i, 209.) Avicenna, in particular, gives a long
list of their medicinal virtues. In addition to those already stated, he
joins Hippocrates in holding chiches to be aphrodisiacal; and hence he
says procreating animals, such as camels, are fed with them. He joins
the others in holding them to be deobstruent, lithontriptic, cathartic,
and diuretic. Chiches long held a place in our Dispensatory with the
characters given to them by Dioscorides and Avicenna. See Quincy (111)
and Rutty (122.) Three sorts were used in modern as in ancient times,
namely, the white, the red, and the black, but, as Quincy remarks, their
medicinal virtues are all pretty much the same.
Ἔρια,
Lana, _Wool_; that which is unscoured is useful for embrocations, for the
Œsypum is digestive, like butter. That which is scoured is simply the
vehicle for other applications. That which is burnt has acrid, hot, and
desiccative powers, with some tenuity of parts so as to melt down the
flaccid flesh of ulcers.
* * * * *
COMMENTARY. Dioscorides, Galen, Serapion, and the other authorities give
nearly the same account of the medicinal properties of wool.
Ἐρίκη,
Erica, _Heath_, is possessed of discutient powers without pungency. Its
flower and leaves are principally to be used.
* * * * *
COMMENTARY. Sprengel and Schneider agree that it is the _Erica arborea_,
but the description of it given by Dioscorides, namely, that “it is like
the tamarisk but much smaller,” would rather seem to apply to one of the
lesser species. Dioscorides commends it as an application to the bites of
reptiles. (i, 116.) Our author copies from Galen. The Arabians, with the
exception of Ebn Baithar, would appear not to have treated of it, and it
has not held a place in our Dispensatory for a long time past. The old
herbalists, copying from the ancient authorities, ascribe to the heath
the virtues which Dioscorides and Galen held it to be possessed of.
Ἔρινος,
Erinos, _Water-basil_, is an aquatic herb, two drachms of the fruit of
which with four drachms of honey, when rubbed in stops defluxions of the
eyes. Its juice is also a remedy for earache.
* * * * *
COMMENTARY. That it is a species of _Campanula_ has been long agreed
upon. Columna held it to be the _C. Rapunculus_ or _Rampions_, but
Sprengel names it _C. Erinus_. It is the _echinos_ of Galen, as is
obvious from the similarity of the descriptions of the two articles.
Few of the other authorities notice it. Our author merely abridges
Dioscorides (iv, 29.) The rapunculus or rampion is still cultivated as a
salad. See Loudon (Encycl. of Garden. 734.)
Ἑρμοδάκτυλος,
Hermodactylus, _Hermodactyl_; the root of it is possessed of purgative
properties, and also the decoction. It is given for affections of the
joints in rheumatism, but it is bad for the stomach.
* * * * *
COMMENTARY. We cannot afford room here to discuss fully the much agitated
question respecting the ancient hermodactylus, and beg to refer to what
we have said on the subject in the Appendix to Dunbar’s Lexicon. See
also particularly the commentators on Mesue and Dioscorides. It is to
be remarked that our author has entirely omitted to notice the Κολχικὸν
of Dioscorides by name, and that the only article which he has in place
of it is the Ἑρμ. This is a presumptive proof of the identity of these
two medicines. Serapion moreover, in his chapter on Hermodactylus, gives
the words of our author in this place along with Dioscorides’s account
of the colchicum. Accordingly, Bergius, Tournefort, Humelbergius, and
Geoffroy are decidedly of opinion that they were identical. Prosper
Alpinus, in like manner, says of it “hermodactylus qui est radix colchici
Græcorum.” (De Med. Meth. iii, 9.) See also Hill’s Mat. Med. On this
side of the question we further beg to quote the authority of Dr. Paris:
“The active ingredient of the _Eau médicinale_ has been discovered to
be the _Colchicum Autumnale_ or meadow-saffron; upon investigating the
properties of this medicine, it was observed that similar effects in the
cure of the gout were ascribed to a certain plant called hermodactylus
by Oribasius and Aëtius (Paulus _Æg._?), but more particularly by
Alexander of Tralles, a physician of Asia Minor, in the fourth century;
an inquiry was accordingly instituted after this unknown plant, and upon
procuring a specimen of it from Constantinople it was actually found to
be a species of colchicum.” (Pharmacologia, 58.) We have already given
a full account of the administration of hermodactylus in gout. (Book
III, 78.) Alexander of Tralles, as far as we know, is the earliest
authority that treats of the hermodactylus by name, and he recommends
it for the cure of arthritic diseases. (xi.) Our author is the only
one of the Greek writers who admits it into the Materia Medica. The
Arabians treat of it fully, but some of them confusedly, by mixing up the
ancient descriptions of the _ephemeron_ and _colchicum_ with it. Thus
Serapion, after quoting, as already stated, Dioscorides’s account of
the _colchicum_, gives the opinions of various Arabian authorities, all
of whom concur in representing it to be a calefacient herb, and most of
them in recommending it in diseases of the joints. (De Simpl. 194.) Mesue
recommends it as a phlegmagogue in diseases of the joints, when given
internally with cumin, ginger, pepper, myrobalans, &c.; and externally in
the form of a cataplasm. He also states it to be a good application to
foul ulcers. (De Simpl. vii.) Avicenna quotes no Greek authority in his
chapter on Hermodactylus but Paulus, from which it may be inferred that
he did not identify it with the colchicum of Dioscorides, like Serapion.
He recommends it especially in gout, both internally and in the form of
plaster. (ii, 2, 343.) Rhases refers to no other Greek authorities on
this head except Paulus and Alexander, but quotes the opinions of several
Arabians, all of whom agree in recommending hermodactylus in gout and
foul ulcers. An anonymous authority makes it to be aphrodisiac. (Cont.
l. ult. 362.) See also Haly Abbas (Pract. ii, 43.) It is particularly to
be remarked that the Arabian authorities all notice three varieties of
the hermodactyl root, the white, the red, and the black; and restrict the
medicinal use of the H. to the first of these, and condemn the two others
as being deleterious. Nicholaus Myrepsus (i, 1) and Actuarius (De Compos.
Med. i), however, prescribe also the red, which the learned Fuchsius, in
his annotations on the former, sets down as being the _behen rubrum_.
We know not what are his grounds for this opinion. It is the white
variety which has been always used medicinally. See Boerhaave, Quincy,
and Pereira. We would beg particularly to refer our readers who wish to
obtain the modern literature of this subject, to the Materia Medica of
Pereira (p. 949.)
Ἕρπυλλος,
Serpyllum, _Wild Thyme_, is heating, so as to promote the urinary and
menstrual discharge.
* * * * *
COMMENTARY. All agree that the _Thymus Serpyllum_ is possessed of
diuretic and emmenagogue powers. Dioscorides recommends it in tormina,
convulsions, &c., and as an alexipharmic. The others, like our author,
treat more briefly of it in general terms. Serapion and Avicenna borrow
freely from Dioscorides. The _Serpyllum_ held a place in our Dispensatory
with its ancient characters down to a very recent date. See Quincy and
Rutty (Mat. Med.) The latter, however, questions its identity with the
ancient _Serpyllum_.
Ἐρυθρόδανον,
Erythrodanum, _Madder_, is the Rubia Tinctorum. Being sour and bitter, it
purges the spleen, liver, and kidneys, so as to occasion a discharge of
bloody urine. It acts as an emmenagogue, and cleanses the sordes of the
skin.
* * * * *
COMMENTARY. There seems scarcely any reason to hesitate in admitting
it to be the _Rubia Tinctorum_, madder and dyer’s madder. Dioscorides
holds it to be powerfully diuretic, insomuch as sometimes to occasion
a discharge of blood in the urine. He recommends it in sciatica and
paralysis; as an alexipharmic medicine, and as producing abortion,
menstruation, and the lochial discharge when applied as a pessary. He
adds, that it cures alphos (mild leprosy) in a cataplasm with vinegar.
(iii, 150.) Our author borrows from Galen, who sets it down as being
deobstruent, diuretic, and emmenagogue. Aëtius uses nearly the same words
as our author in treating of it. All the Arabians follow the Greeks in
giving madder the character of being diuretic and deobstruent when given
internally, and emmenagogue and alexipharmic when applied externally.
See Avicenna (ii, 2, 573), Rhases (Cont. l. ult. i, 590.) The Arabian
writers mention that a bread was sometimes prepared from madder in times
of famine. (Casiri, Bibl. Arab. Hisp., 336.) It is still sometimes given
as an emmenagogue, notwithstanding that Dodonæus questioned the truth
of Dioscorides’s opinion as to its possessing the powers of occasioning
bloody urine and a discharge of the menses. (De Purgant. 97.) Our old
herbalists, Parkinson and Gerard, dispute whether Dioscorides or Dodonæus
is to be followed in this instance. The _Rubia Tinctorum_ holds a place
in the modern Greek Pharmacopœia.
Ἐρύσιμον,
Erysimum, _Hedge-mustard_; its seed is fiery and heating, equally as
cresses. Wherefore, when boiled in leaven and added to linctuses, it
purges the chest. It also softens indurations, and in the form of a
cataplasm is of use for latent cancers.
* * * * *
COMMENTARY. We may pretty confidently set it down as the _Erysimum
officinale_, Hedge-mustard. Our author abridges Galen, who, in the
present case, borrows almost everything from Dioscorides. Aëtius copies
from Galen even more closely than our author. The Arabians, in like
manner, borrow everything from Dioscorides and Galen under this head.
See in particular Serapion (De Simpl. 357.) It is worthy of remark that
Dr. Hill gives the same medicinal character to the hedge-mustard which
Dioscorides gives to the _Erysimon_, which it will be admitted forms a
strong presumption of their identity; at all events, they were evidently
congeners, a fact which is not disputed by those who question their
identity. See Rutty (Mat. Med.) and Sprengel (ad Dioscor.)
Εὔζωμον,
Eruca, _Rocket_, being also like it in temperament, is flatulent. It
therefore produces venereal incitement, and the seed of it is diuretic.
The wild is stronger than the cultivated.
* * * * *
COMMENTARY. There can be no doubt that it is the _Brassica Eruca_,
L. Dioscorides agrees with our author in setting it down as being
aphrodisiacal and diuretic, and Aëtius does the same. The latter proposes
to correct its tendency to induce headache by giving it with lettuce.
(ii, 169.) Celsus ranks the “eruca” among the things “quæ contrahere
semen videntur.” (iv, 21.) The Arabians agreed with the Greeks as to its
aphrodisiacal properties. (Casiri, Bibl. Arab. Hisp. i, 336.) See also
Serapion (224), Avicenna (ii, 2, 227.) Even down to a late date rocket
retained this character. See Rutty (183), and Quincy (109.) It is still
cultivated in gardens. See Loudon (Encycl. &c. 744.)
Ἐυπατώριον,
Eupatorium, _Hemp-agrimony_, consists of subtile particles, and is
possessed of incisive powers without manifest heat. Hence it clears away
obstructions of the liver, and has also some astringency.
* * * * *
COMMENTARY. That the _Eupatorium_ of Dioscorides and the other Greek
authorities is the _Agrimonia Eupatorium_, will hardly be questioned now
by any competent judge who has investigated the question. Dioscorides
recommends its leaves in ill-conditioned ulcers, and its seed and stalk
in wine, for dysentery and the stings of reptiles. (iv, 41.) Galen makes
it to be deobstruent and tonic. Serapion copies from Dioscorides and
Galen, and merely adds, in the end, from Rhases, that southernwood is
more suitable in complaints of the liver; and from Mesue, that it is good
in protracted fevers. (De Simpl. 77.) Avicenna’s chapter on Eupatorium
is entirely compiled from Dioscorides, Galen, and Serapion, without the
slightest change or addition. (ii, 2, 239.) No one who has examined into
the matter can therefore doubt that the Eu. of these two Arabians, was
the same as that of the Greeks. The Eupatorium of Mesue, however, has
been generally held to be a very different plant, namely, the _Eupatorium
Cannabinum_, according to some, from his comparing the leaves to
those of the lesser centaury. It is to be borne in mind, however, that
the Latin translations of the Arabians are not to be trusted in small
matters, and therefore this comparison may be all a mistake. And that the
Eu. of Mesue was the same as that of the others, seems highly probable
from his recommending it in the same complaints, namely, in obstructions
of the liver, and chronic fevers. (De Simpl. 15.) Such is the conclusion
to which an impartial examination of the question has brought us. It is
but fair to mention, however, that all the old herbalists and writers on
the Mat. Med. down to Rutty and Quincy, are against us, and hold that the
Eupatorium of Mesue was different from that of the Greeks. See Matthiolus
(in Dioscor.); Parkinson (Theatre of Plants); and the commentators on
Mesue.
Ἐυφόρβιον,
Euphorbium, is possessed of caustic powers, and consists of subtile
particles like the other juices.
* * * * *
COMMENTARY. A gum-resin produced from some species of _Euphorbia_
still holds its place in the Materia Medica. Alston remarks, “neither
Dioscorides nor Galen take any notice of the cathartic quality of the
Euphorbium, but Pliny does, as do also Aëtius, Paulus, and the Arabians;
but all make it excessively acrid, upon account of which its internal use
is now generally condemned.” Mesue particularly commends it in diseases
of the joints. It was formerly supposed that Euphorbium is procured from
a species called the _E. antiquorum_, but it is now admitted that the
species is still undetermined. See Pereira (1127.) Probably, as stated in
the modern Greek Pharmacopœia, it is procured from several species of the
Euphorbia. (66.)
Ἐφήμερον,
Ephemerum (or Colchicum Autumnale?), not the poisonous species but
that which is called the Wild Iris. It is possessed of mixed powers,
repellent, and discutient.
* * * * *
COMMENTARY. See Ἑρμοδάκτυλος, and Book V (48.) The E., here said to be
the same as the wild iris, is the _Convallaria verticillata_. Dioscorides
recommends its root in toothache, and its leaves as possessing
discutient powers when applied to swellings and tumours. (iv, 75.) Galen
is at great pains to explain its _modus operandi_ agreeably to his theory
of the action of medicines.
Ἐχίδνα,
Vipera, _the Viper_; its flesh is decidedly hot and dry in temperament,
so that it cleanses the whole body by the skin. Wherefore many persons
affected with elephantiasis, by eating or drinking of it have been cured.
Those which live by the sea-side, or in other dry situations, rather
occasion thirst.
* * * * *