indisputable. The scraped verdigris (ἰὸς ζυστὸς) was the common kind,
and the name is still retained in the modern Greek Pharmacopœia (61.)
Hippocrates, Dioscorides, Pliny, and Galen recommend verdigris in
complaints of the eyes. Dioscorides describes very minutely the process
for preparing verdigris, which is not very unlike that which is now
practised in France. He also makes mention of another species, namely,
the _Ærugo Scolecia_, with which we are now unacquainted. He gives an
interesting account of the cases in which it is applicable. (v, 92.)
Galen also writes of it with great precision. He says, when lightly
applied it relieves fungated sores; and when diluted with cerates, it
cleanses them. (De Simpl. ix.) The other Greek authorities give much the
same account of it. The Arabians treat fully of the two kinds, which
they call _Ærugo rasilis_ and _subtilis_, but borrow almost all their
information from Dioscorides and Galen. Like the Greek authorities,
they apply it principally in intractable ulcers and in diseases of the
eyelids. See Avicenna (ii, 2, 739), and Serapion (De Simpl. 383); Haly
Abbas (Pract. ii, 44); Ebn Baithar (i, 540.)
Ἱππόκαμπος,
Hippocampus, is a sea animal, the ashes of which when burnt thicken the
hair in alopecia, along with liquid pitch.
* * * * *
COMMENTARY. It is, indisputably, our _Syngnathus Hippocampus_. Ælian
relates that it has proved useful in cases of hydrophobia. (Hist. Anim.
xiv, 20.) Our author borrows from Dioscorides (ii, 3.) The Arabians do
not treat of it.
Ἱππολάπαθον,
Hippolapathum, _Horse Burdock_, grows in marshes, being like the Burdock.
* * * * *
COMMENTARY. This article, which would seem to be the _Rumex
Hydrolapathum_, is treated of in the same brief terms by the other
authorities. See Dioscorides (i, 141.)
Ἱππομάραθρον,
Hippomarathrum, _Horse Fennel_; that variety which resembles the Cachrys
is more desiccant than the common Fennel. It is, therefore, astringent,
lithontriptic, and emmenagogue; but that species which has seed like
coriander seed, is also like it in other respects, but weaker.
* * * * *
COMMENTARY. There is little doubt that the former species is the _Cachrys
Sicula_. The other is undetermined. Our author copies closely from
Dioscorides (iii, 76); and the others follow his example. The modern
herbalists, in like manner, borrow from Dioscorides. See Parkinson (884.)
Ἱπποπόταμος,
Hippopotamus, _Sea-horse_; its testicle, when dried and drunk, is a
remedy for the bites of reptiles.
* * * * *
COMMENTARY. This brief notice of the _Hippopotamus amphibius_, or
Water-horse, is taken from Dioscorides (ii, 25.) Most of the other
authorities have omitted it.
Ἱπποσέλινον,
Hipposelinum, _Horse Parsley_, has properties resembling those of
parsley, but weaker.
* * * * *
COMMENTARY. It is the _Smyrnium Olusatrum_, according to Dierbach,
Stackhouse, Sprengel, and all the best authorities. Dioscorides
represents it to be emmenagogue and diuretic, and as proving beneficial
in rigors. (iii, 71.) Galen and the others treat of it briefly like our
author. The Arabians treat of it under Selinum (_Apium_.)
Ἱππουρὶς,
Hippouris, _Horse-tail_, has astringent qualities with bitterness, and
on that account it is at the same time powerfully desiccant, without
pungency. It is agglutinant, therefore, of the largest wounds, and is
useful in intestinal hernia, and cures defluxions when drunk with wine.
* * * * *
COMMENTARY. The first species of Dioscorides corresponds to our author’s,
and is marked as the _Equisetum Fluviatile_ by Sprengel, which is called
in English the _Horse-tail_. The other is the _E. Limosum_. Apuleius
recommends it in dysentery and spitting of blood. Aëtius recommends it
in the same complaints. But both, in fact, only borrow from Dioscorides
and Galen, especially the latter, who treats of it more fully than
Dioscorides. The Arabians give exactly the same account of the Equisetum;
indeed they profess to borrow everything from Dioscorides and Galen. See
in particular Serapion (137), and Avicenna (ii, 2, 200.)
Ἱπποφαὲς ἤ Ἱπποφαῖος,
Hippophaes, used for scouring clothes. It is a branchy shrub, the root
of which contains juices which are extracted like those of Thapsia. One
obolus of the juice mixed with the flour of tares, purges phlegm and
bile; and the whole plant, when dried, becomes purgative.
* * * * *
COMMENTARY. Without entering into the discussion regarding this plant,
we shall merely observe that we are disposed to agree with those who
refer it to a species of spurge, namely, _Euphorbia spinosa_. Dioscorides
describes it as being cholagogue, hydragogue, and phlegmagogue. (iii,
159.) It does not appear that it is treated of by Galen, nor by the
Arabian authorities.
Ἰρίς.
Iris, _Fleur-de-lys_, is calefacient, consists of very subtile particles,
and is detergent and digestive. It therefore agrees with coughs, renders
expectoration easy, cures tormina, and cleanses foul ulcers. When drunk
with honeyed water it evacuates the bowels.
* * * * *
COMMENTARY. Probably it comprehends the _Iris Germanica_ and _I.
Florentina_. It is the first article treated of by Dioscorides, who gives
a full account of it, and concludes by saying that the different species
of it are useful for many purposes. He recommends them as an external
application in cutaneous diseases and ulcers, and as being soporific
and alexipharmic; when drunk with wine as proving emmenagogue, and also
applied in pessaries, malagmata, and acopa. The others treat of its
virtues less copiously, with the exception of Serapion and Avicenna.
One of Serapion’s Arabian authorities, Aben Mesuai, says it purges
yellow bile and black bile, and is deobstruent in obstructions of the
liver. He also mentions it as a sternutatory and masticatory. (De Simpl.
189.) Avicenna’s characters of the Iris are in the main derived from
Dioscorides, but altogether his description of it is very interesting.
He recommends it very particularly in diseases of the rectum and uterus,
both when administered internally and in a hip-bath. He also represents
it as proving useful in gonorrhœa, and in the pollutio nocturni somni.
He concludes by calling it a general alexipharmic (ii, 2, 349.) The
root of the Florentine Iris or Flower de Luce, was used in the practice
of medicine down to a late date. See Quincy and Boerhaave. It is still
kept in the shops, and has the character of being a drastic hydragogue.
Gray, Suppl. to Pharmacop. (251.) It retains a place in the Modern Greek
Pharmacopœia.
Ἰσάτις.
Isatis, _Woad_; the garden species which dyers use, is of a desiccative
nature, having also some astringency. By means of these powers it
agglutinates even the large wounds of hard bodies, is of use in
hemorrhages, discusses œdematous swellings, and opposes the progress of
all malignant diseases. The wild is more pungent, and on that account
being more desiccant, it the more strongly resists all humid gangrene,
but for all other purposes it is worse as being pungent. Owing to its
strong powers, it is useful in affections of the spleen.
* * * * *
COMMENTARY. Dr. Martyn says, “The _Woad_ is called Isatis and Glastum,
and affords a blue tincture.” (Ad Virg. Ec. iv, 43.) See also Miller,
Parkinson, and Gerard. It is the _Isatis Tinctoria_. The second species
of Dioscorides, or Sylvestris, is the _Saponaria Vaccaria_, L., but the
passage is probably spurious. Our author’s account of the Isatis is
abridged from Galen, who has an elaborate article under this head. Aëtius
copies still more closely from Galen. Both these authorities direct
bread or barleymeal to be mixed with its pounded leaves when they are
otherwise too strong. Of the Arabians, Avicenna gives the most accurate
account of it under the head of _Nil_ seu Glastum sativum et sylvestre.
In its external use he follows Dioscorides and Galen, and joins Rhases in
recommending it internally as an emetic for the cough of children, ulcers
of the lungs, and pleurisy arising from black bile. He further commends
the wild species in affections of the spleen. (ii, 2, 505, 290, 299.)
Serapion and Rhases give a confused account of the Isatis, under the head
of Indicum. (De Simpl. 47); (Cont. l. ult. 370.) The Woad held a place
in our Dispensatory down to a recent date. See Quincy (91.) Woad and
indigo were long used together in dyeing, which probably is the reason of
these two articles being confounded together by certain of the ancient
authorities.
Ἰσόπυρον ἢ φυσίολον,
Isopyrum or Faseolus, (Bog Bean?); its seed is bitter and somewhat sour.
It is, therefore, detergent, and exudes the thick and viscid humours at
the same time that it contracts bodies, and is astringent. It therefore
purges deep-seated humours, and is not against persons affected with
vomiting of blood.
* * * * *
COMMENTARY. From our author’s account of it, it would seem to be the
same as the fasil, or kidney-bean; but Dioscorides clearly distinguishes
between them. (iv, 119.) Dodonæus had referred it to the _Menyanthes
trifoliata_, or bog-bean; but this opinion is rejected by Sprengel. He
inclines to the _Corydalis claviculata_, Pers., but is not decided.
We rather incline to the opinion of Dodonæus, on the ground that its
medicinal character, as given by Galen and our author, applies very well
to the _Menyanthes trifoliata_. It is not treated of by Aëtius, nor can
we find it in the Mat. Med. of the Arabians.
Ἰτέα,
Salix, _the Willow_; the leaves and flower are possessed of desiccant
powers without pungency. It has also some astringency; but the bark is
drier, and when burnt, the ashes of it are powerfully desiccant, for they
remove clavi and myrmecia with vinegar.
* * * * *
COMMENTARY. Several species of the _Salix_ are described by Theophrastus
and other ancient authors. Milligan refers that of Celsus to _S. alba_,
_fragilis_, and _purpurea_; but to define the species, which are so
numerous in this genus, is futile. But that the _Alba_ was _one_ of the
medicinal willows of the ancients, can admit of no doubt. See Parkinson
(1430.) Dioscorides says the fruit and leaves, and bark and juice of the
willow tree are possessed of an astringent power, and accordingly he
recommends them both externally and internally in various complaints for
which astringents are indicated, such as hæmoptysis, and as a fomentation
in arthritic complaints. He also mentions the ley of it when prepared
with vinegar for the removal of callus and corns. (i, 35.) Galen also
gives a very elaborate statement of its medicinal virtues; he says it is
desiccative without pungency, and has some astringency; and he recommends
it strongly in the same cases as Dioscorides and our author; indeed, the
latter merely abridges Galen. Aëtius copies from Galen almost word for
word. The Arabians treat fully of it; but in the same terms as their
Grecian masters. See Rhases (Cont. l. ult. 2, 250); Avicenna (ii, 2, 319,
677); Serapion (De Simpl. 136); Ebn Baithar (i, 122.) In the modern Greek
Pharmacopœia both the _Salix fragilis_ and _alba_ stand for the ancient
ἰτέα.
Ἰχθυοκόλλα,
Ichthyocolla, _Fish-glue_; its powers are emplastic and desiccant. It
answers well for the composition of cephalic and agglutinative plasters,
and of those which are prepared for leprosy; also for removing wrinkles
from the face.
* * * * *
COMMENTARY. That described by Dioscorides and our author was got from the
_Acipenser Huso_. The large fish described by Herodotus, and Eustathius,
in his commentary on the work of Dionysius the geographer, under the name
of Antacæus, was, most probably, nearly the same as the Huso. See the
modern Greek Pharmacopœia (83.) Artedi makes the _Huso_, _Ichthyocolla_
and _Antacæus_ to be varieties of the species of _Acipenser_, which he
calls _Acipenser tuberculis carens_. It would appear to be the ὀξυρύγχος
of Ælian. (H. A. xvii, 32.) He makes mention of its gluten or isinglass.
Our author’s account of its medicinal virtues is mostly copied from
Dioscorides. The others supply no additional information. The Arabians
treat of it under the general head of gluten, and recommend it in the
same cases as the Greeks, quoting Dioscorides, Galen, and Paulus.
Serapion and Rhases recommend it in hæmoptysis. See Avicenna (ii, 2,
202); Serapion (c. 138); Rhases (Cont. l. ult. i, 336.)
Κάκανος,
Cacanus; its root is moderately desiccative and not pungent, also
emplastic, and hence it relieves roughness of the windpipe in a linctus
with wine, and when chewed like tragacanth and liquorice.
* * * * *
COMMENTARY. It is not mentioned by Dioscorides, Pliny, Theophrastus,
Aëtius, or any other ancient author but Galen and Paulus; nor has any one
of the commentators noticed it. We are unable, therefore, to determine
anything for certain respecting it. But as Dioscorides and Pliny ascribe
nearly the same medicinal powers to the _Cacalia_ as our author does to
the Cacanus, it seems not improbable that they may have been identical.
Our author evidently borrows from Galen.
Κάγκαμον,
Cancamum; it is the tear of an Arabian wood, resembling myrrh, fragrant,
and hence used in perfumes. It has the power of extenuating fat bodies,
and is detergent and deobstruent.
* * * * *
COMMENTARY. Dioscorides treats of it in the portion of his work devoted
to aromatics, calling it the tear of an Arabian wood, having some
resemblance to myrrh, which was used in fumigations with myrrh and
storax. He calls it emmenagogue; mentions that it is given in asthmatic,
epileptic, and splenetic cases; says it is useful as a cleanser in
diseases of the eye; but that it is most particularly applicable for
fungous gums and toothache. (i, 23.) Galen has omitted it from his Mat.
Med. Of the Arabians, Avicenna is the authority who has treated of it
most distinctly. He calls it a gum of a bad taste which is brought from
the region of the west. (This account of the country which produces it
may warrant suspicion that he had confounded it with some other gum, the
production of Italy or Spain.) He says of it, that some had confounded
it with sandaracha (gum vernix?). In giving its medicinal virtues, he
copies closely from Dioscorides (ii, 2, 382.) It is doubtful, from this
imperfect description of the Cancamum, what substance it applies to;
probably either to _Gum anime_ or to _Gum elemi_. There seems no good
ground for referring it, as some have done, to _Lacca_; nor to some
nondescript species of the _Amyris Katef_, as Sprengel does. (Ad Dioscor.
l. c.)
Καδμία,
Cadmia, _Calamine_; both kinds of it are desiccant, but that which
is called Botryitis, consists of the more subtile particles, and the
Placitis, of the grosser. When calamine is burnt, it becomes desiccant
and detergent, without pungency, and is also useful for sores requiring
to be filled up, about the eyes and in the whole body, more particularly
those on softer bodies, which are more humid, for those upon harder
bodies require stronger means.
* * * * *
COMMENTARY. Under this head we cannot do better than in the first
place copy the account of the ancient cadmia given by the learned and
accurate Geoffroy. “The name _Cadmia_ has been applied to several things.
Dioscorides understood by καδμέια the recrements which arise from brass
while melting in the furnace. Galen applied it to two substances, one
which comes from brass (chalcos?), which is the same with the cadmia
of Dioscorides; the other a native substance found in the island of
Cyprus, which he terms λιθῶδης or stony. Pliny, besides the factitious
cadmia of Dioscorides and Galen, mentions another by the name of _Lapis
ærosus_, which he says was an ore out of which copper was made, and this
perhaps is the same with the _Cadmia lapidosa_ of Galen.” (ii, 2, 6.)
The botryital or clustered cadmia was Tutty, or the _Cadmia fornacis_
seu _factitia_. It is the _Zinci Oxydum impurum_. The _Capnitis_ and
_Placitis_ were merely varieties of the same, the former being in the
shape of a fine powder, collected at the mouths of the furnaces, and the
latter consisting of coarser and heavier grains. The minerals from which
all these preparations of cadmia were prepared, are the two varieties
of calamine, now called by mineralogists “the siliceous oxide of zinc”
and “the carbonate of zinc.” See Cleavland’s ‘Mineralogy’ (656, 657.)
Dioscorides gives a very distinct description of the cadmia, which he
recommends principally in the composition of ophthalmic remedies (v,
84.) Galen’s account of it is to the same effect, and is couched in his
peculiar logical language. (De Simpl. ix.) The Arabians give a confused
description of cadmia and the other mineral substances used by the
Greeks in medical practice. See Avicenna (ii, 2, 163, 164); Serapion
(418); Rhases (Cont. l. ult. i, 150.) For an elaborate disquisition on
the _cadmia_ of the ancients, we beg to refer to Beckmann’s ‘History of
Inventions.’
Κακκαλία,
Caccalia; its powers and use are like the Cacanus.
* * * * *
COMMENTARY. See under _Cacanus_.
Καλαμαγρώστις,
Calamagrostis, is desiccative; wherefore, its juice and the decoction of
the roots of it are mixed up as ingredients with ophthalmic remedies; but
its seed is diuretic and stomachic.
* * * * *
COMMENTARY. This is decidedly the _Calamagrostis Epigeios_ Roth. or
Small Reed. Dioscorides says it proves destructive to cattle when eaten
by them, especially the variety which grows in Babylon by the wayside.
Parkinson (Theatre of Plants, 1181) figures and describes a species of
reed-grass, bearing a considerable resemblance to our _Epigeios_, but of
more luxuriant growth; which, he says, Lobel calls _Calamagrostis forte
Babylonica_. Neither Galen nor Aëtius treat of it. The Arabians briefly
notice it under the head of _Theil_ or Gramen, but merely copy from the
Greeks. See Serapion (De Simpl. 119), and Avicenna (ii, 2, 704.)
Καλαμίνθη,
Calamintha, _Calamint_, is of a hot and drying temperament in the third
degree, consists of subtile particles, is acrid, and much stronger than
mint; for it is a sort of wild mint. It, therefore, attracts readily the
deep-seated fluids to itself, and hence evacuates dropsies, and discusses
swelling of the whole body, and stops periodical rigors, when strongly
rubbed in externally with oil, and when taken internally in a draught.
When applied in a clyster it removes pains of the hip-joint, and clears
away impurities from the skin.
* * * * *
COMMENTARY. Apuleius says, “Græci calaminthen Latini mentham vocant, alii
nepetam,” (De Herbis.) R. Stephens says, “Calaminthæ Dioscoridi tria sunt
genera, quorum primum nihil aliud quam vulgare _Calamenthum_; secundum
Latine Nepeta appellatur; tertium est nostra herba Cataria, _l’herbe
du chat_.” Sprengel makes the first species of Dioscorides to be the
_Melissa Cretica_, L.; the second, the _Thymus Nepeta_, Scop.; and the
third, the _Melissa altissima_. Our author’s calamint is evidently the
first species. Galen, Dioscorides, Aëtius, and Serapion, like Paulus,
describe it as a hot and acrid medicine, which proves useful in diseases
of the joints. They all, also, say that it is emmenagogue; and recommend
it as a discutient and expectorant medicine. Dioscorides and Aëtius
recommend it in elephantiasis, for attenuating and cutting the gross
humours which give rise to the disease. All agree in praising calamint in
the cure of intermittent fevers. Dioscorides recommends it as a vermifuge
when given with salts and honey. Dioscorides, and, after him, Aëtius and
other of the authorities, say that calamint-water, when injected into the
ear, kills worms in it. Galen and Dioscorides both affirm that when taken
internally and applied on a pessary, it procures abortion. All agree that
it is also beneficial in asthmatic complaints. Avicenna gives a lengthy
and very elaborate account of the three species of calamint; but it can
hardly be said that he adds anything of importance to the information
which he drew from his Grecian masters. He agrees with them that it is
diuretic and emmenagogue, and holds that it is anaphrodisiacal, and
removes the pollutio nocturni somni. He also, like them, commends it as a
deobstruent in jaundice and other obstructions of the viscera. He praises
it as a stomachic. (ii, 2, 154.) None of the other Arabian authorities
treat so fully of this article as Avicenna. Rhases, however, is worth
consulting. (Contin. l. ult. i, 466.) The calamint, that is to say, the
first species of Dioscorides, would appear to be the “mentastrum” of
Celsus, who recommends it as a remedy in the bites of venomous animals.
(v, 277.) It also occurs in the ‘Flora Hippocratica.’ See Dierbach. The
three kinds of calaminth were long retained in the Materia Medica of the
moderns. See Tournefort’s Materia Medica (i, 6, 4.) More recently only
one kind was used. See Quincy. Of late all the kinds have been nearly
discarded from our Dispensatories, but are still to be found in the shops
of apothecaries. See Gray’s Supplement to the Pharmacopœia (p. 47.)
Κάλαμος ἀρωματικὸς,
Calamus Aromaticus, _Sweet-cane_, is heating and desiccant in the second
order. It also consists of subtile particles, and has some astringency.
It is, therefore, diuretic, and is mixed up with stomachic remedies, and
those prepared for the liver and womb. The species called phragmitis is
detergent, but the leaves of it are green and moderately cooling, and the
bark of it, when burnt, is heating and desiccant in the third degree. The
root of it, when applied with bulbi, is said to extract darts and thorns.
* * * * *
COMMENTARY. Having shown above that the acorus of the ancients is the
_Acorus Pseudacorus_, we need have little hesitation in stating that we
agree with the older authorities, who refer the present article to the
_Acorus Calamus_. Dr. Royle, however, holds that it was the _Andropogon
Calamus aromaticus_. See Hindoo Med. (34) and Lindley (Veg. Kingd. 133.)
The φραγμίτης of Dioscorides and our author is decidedly the _Arundo
Phragmites_, or Common Reed. Our author follows the description of them
given by Dioscorides and Galen, and more especially the latter. Galen
says of the aromaticus that it is more desiccative than calefacient,
and that it has some volatility, like all the aromatics. Aëtius, in
like manner, copies mostly from Galen. The Arabians, in treating of
these reeds, borrow closely from Dioscorides. Thus Avicenna, among
other virtues which he holds that they possess, commends them as being
diuretic, emmenagogue, and alexipharmic. (ii, 2, 64.) The calami do
not occur as articles of medicine in the Hippocratic collection. The
Calamus Alexandrinus of Celsus (v, 24), was no doubt the C. aromaticus.
Although a native of India, as Dioscorides states, it is likely that the
Romans would get it through Alexandria. It occurs in the modern Greek
Pharmacopœia, and is now found growing in Laconia.
Κάμπαι,
Erucæ, _Caterpillar_; those upon potherbs, when rubbed in with oil, are
said to preserve from the bites of venomous animals.
* * * * *
COMMENTARY. The metamorphosis of _Caterpillar_ is accurately described by
Theophrastus (C. Pl. v.) See also Aristotle (H. A. v, 20), and Pliny (H.
N. xi, 32.) Our author’s account of these erucæ is taken word for word
from Dioscorides (ii, 64.) Few of the other authorities treat of them.
Κανθαρίδες,
Cantharides; those found among wheat, have pale, transverse zones, and
being suffocated by the steam of hot vinegar, are used for many purposes.
For, with cerate, they cast off scabious nails, and relieve clavi and
scabious affections. They are also corrosive and caustic. Some mix a
small quantity of them with diuretic remedies, and give them in this form.
* * * * *