copies closely from Galen. Dioscorides’s account of its medicinal
properties is far more precise and interesting. Citrons, he says, when
drunk with wine, counteract the operation of deadly poisons, and loosen
the belly; the decoction is a gargle for occasioning sweetness of the
breath; its juice is much used by women labouring under pica (see Book
I, 1, of this work), and their seeds seem to preserve clothes in a
chest from being moth-eaten. (i, 166.) The Arabians treat very fully of
the medicinal properties of the citron. See Serapion (De Simpl. i, 1),
Avicenna (ii, 2, 116), and Rhases (Cont. l. ult. i, 219.) They all agree
that its seed is alexipharmic, both when taken in hot water, and when the
juice is applied to a poisoned wound. See particularly Avicenna (De Med.
Cord. ii.) They also hold that it is an excellent cordial and stomachic;
that it stops bilious purgings, fluxes, and vomiting; and that it dispels
sorrow. They hold, however, that it is prejudicial to the lungs and
nerves. They speak highly of the oil of citrons in paralysis and other
affections of the nerves. We need scarcely remark that this preparation
has been much celebrated in modern times (see Charras, l. c.), and is
still retained in our Pharmacopœia. See Pereira, 1235.
Κιχόριον ἤ πικρὶς,
Cichorium, _Succory_, is, as it were, a wild endive, being cooling and
desiccant in the first degree. It has also some astringency, and hence it
agrees with hepatic dysenteries.
* * * * *
COMMENTARY. It is the _Cichorium Intybus_. We have treated of it among
the pot-herbs in the First Book. It occurs in the Flora Hippocratica.
Dioscorides recommends both the garden and the wild succory as being
astringent, cooling, and stomachic, in various cases, both internally
and externally, for binding the bowels in dysentery, as a cataplasm in
cardiac affection, and as a remedy for gout and ophthalmy. (ii, 159.)
Celsus also ranks the intybus and ambubeia, which are the wild and
garden succory, with astringents. (ii, 30.) Galen and the other Greek
authorities give it the same general characters. The Arabians treat of
the seris and intybus at greater length, and seem to confound the latter,
or endive, with the taraxacon (Leontodon taraxacum?). See in particular
Avicenna (ii, 2, 229, 683.) He recommends the latter most particularly
as a deobstruent in obstructions of the liver and other viscera; he
speaks favorably of it as a plaster in palpitations of the heart, and as
a gargle along with Cassia fistula in inflammations of the throat. All
the Arabians recommend both species as antidotes to the bites of venomous
animals. See Avicenna (l. c.), Serapion (c. 143), and Rhases (Cont. l.
ult. i, 266.) The wild succory (Cichorium Intybus) is still sometimes
employed in medicine. Dr. Pereira says, “the medicinal properties of
_Cichorium Intybus_ are analogous to those of Taraxacum Densleonis.”
(Mat. Med. 698.) It occurs in the modern Greek Pharmacopœia.
Κλήματις,
Clematis, _Virgin’s-bower_, (called also Myrsonöides, Daphnöides,
and Polygonöides,) has twigs as long as the thickness of a May-rush,
(holoschænus,) and petals like the bay, and is of a desiccant nature; it,
therefore, stops diarrhœas, dysenteries, and pains of the teeth, and is
useful for the bites of venomous animals. The other species of clematis
twines around trees like ivy, being of an acrid and caustic nature. Its
fruit, when drunk with water, evacuates bile and phlegm downwards; and
its leaves in a cataplasm, remove leprosy.
* * * * *
COMMENTARY. The former species, distinguished by the synonyme of
Daphnöides, is the clematis described by Dioscorides (iv, 179), and is
the second species of Galen, who expresses himself contemptuously of
Pamphilus for confounding the two species together. It is clearly a
species of _Clematis_, either the _vitalba_ or _cirrhosa_. All agree
in recommending it as a safe astringent. The other species described
by Dioscorides (iv, 7), and which is the former species of Galen, may
be decidedly determined to be either the _Vinca major_ or _minor_.
It, according to Galen, is possessed of acrid and caustic powers. The
Arabians would appear not to distinguish properly the _clematis_ from the
_hedera_. See Serapion (c. 41), and Avicenna (ii, 2, 169.) The modern
Greek Pharmacopœia contains the _C. erecta_.
Κλινοπόδιον,
Clinopodium, _Field Basil_, is possessed of heating and desiccative
powers, not caustic however, but of the third degree.
* * * * *
COMMENTARY. It may with considerable confidence be set down as being the
_Clinopodium vulgare_, although doubts have been started on this head.
See Parkinson (Theatre of Plants, 23), and Sprengel (Ad Dioscorid.)
Our author follows Galen very closely. Dioscorides represents it to be
diuretic and emmenagogue (iii, 99.) We have not been able to discover any
traces of it in the Mat. Med. of the Arabians, nor in Hippocrates.
Κνίκος,
Cnicus, _Bastard Saffron_; its seed is used only for purgings, but if
applied externally it belongs to the third order of calefacients.
* * * * *
COMMENTARY. The preponderance of authority is decidedly in favour of
its being the _Carthamus tinctorius_, a plant which held a place in
our Dispensatory with its ancient characters down to recent date. (See
Quincy, 167.) Dioscorides mentions of it that it is used as a potherb,
and as a medicine for opening the bowels. Galen gives it exactly the same
character as our author. The Arabians give rather a confused account of
it by treating of it along with _Atractylis_, which they held to be the
wild cnicus. See in particular Avicenna (ii, 2, 159.) All the Arabians
hold that it is not only laxative, but also powerfully alexipharmic. They
call it _Kartam_ or _Cartamus_. See further Serapion (c. 202), and Rhases
(Cont. l. ult. iii, 46.)
Κογχύλια,
Conchylia; their powers resemble those of the buccinæ.
* * * * *
COMMENTARY. This name was applied to various Testacea, or _Shell-fish_.
See Harduin (Ad Plinii H. N. ix, 60); Athenæi Deipnos, iii; Aristotle,
H. A. v, 14; and Gesner, De Aquat. Oysters are frequently called by this
name, as in the following lines of Petronius Arbiter:
Lucrinis
Eruta littoribus vendunt Conchylia, cænis
Ut renovent per damna famem.—_Satyricon._
Dioscorides does not treat of this article, at least, under this name.
The Arabians would appear to have identified them with the _Cochleæ_. See
in particular Serapion (c. 434.)
Κοιλία,
Venter, _the Belly_ of the cormorant, either when boiled, fresh, or
dried, is said to be stomachic if eaten; and in like manner, the inner
coat of the stomach of hens when dried and taken in a draught. But Galen
says, that he found upon trial both these statements false. Dioscorides
relates that the stomach of a wood-pigeon, if drunk, gradually makes
stones be expelled by urine. The stomach of a weasel, when drunk, is a
preservative against all poisonous animals.
* * * * *
COMMENTARY. Properly speaking _the Stomach_. Our author, as he
acknowledges, borrows from Galen and Dioscorides. Serapion repeats the
same characters of this article upon the authority of Dioscorides. (c.
469.) We may be allowed to mention that the inner membrane of the crop of
a fowl is still a popular remedy for indigestion in the north of Scotland.
Κόκκος κνίδιος,
Granum Gnidium, is the fruit of the Thymelæa and not of the Chamelæa as
some have supposed. Being possessed of acrid and caustic powers, when
drunk, it purges water downwards.
* * * * *
COMMENTARY. See under Θυμέλαια. All the authorities, from Hipprocrates
downwards, describe it as an acrid purgative. Dr. Pereira says, “_Daphne
Gnidium_ is the _Thymelæa_ of Dioscorides, whose fruit is the κόκκος
κνίδιος, or _Gnidian-berry_, used by Hippocrates. Its properties are
similar to those of D. Mezereum.” (Mat. Med. 807.) Dioscorides gives a
full description of the thymelæa, and states, with excellent precision,
its operation on the animal economy. He says it purges, bringing away a
watery discharge, and kills the fœtus in utero when applied on a pessary.
(iv, 170.) Galen and Aëtius and Oribasius state its characters in brief
terms, like our author. It would appear, in fact, to have been little
used in medicine. The Arabians confound the thymelæa, chamelæa, and
chamæleon together, so that there is great difficulty in making out what
were their exact views on the _Thymelaceæ_. Indeed, the genera of this
tribe of plants are still with difficulty distinguished from one another.
See Lindley’s Vegetable Kingdom, 530.
Κόκκος βαφικὸς,
Granum tinctorium, is desiccative without pungency. It agrees, therefore,
with large wounds and wounds of the nerves when triturated with vinegar
or oxymel.
* * * * *
COMMENTARY. It is _Vermilion_ or _Scarlet grain_, being the product of
a little hemopterous insect called _kermes_ or _Coccus ilicis_. See
Theophrastus (H. P. iii, 16), and Pliny (H. N. xvi, 12.) It was anciently
used in dyeing, but is now superseded by the cochineal. An interesting
account of kermes and cochineal is given by Beckmann. (History of
Inventions.) Dioscorides and the other authorities, like Paulus, commend
it as a vulnerary medicine, especially in wounds of the nerves. The
Arabians, in treating of the kermes, merely repeat what Dioscorides and
Galen had written on this head. See in particular Serapion (De Simpl.
321); Avicenna (ii, 2, 718); Rhases (Cont. l. ult. i, 740.)
Κοκκομηλέα,
Prunus, _the Plum_; its fruit loosens the belly, if fresh, in a greater
degree, or if dried, in a smaller. The decoction of it in gargles, cures
inflammations about the uvula. The gum of the tree has the powers of an
incisive and attenuate substance, so that some relate that when drunk
with wine it proves lithontriptic. With vinegar it is said to cure the
lichen of children. The fruit of the wild plums is manifestly astringent,
and constipates the belly. This plant in Asia is called _Prumnum_. The
dried garden plums, now called damascenes, appear to be similar, as Galen
says.
* * * * *
COMMENTARY. Without doubt it is the _Prunus insiticia_ or _Bullace tree_,
a well known species of plum. The _Damask-plums_ are much celebrated by
ancient authors. We have treated of plums as an article of food in the
First Book. Pliny and Marcellus Empiricus recommend them particularly
in diseases of the tonsils and gums; but, indeed, all the ancient
authorities prescribe them as astringents in such cases. There is a
slight difference of opinion between Dioscorides and Galen regarding
the virtues of the plum. Dioscorides says, “the fruit is esculent, but
bad for the stomach, and loosens the bowels. But the dried fruit of
the Syrian plums, and more especially those which grow about Damascus
(damascenes?), are stomachic and astringent of the bowels.” Galen says,
“the fruit of the plum tree loosens the bowels, the fresh in a greater
degree and the dried in a less. I know not how it is that Dioscorides
says that the dried damask-plums bind the bowels, for even these
manifestly loosen, but in a less degree than the Spanish; for the damask
are more astringent, and the Spanish more sweet, &c.” (De Simpl. vii.)
This slight difference created a keen controversy in modern times between
Brasavolus, who impugns, and Matthiolus, who defends the strictures of
Galen. To us it appears that the only mistake committed by Dioscorides
consists in stating his views too succinctly. He, no doubt, never meant
to deny that the damask-plums have a certain purgative faculty mixed
up with astringency, like plums in general. Galen’s language is more
precise, but we do not see that there is much real difference between his
views and those of Dioscorides. The Arabians gravely state this mighty
controversy between the two ancient sages, but scarcely pretend “tantas
componere lites.” See Rhases (Cont. l. ult. i, 565); Avicenna (ii, 2,
532); and Serapion (c. 139.) One of Rhases’s authorities says of plums,
that they moisten the stomach and loosen the belly, purging yellow bile.
Another of them, named Chuz, says the water of them is emmenagogue, and
their gum, mixed with sugar, cures impetigo. Avicenna quotes this opinion
with approbation. All agree that they are lithontriptic.
Κόλλα,
Gluten, _Glue_; that prepared from the similago and pollen is of an
emplastic and digestive nature.
* * * * *
COMMENTARY. _Gluten_ or _Paste_. Dioscorides mentions that the best kind
is prepared from the hides of bulls in Rhodes. Galen makes mention of
another kind prepared from flour, and used in binding books. (De Simpl.
vii.) See further, Pliny (H. N. xiii, 26.) The Arabians, in treating of
it, derive most of their information from the Greeks. See Serapion (c.
138); Avicenna (ii, 2, 202); and Rhases (Cont. l. ult. i, 336.) They
treat of the ichthyocolla under this head.
Κολοκύνθη,
Cucurbita, _the Gourd_, is of a humid and cold temperament in the
second degree. Hence, when applied entire in a cataplasm, it cools hot
inflammations.
* * * * *
COMMENTARY. We have stated the difficulty of determining this article in
the chapter of the First Book on the summer fruits. It would appear to
be sometimes put for the _Cucumis sativus_ or _Cucumber_, and sometimes
for the _Cucurbita_ or _Gourd_. About the species, however, there is some
doubt. On its medicinal properties, besides the medical authorities,
see Geopon. (xii, 19.) Dioscorides recommends it raw, as a cooling
application for various swellings and apostemes; also for the siriasis
of infancy (See Book I, 13), for inflammations of the eyes, and those of
gout in like manner. He also speaks of it as being useful in earache and
heat of the stomach. He states that it is laxative of the bowels; and
for this purpose directs a raw gourd to be hollowed out, and wine having
been poured into it, it is to be exposed for a time to the heat of the
sun, when it will become gently laxative. (ii, 161.) Galen, Aëtius, and
others give it much the same characters as our author. The Arabians, as
usual, borrow freely from the Greeks without making any addition of much
consequence. See Avicenna (ii, 2, 175); Serapion (c. 248); and Rhases
(Cont. l. ult. 1, 344.) One of Serapion’s authorities, called Masarugie,
says of the gourd, that when it is surrounded with paste and roasted,
the water thus squeezed out of it is beneficial in acute diseases and
cough, that it quenches thirst, and when taken with sugar gently opens
the bowels. Another of them, Habix, gives nearly the same account of it.
Another of them says of its seed, that it is diuretic, and softens the
belly. In modern times the seeds of gourd were formerly held as one of
the four greater cold seeds. See Charras (Roy. Pharm. 66) and Quincy (p.
197.)
Κολοκινθίς,
Cucurbita sylvestris, _Colocynth_, is possessed of a strong purgative
power. If the juice of it, while in a green state, be rubbed into the
part, it relieves ischiatic disease.
* * * * *
COMMENTARY. There can be no doubt that it is the _Cucumis Colocynthis_,
_Coloquintida_, or _Bitter Gourd_. It was used in medicine from the
earliest times, being the κολοκύνθη ἀγρία of Hippocrates (De Mulieb.
621, ed. Föes), as Galen has explained. It does not occur, however,
in the works of Celsus. Dioscorides gives an excellent account of it,
recommending it as a powerful phlegmagogue and cholagogue, both when
given by the mouth and in clysters; and as a gargle in toothache. He
says it kills the fœtus _in utero_ when applied on a pessary. (iv, 175.)
Our author’s account of it is copied from Galen. The Arabians treat
of it more fully. See Avicenna (ii, 2, 127); Rhases (Cont. l. ult. i,
222); Serapion (c. 272); Mesue (De Simpl. 4); Averrhoes (Collig. v,
421); and Ebn Baithar (i, 331.) Avicenna is very precise in giving
directions for the preparation of the medicine. His statement of its
medicinal properties is so long that we cannot find room for it. He says
it evacuates phlegm, bile, and perhaps blood from the intestines; that
it is useful in dropsy, and that it is alexipharmic, in proof of which
he refers to the report of a case of a person who had been stung by
scorpions, and was immediately cured by it. But of all the authorities,
Mesue is, perhaps, the one who treats of it most elaborately: he
recommends it as purging phlegm and yellow bile, in cephalæa, hemicrania,
epilepsy, apoplexy, vertigo, defluxion in the eyes, cold gout, and other
affections of the joints; asthma, chronic cough, dyspnœa, &c. But, he
adds, it is more especially useful in pituitous and flatulent colic,
and in dropsy. For this purpose it may be administered by the mouth,
in clysters and in suppositories. Applied _per vaginam_ it kills the
fœtus. He directs its bad effects to be corrected by means of mastich,
tragacanth, &c. He forbids it to be administered either in great heat or
cold. Averrhoes ranks it with the strongest phlegmagogues, and recommends
that its activity should be abated by almonds, tragacanth, fistics, &c.
Ebn Baithar treats of it at very great length. Serapion says that, being
a drastic purgative, it ought not to be given during the heat of summer,
or cold of winter; for that, at these seasons, Hippocrates had forbid to
administer purgatives. Pliny recommends it in injections for diseases
of the intestines, kidneys, and loins. He says that an embrocation of
it with oil cures pains of the spine and hip-joint, and is useful in
jaundice when followed by oxymel. (H. N. xx, 7, 8.) Marcellus, the
Empiric, says of it that it purges phlegm, yellow and black bile, when
given with oxymel. (c. 30.) Ruffus Ephesius says of colocynth, that it
purges phlegm and pure bile: in a word, he adds, it is useful in asthma,
pleurisy, chronic headache, vertigo, and dimness of vision. (De Med.
Purg.)
Κόμαρος,
Arbutus, _the Arbute Tree_, is of a sour quality, both the tree and its
fruit, which is called memycœlon. It is hurtful to the stomach, and
occasions headache.
* * * * *
COMMENTARY. Apuleius says “Comaron Græci, Romani fragum vocant.” It
is the _Arbutus Unedo_ or _Wild Strawberry Tree_, which must not be
confounded with the _Fragaria vesca_, L., Angl., Wood Strawberry. It
seems difficult to account for its holding a place in the ancient Materia
Medica, since all the authorities, like Paulus, speak unfavorably of its
medicinal powers. See Dioscorides and Galen.
Κόμμι,
Gummi, _Gum_, is of a desiccative and emplastic nature, and manifestly
cures asperities (hoarseness?).
* * * * *
COMMENTARY. For an account of the ancient gums see Pliny (H. N. xiii,
20.) He says the best kind is got from the Egyptian thorn or Acacia; this
must have been either the _Acacia vera_, L., or _Acacia Senegal_. Galen
delivers the medicinal character of gum in the same terms as our author,
and the other Greek authorities do the same. Dioscorides recommends the
gum of the acacia (gum-arabic?) as possessing emplastic powers, and for
blunting acrid medicines when mixed with them. He adds that, when mixed
with the white of an egg, it prevents blisters from rising on burnt
parts. (i, 133.) The Arabians concur in recommending gum-arabic as being
beneficial in hot coughs, in ulcers of the lungs, and for clearing the
voice; they also held it to be stomachic and theriacal. See Avicenna (ii,
2, 310); Rhases (Cont. l. ult. i, 345); and Serapion (c. 229.)
Κονία,
Lixivium, _Lye_; the washings, as it were, of ashes are so named. The
most detergent and desiccative of all are those made from the ashes of
figs and of the spurges, so that they are possessed of almost septic
powers. If a little quicklime be added to the ashes it renders the lye
caustic, which is then called protostactos, being mixed up principally
with medicines administered by injection. But the strongest of all is
that prepared from quicklime alone.
* * * * *
COMMENTARY. We have given some account of the _Lixivial Ashes_ or _Lyes_
of the ancients in the 9th section of Book VI. They were all of them
preparations of potass mixed up with various impurities. The term was
applied not only to the solution, but also to the dried _cineres_ of the
same. Even quicklime is sometimes called by this name: κονία ἢ ἄσβεστος.
(Scholiastes in Theocrit. Idyll. i.) The Cinis lixivius of the fig-tree
is the one most frequently mentioned of them. See Pliny (H. N. xv, 18);
Geopon. (v, 33); Dioscorides (i, 186); Serapion (183); and Avicenna
(ii, 2, 188.) Avicenna recommends the lye of the mezerion in quinsy
and affections of the eye. See also Rhases (Cont. l. ult. i, 214.) The
protostactos was a composition of potass and lime. (See Book VI, s. 9.)
On the alkalies or Cineres lixivii of the ancients, see further, Dutens
(Découvertes attrib. aux Modern. 187.)
Κόνυζα,
Conyza, _Fleabane_; both species of it are desiccant and calefacient
in the third degree. Hence, even the oil in which it is boiled stops
periodical rigors; and the flowers have similar powers. The decoction of
them promotes menstruation, and expels the fœtus. That which grows in
moist situations is more fetid and has weaker powers.
* * * * *
COMMENTARY. There is considerable difficulty in determining exactly the
conyzæ of the ancients. See Parkinson (Theatre of Plants, i, 44), and
Sprengel (Ad Dioscor. iii, 126.) The preponderance of authority seems to
lead to the conclusion that they all were species of _Inula_, namely, the
greater _I. viscosa_, Act., the lesser _Inula saxatilis_, and the third,
_I. oculus Christi_. The conyzæ were employed in medicine at a very early
period, being frequently mentioned in the Hippocratic treatises. See
Dierbach, who, however, has decided differently from us as to the plants
to which the conyzæ are referable. He marks the fetid conyza as being
_Ambrosia maritima_, and the fragrant as _Inula bifrons_. The greater
conyza of Dioscorides would appear to be the cunilago of Pliny (H. N.,
xx, 63), where see the note of Harduin. Our author follows Dioscorides
and Galen, who agree in the main as to the medicinal properties of these
plants. All the authorities concur in opinion that the greater conyza
is emmenagogue, and procures abortion in pessaries. Ebn Baithar seems
to treat of it rather confusedly under the head of _Thuback_. (ii,
150.) Few, if any, of the other Arabians have noticed it; and it is not
contained in the Greek Pharmacopœia.
Κόπρος,
Stercus, _Dung_; all kinds of it are of a heating, desiccative, and
discutient nature, but they differ from one another according to the
temperament and diet of the animal which voids it. The dung, then, of
dogs fed on bones, when dried, cures dysenteric affections if taken in a
draught with divided milk (lac scissum), and old ulcers, if mixed with
suitable medicines. In cynanche and inflammations about the tonsils, it
is rubbed into the parts mixed with honey. These complaints are greatly
relieved by the dung of children who have not been permitted to take too
much food. The dung of wolves and the whiter sort which is found upon
certain shrubs, is an admirable remedy for colics, and that, not only
in a draught, but also when appended as an amulet. It may be fastened
either with the wool of a sheep recently killed by a wolf, or the skin
of a stag. Goat’s dung, being more acrid and discutient, discusses
scirrhous tumours when applied externally, more especially upon hard
flesh. When burnt it is more detergent and attenuate. The dung of oxen
has some attractive powers, and, therefore, cures the stings of wasps and
bees. And if the whole body of persons affected with dropsy be rubbed
with cow’s dung in the sun they will be much relieved thereby. Sheep’s
dung with vinegar cures myrmecia, acrochordon, furunculus, and clavus.
That of wild pigeons, being much more acrid than the other kinds, proves
rubefacient when applied with the seed of cardamus. That of domestic
fowls, when drunk with oxymel, vinegar, or wine and honey, causes the
suffocative mushrooms to be vomited, and proves a preservative from them.
Some have given it to drink also in colics. They say also that the dung
of storks, when drunk, is useful in orthopnœa. That of mice, being more
detergent than all others, agrees with alopecia, and when applied to the
anus of children provokes evacuation. The dung of starlings, when they
feed on rice, becomes detergent so as to clear away freckles. That of
land crocodiles removes alphos, as that of the crocodiles of the Nile is
believed to attenuate leucoma (white films on the eyes).
* * * * *