we shall merely mention in this place that we believe the _M. Mas_ of
Dioscorides to have been _Mandragoras vernalis_, Bertolin, and the M.
Femina _M. autumnalis_. The ancient authors make frequent mention of its
narcotic and soporific powers. Celsus directs its apples to be placed
below the patient’s pillow in cases of obstinate insomnolency. (iii, 18.)
Dioscorides, in like manner, says, its apples are narcotic when smelled
to, and also their juice; that if persisted in, they will deprive the
person of his speech. He mentions mandrake as an ingredient in anodyne
collyria and pessaries, and says that in an enema it induces sleep.
He recommends the wine of mandragora to be given to patients before
they are subjected to the operation of cutting or burning. He gives
minute directions for making the various preparations of mandragora. He
concludes his chapter on it by giving from information an account of
another species of mandragora, called morion, which he represents as
being powerfully narcotic; and hence as being administered by medical men
when about to operate by cutting or burning. This plant we agree with
Dodonæus and Cordus in thinking must have been the M. of Theophrastus,
namely, the _Atropa Belladonna_. Considering the diligence of the ancient
herbalists, it is not likely that they should have wholly overlooked so
prominent and important an article as the _Belladonna_. The objections
stated to this opinion by Parkinson (Theatre of Plants, 344) do not
appear to us of much force. The account of mandragora given by Pliny is
mostly taken from Dioscorides. (H. N. xxv, 94.) Our author and Aëtius
borrow almost word for word from Galen. Isidorus says of it, “Cujus
cortex vino mixtus ad bibendum iis datur quorum corpus propter curam
secandum est, ut soporati dolorem non sentiant.” Serapion in like manner
describes it as a powerful narcotic, and says that it was administered
before the performance of amputation to diminish sensibility. (c. 333.)
Avicenna particularly commends the narcotic and soporific powers of
this medicine. He says that it exerts its action in a suppository. The
milky juice of it, he adds, evacuates phlegm and yellow bile. He states
that if a young person, by mistake, partake of its berries, they bring
on vomiting, purging, and perhaps death. The seed mixed with sulphur
vivum, is said by him to stop menorrhagia. Like Dioscorides, he says,
that mandrake evacuates the stomach and bowels like hellebore. (ii, 2,
357.) Averrhoes briefly says of its apples, that they are soporific, and
that its bark is desiccative, but its root weaker. (v. 42.) See also
Rhases (Cont. l. ult. i, 446.) Servitor describes both a concrete and an
expressed juice of mandragora. The former, which he calls lachryma, he
says could not be procured everywhere. Even the non-professional writers
allude to its soporific powers. Thus Lucian speaks of ὕπο μαδραγόρας
καθεύδειν. (Timon.) Pollux says that it produces heaviness of the head,
that is to say, stupor. Our old herbalists, Turner, Gerard, Parkinson,
and Culpeper, mention the soporific powers of the mandrake, but in such
a way as implies that they had not much practical acquaintance with
it. By the days of Boerhaave and Quincy, its internal use had been
abandoned, both in this country and on the continent. Although it has
now disappeared from our Dispensatories, we see no good reason why its
well-regulated use might not be revived. That the ancients have described
its operation on the animal economy correctly, is admitted by our latest
writers on Toxicology and the Materia Medica. See the works of Orfila,
Christison, and Pereira. In conclusion it may be proper to state, that
the modern Arabians and Persians still use the mandragora as a narcotic
and antispasmodic. See Ainslie (Mat. Ind. i, 1, 116.) It is not contained
in the Greek Pharmacopœia of the present day.
Μάννα λιβάνου,
Manna Thuris, has similar powers to frankincense, but enfeebled and
gently astringent.
* * * * *
COMMENTARY. Gesner says of it, “Manna thuris est fragmina minora corticis
ramentis permista.” (Lexicon Rusticum.) Dr. Hill calls it the fragments
of the cluster frankincense broke off in the carriage. It is singular
that the Greek and Roman writers make no mention of the manna now in
use, namely, the concrete juice of the _Fraxinus Ornus_. Actuarius had,
no doubt, learned the use of it from the Arabians. (Meth. M. v, 8.)
We will treat of the true manna more properly in the Appendix to this
section, among the medicinal substances introduced by the Arabians.
Μάραθρον,
Fœniculum, _Fennel_, is heating in the third degree, but desiccative in
the first; it therefore forms milk and relieves suffusions of the eye.
* * * * *
COMMENTARY. Dioscorides gives a fuller exposition of the medicinal
properties of this substance (_Anethum Fœniculum_) than any of the other
authorities on the Mat. Med., representing it as being possessed of
powers to promote the secretion of milk; as being useful in complaints
of the kidneys and bladder as a diuretic, and in those of the uterus as
an emmenagogue; as being alexipharmic, and as a suitable application to
the bites of mad dogs; and an excellent ingredient in collyria, and more
especially the gum of it, which is produced on the plant in Spain. (iii,
74.) Galen, in the main, gives it the same characters, holding it to be
diuretic, emmenagogue, and a suitable ingredient in collyria. Aëtius
and our author follow Galen. It occurs frequently in the Hippocratic
treatises. (551, &c. ed. Foës.) Celsus ranks it among his diuretics (ii,
31), and among the articles which at the same time repress and mollify
(ii, 33.) The Arabians treat fully of the fennel in nearly the same terms
as the Greeks. See Avicenna (ii, 2, 274); Serapion (c. 324); Averrhoes
(Collig. v, 42); Rhases (Cont. l. ult. i, 293.) They all represent it as
being diuretic, emmenagogue, alexipharmic, and an excellent application
in diseases of the eyes. They quote Democritus (?) as stating that vipers
and other venomous creatures rub their eyes upon fennel to improve their
sight. This species of fennel, namely, the _Fœniculum vulgare_, is not
now employed as a medicine in this country. The other species, _Fœniculum
dulce_, or Sweet Fennel, although Matthiolus takes it for the ancient
_Marathron_, would seem to have been unknown to the ancients. The former
species, however, held a place in our Dispensatory down to a recent
period. See Quincy (77.) It still holds a place in the modern Greek
Pharmacopœia (68.)
Μαστίχη,
Mastiche, _Mastich_; the Chian is heating and dessicant in the second
degree; but it is possessed of complicated powers, being at the same
time astringent and emollient; hence it agrees with inflammations of
the œsophagus and stomach, and those of the intestines and liver; but
the Egyptian, being darker, is more desiccant and discutient, and less
astringent; wherefore it discusses furunculi.
* * * * *
COMMENTARY. Mastich is correctly described as the resin of the lentiscus
by Dioscorides (i, 90), and Pliny (H. N. xxiv, 28.) Both mention that
it is used in the formation of agglutinative plasters for the cure of
trichiasis. Serapion joins the Greek authorities in recommending it for
hæmoptysis. Its use in medicine is as old as the time of Hippocrates. The
“resina ex lentisco” is an ingredient in one of the discutient plasters
recommended by Celsus for the cure of phymata. (v, 18, 22.) Honain, one
of Serapion’s authorities, recommends it in inflammations of the stomach,
and in cough. Another of them says of it, that when mixed with aloes it
forms a good masticatory. (c. 183.)
Μέλαν,
Atramentum; the Indian, as Dioscorides says, is of the class of slightly
refrigerating medicines, and of those which occasion the rupture of
phlegmons and swellings, and cleanse ulcers.
* * * * *
COMMENTARY. Dioscorides describes two distinct substances by the name
of Ἰνδικόν. The one is the vegetable pigment, still called Indigo; the
other was probably a red mineral of copper, some variety, we suppose,
of the mineral called “tetrahedral red copper ore” by Jameson, or “red
oxide of copper” of Philips. Dioscorides recommends it in much the same
cases as our author. (v, 107.) The other Greek authorities scarcely treat
of it. Our author seems evidently to refer to Indian ink. The Arabians
confound together the dye-producing plants, and accordingly treat of
the woad (Isatis tinctoria) along with the plant which produces indigo.
See Serapion (c. 47), and under _Isatis_ in this section. Averrhoes’s
description is very indistinct, so that it is difficult to know what to
make of his _Indicum_. (Collig. v, 42.) Avicenna in one place alludes to
the mineral pinguent of our author, which he calls Tinctura Inda. (ii, 2,
689.) We beg to refer our readers to Beckmann’s ‘History of Inventions’
for much curious information under the head of _Indigo_.
Μελαντηρία,
Atramentum metallicum, is powerfully astringent with subtilty of parts.
* * * * *
COMMENTARY. Dioscorides gives a pretty circumstantial description of
three or four varieties of it, and yet none of them can be recognized
with any degree of certainty. One thing only is certain, that they must
all have contained more or less of copper, being found in mines of
copper. As far as we can judge, the mineral named “ferruginous arseniate
of copper” by Cleaveland, is the most likely to be the melanteria of
Dioscorides. He says it has the same caustic powers as misy. (v, 117.)
Galen calls it only powerfully astringent and of subtile parts; and hence
Sprengel inclines to set down his melanteria as being different from that
of Dioscorides; but between the action of a strong astringent and a weak
caustic, the distinction is not great. In describing the melanteria,
Aëtius follows Galen, and Oribasius Dioscorides. There is no mention of
it in the works of Hippocrates, Celsus, and Pliny. The Arabians confuse
their description of it by mixing together those of misy, chalcitis, and
sori along with it, under the head of _Atramentum sutorium_. See Avicenna
(ii, 2, 47.) Serapion also fails to give any distinct account of it. (De
Miner.)
Μέλαν ᾧ γράφομεν,
Atramentum scriptorium, _Writing Ink_; this, too, is decidedly desiccant;
but when dissolved in oxycrate and rubbed in, it straightway relieves
burns.
* * * * *
COMMENTARY. _Writing Ink._ Dioscorides describes the composition of
two different kinds of ink; the former consisting of the soot of pines
with gum, and the other containing the soot of rosin, bull’s glue, and
copperas. For a fuller account of the inks used by the ancients, see
Pliny (H. N. xxxv, 6), Oribasius (Med. Collect, xiii), Isidorus (Orig.
xix), and Montfauçon (Palæog. Græca, c. i.) Dioscorides says of it that
it is adapted to the healing of putrid ulcers and burns, when rubbed in
thick with water and allowed to remain, until cicatrization takes place;
for, he adds, when the application falls off the ulcers are healed. (v,
182.) Celsus alludes to the same principle of treating aphthous sores in
the throat, but directs the crusts to be formed with alum, chalcitis, or
the Atramentum sutorium. The Atramentum scriptorium he only notices once,
in describing the operation of trephining the skull. (viii, 4.) Avicenna
alludes also to the practice of Dioscorides. (ii, 2, 689.)
Μελάνθιον,
Nigella sativa, _Gith_, is calefacient and desiccant in the third degree.
It is also distinguished for tenuity of parts; and hence when smelled
to it cures catarrhs, and is most carminative when taken internally. It
is also bitter, and hence it is anthelminthic. It is also detergent and
incisive, and hence it agrees with orthopnœa, cleanses leprosies, ejects
myrmecia, and promotes menstruation.
* * * * *
COMMENTARY. It is the _Nigella sativa_, or Gith. Dioscorides, with great
precision, and in his usual empirical style, enumerates all the cases
in which this substance is applicable. As these in the main are the
same as those in which our author recommends it, we need not enter much
into an exposition of the views of Dioscorides on this head. He says
it promotes the secretion of urine, menses, and milk; removes dyspnœa
when drunk with wine; remedies persons stung by venomous spiders; drives
away reptiles, in the form of a fumigation; and that it is reported to
prove fatal when drunk in large quantity. (iii, 83.) Galen explains
its medicinal virtues most scientifically, upon the principles laid
down by him in his preliminary dissertation to the Materia Medica, of
which we have given an exposition in an extract from Aëtius. Gith, he
says, is heating and drying according to the third order, and seems to
be attenuant, _or_ of subtile parts; wherefore it cures catarrhs when
applied hot in a linen cloth, so as to be constantly smelled to. And it
is most carminative, when taken into the body, as is obvious from its
being of subtile parts, and of a substance fine-wrought by the heat,
wherefore, also, it is bitter; for it was shown in the Fourth Book of
these Commentaries, that when a terrene substance arrives at an extreme
tenuity and elaboration, the bitter quality is formed. No wonder,
then, if it proves vermifuge, not only when eaten, but when applied
externally to the belly; for it was formerly shown that a bitter juice
does this. Nor that it removes leprosy, clavus, and myrmecia, need it
seem wonderful to one who remembers what was formerly said. And thus it
relieves orthopnœa, and promotes menstruation, when it is restrained
by the thickness and viscidity of the humours; and, in a word, when we
wish to incide, cleanse, dry, and heat, it is a most useful medicine.
(De Simpl. viii.) Having given so full an exposition of Galen’s views,
we must be brief on those of the other authorities. The gith occurs in
the Mat. Med. of Hippocrates, but is not to be met with in the works of
Celsus. For the Arabians, see Avicenna (ii, 2, 516); Rhases (Cont. l.
ult. i, 496); Serapion (c. 328.) They all follow closely in the footsteps
of Dioscorides and Galen. Though the gith has ceased for some time past
to be used in medicine, it is still sometimes sought after as a spice.
See Gray (Suppl. to Pharmacop. 123.)
Μέλι,
Mel, _Honey_, is heating and desiccant in the second order, and is also
considerably detergent. When boiled it becomes less acrid, detergent and
cathartic, but more nutritious. But bitter honey, like that in Sardonia,
is of mixed powers, being terrene and hot. The _Sacchar_ (Sugar) which is
brought from Araby the Blessed is less sweet than that with us, but is
possessed of equal powers, with the additional advantage of not injuring
the stomach and occasioning thirst like it.
* * * * *
COMMENTARY. On the use of honey, see Book I, s. 69. “The honey of reeds”
is mentioned in a fragment of Theophrastus. (ed. Heinsius.) It is
distinctly noticed by Dioscorides (i, 104), Strabo (Geogr. xv), Pliny
(H. N. xii, 17), Galen (Med. Simpl. vii), Oribasius (Med. Collect. xi),
Isidorus (Orig. xvii, 7), Alexander Aphrodisiensis (Probl.), and Symeon
Seth (in voce Sacchar.) It is alluded to by Statius in the following line:
“Et quas præcoquit Æbusita cannas.”—_Silv._ i, 6, 15.
Lucan also mentions it. (Pharsal. iii, 237.) All the Arabian medical
authors, in a word, make frequent mention of it. It is obvious, however,
as is remarked by Harduin, Salmasius, Freind, Millward, and Sprengel,
that the ancient sugar was a concretion formed upon the surface of
reeds by the heat of the sun, and consequently it was different from
the sugar of the moderns, which is formed by boiling. Symeon Seth says
of sugar that it is heating and humid in the first degree, detergent,
and diaphoretic like honey. Mesue recommends it for the composition of
electuaries. Dr. Hill states that although the _Bambu_ be the sugar-cane
with which the ancients were most familiar, it would appear that the
“tenera arundo” of Lucan was rather the common sugar-reed of our times.
Μελία,
Fraxinus, _the Ash_, is a well-known tree, the leaves of which, when
taken in a draught, agree with the bites of vipers. Its bark, when burnt
and rubbed in with water, removes leprosies. The sawdust of the wood when
drunk is said to be deadly.
* * * * *
COMMENTARY. There can be no doubt of its being a species of _Fraxinus_,
or perhaps both the _F. Ornus_ and _F. rotundifolia_. Our author’s
account of it is taken literally from Dioscorides. (i, 108.) Avicenna
mentions it as a vulnerary herb, and recommends it in the same cases as
Dioscorides does. (i, 108.)
Μελίλωτον,
Melilotum, _Melilot_, is possessed of mixed powers, being astringent,
discutient, and digestive.
* * * * *
COMMENTARY. It is the _Melilotus officinalis_, L. Dioscorides says of
it, that it has some styptic power, and is an emollient of all kinds of
inflammations, especially about the eyes, womb, anus, and testicles, when
boiled with must and applied, or along with albumen of an egg, flour of
fenugreek, &c.; that it cures meliceris when recent, achores, and pain
of the stomach, and earache when injected into the ear, and headache
when used as an embrocation with vinegar and oil of roses. (iii, 41.)
Galen and the other Greek authorities state its application in general
terms like our author. For the Arabians, see Avicenna (ii, 2, 445);
Averrhoes (Collig. v, 42); Rhases (Cont. l. ult. i, 465); Serapion (De
Simpl. 18.) They scarcely suggest any new cases for its administration,
but borrow what they say of its medicinal powers from Dioscorides and
Galen. The melilot was used in medicine, and held a place in our English
Dispensatory even as late as the time of Quincy. (118, 204.)
Μελισσόφυλλον,
Apiastrum, _Baum_; its action is in every respect like that of horehound.
* * * * *
COMMENTARY. According to Dioscorides, Baum (_Melissa officinalis_),
when its leaves are taken in a draught with wine, or when applied as a
cataplasm, is alexipharmic in the case of persons stung by scorpions
or venomous spiders, and of those who have been bitten by mad dogs;
the decoction in the form of a fomentation (or effusion) does the
same; it makes a good hip-bath for promoting menstruation; is a gargle
for toothache and a clyster for dysentery; its leaves, in a draught,
cure those who have taken poisonous mushrooms, and those suffering
from tormina; it forms a linctus in orthopnœa, and along with salts a
discutient application to scrofula and ulcers; and as a cataplasm it
soothes pains of the joints. (iii, 108.) Our author borrows from Galen,
who, like him, gives its characters in general terms. Aëtius, under this
head, copies from Galen, and Oribasius from Dioscorides. We believe it is
not to be found either in the works of Hippocrates, or those of Celsus.
Serapion gives a full account of it, first quoting from Dioscorides and
Galen, and then from Abenmesuai and Isaak ebn Amran; the former of whom
says it is exhilarating, and the other that it is useful in a cold and
humid intemperament of the stomach, promotes digestion, proves cordial,
&c. (c. 23.)
Μεμάικυλος,
Memæcylus, being the _Fruit of the Arbute_, has been treated of under the
letter Κ.
* * * * *
COMMENTARY. It is, as here stated, the fruit of the wild
_Strawberry-tree_, that is to say of the _Arbutus Unedo_, L.
Μέσπιλα,
Mespila, _Medlars_ (called also Tricocca); their fruit being decidedly
sour and scarcely edible, proves astringent of the bowels: and its shoots
and leaves are also decidedly sour.
* * * * *
COMMENTARY. Dioscorides describes the two species of Medlar in such
distinct terms as leaves no doubt that they are the _Mespilus Azarolus_
and _Germanica_. He represents their fruit as being esculent and slightly
astringent. (i, 169, 170.) Galen says of the medlar, that it is acid and
austere, and barely esculent, and that it restrains fluxes. (De Simpl.
vii.) The other Greek and Arabian authorities give the same account of
it. See in particular, Avicenna (ii, 2, 742) and Ebn Baithar (i, 532.)
The Arabians prepared an ointment from it for making the hair black and
curled. Casiri (Bibl. Arab. Hisp. 330.) The term _azarolus_ is borrowed
from the Arabic. See Avicenna (l. c.)
Μήδιον,
Medium; the powers of the root are contrary to those of the fruit, for
the former is austere and astringent of fluxes, so as to restrain the
female fluor. But the seed even promotes menstruation, being possessed of
attenuating and incisive powers.
* * * * *
COMMENTARY. The description of this article given by Dioscorides is
sufficiently precise to decide its belonging to the genus _Campanula_. It
was at one time generally referred to the species called _Medium_, but,
as Sprengel remarks, the appearance of the leaves does not agree with
those of the _medium_. Sibthorp, therefore, in his ‘Flora Græca,’ has
decided that it is the _C. laciniata_. (i, 141.) Dioscorides and Galen
agree in giving it the same medicinal powers as our author. We are at
a loss to determine whether or not it occurs in the Materia Medica of
the Arabians, with the exception of Ebn Baithar, who merely gives the
descriptions of it by Dioscorides and Galen. (ii, 541.)
Μήκωνες,
Papavera, _Poppies_; there are several species, but of the garden poppy,
which they call _Thylacitis_, the seed is edible, and when eaten with
bread is moderately soporific. That species which is called _Rhæas_,
because its seed soon falls off, is stronger than the garden. It is
therefore not eaten by itself, but a small quantity of it is mixed with
much honey. That which has a sessile head has seeds which are black and
strongly medicinal, being considerably cold. That the top of which is
longer and more contracted, is the most strongly medicinal of all, so
as to induce torpor even to mortification. For it and its juice, which
is called, _per excellentiam_, opium, belong to the fourth order of
congealing medicines. But that variety which is called _Cornutum_ is
possessed of detergent powers, so that the decoction of it when drunk is
serviceable in hepatic complaints. Its leaves and flowers cleanse foul
ulcers and remove eschars. That species which is called _Heraclium_ and
_Spumosum_, has seeds which purge phlegm.
* * * * *
COMMENTARY. In the Fifth Book we have treated fully of the different
species of poppy known to the ancients. See also Schulze (Toxicol. Vet.)
The _Rhæas_ would seem to be the _Papaver dubium_, the _sativum_ is the
_P. Rhæas_. The Papaver cornutum appears to be the _Glaucium luteum_,
Scop. The _P. spumeum_ may be the _Gratiola officinalis_, Angl. Hedge
Hyssop. The ancients distinguished two kinds of the inspissated juice of
the poppy: the one was the juice obtained by wounding the poppy-heads,
and was called μήκωνος ὄπος, and ὄπιον; the other was an expressed juice,
much weaker than this, called μηκώνιον. The second sort is not known at
present. We will treat more fully of opium under that head, and therefore
we shall dismiss the present subject with a briefer notice than we should
otherwise have thought it necessary to bestow upon it. The views of the
Arabians regarding the different kinds of poppy may be best learned from
Avicenna (ii, 2, 563.) He copies, however, almost all his information
from Dioscorides. He recommends the application of the Papaver cornutum
in diseases of the eye, with certain cautions, explained under opium. He
follows Dioscorides in strongly commending the leaves of the same as an
application to foul ulcers, when he says they have the effect of removing
all the eschars upon the sores. Dioscorides, by the way, mentions that
the veterinarians used the horned poppy for removing the albugo and
nebulæ on the eyes of cattle. He speaks favorably of the effects of the
poppy in general for the cure of hot catarrhs, defluxions on the breast,
and hæmoptysis. See further Serapion (c. 72); Rhases (Cont. l. ult. i,
533); Averrhoes (Collig. v, 42.) The last of these joins Avicenna in
approving of the poppy for affections of the chest. Ebn Baithar, in
different parts of his great work, treats of the several species of poppy
noticed under this head.
Μῆλα,
Mala, _Apples_; a common property of all apples is that of an
excrementitious and cold juice, but those which are dissolved and watery
are colder and more humid than the others. The sweet are watery, but not
sensibly cold. Those which are austere are colder than the sweet, but
less humid. Those which are acid are also cold, and cut the thick humours
in the stomach. The sour, such as _Quinces_, and that species of them
called _Struthia_, are of a cold and terrene temperament, and, on that
account, prove astringent of the belly, and agglutinative of wounds. Thus
the leaves, juices, and barks of trees differ from one another.
* * * * *
COMMENTARY. By _Mala_, as Macrobius states, the ancients understood all
kinds of fruit which have their hard part or kernel in the middle, and
their esculent part without. (Saturnalia, iii, 19.) The malum cydonium
is undoubtedly the _Quince_. The _Struthia_ is a species of it. See
Dioscorides (i, 160); Pliny (H. N. xv, 10); Casiri (Bibl. Arab. Hisp.
i, 329.) These, namely, the _Struthia_, according to Harduin, are the
same as our _Pear-quince_; it is an astringent, stomachic fruit. There
is more difficulty in determining for certain what the Malum Persicum
was. Stackhouse makes it to be the _Citrus aurantium_, or _Orange_, but
we are disposed to think that the evidence preponderates in favour of
the opinion of Matthiolus, R. Stephens, and Harduin, who held that it
is the _Peach_ (_Amygdalus Persica_.) That species, or rather variety,
which Pliny calls _Duracina_, was probably the _Nectarine_, as Harduin
suggests. The Malum Armeniacum, or præcocia, was undoubtedly the
_Apricot_. See Harduin in Plin. H. N. (xv, 31); Casiri (Bibl. Arab.
Hisp. i, 330); and Gesner (Lex. Rust.) Contrary to the opinion of the
etymologists, we have long thought that the English name is a corruption
of the Latin _præcocia_. See, however, Loudon (Encyc. of Garden. 806.)
We have given their characters as articles of food in the First Book. As
to their medicinal powers, little need be added to our author’s account
of them, as it agrees entirely with that of the other authorities.
See in particular, Dioscorides (i, 160, 166); Galen (De Simpl. vii);
Avicenna (ii, 2, 562.) Galen makes mention of the quince and pear-quince
as being preserved with honey. He recommends the leaves, the juice,
and the rind of apple trees in general, as being possessed of acid
and austere qualities, and thus agglutinating wounds, restraining the
defluxions of incipient inflammations, and strengthening the stomach and
bowels when they have lost their tone. Dioscorides and, afterwards more
fully, Avicenna state that the immoderate use of fruit is flatulent, and
superinduces nervous debility. Dioscorides describes accurately the mode
of preparing a wine from quinces, which, he says, is possessed of the
same medicinal powers as the parts of the quince. He also makes mention
of an ointment prepared from it. Avicenna represents all the fragrant
kinds of apples as being cordial and alexipharmic, and strengtheners of
the stomach. One of Rhases’s authorities gives an interesting account of
the medicinal powers of apples as cordials, stomachics, and astringents.
(Cont. l. ult. i, 441.)
Μηλάια Περσικὴ,
Malum Persicum, _the Peach_; the shoots and leaves are manifestly bitter,
and therefore kill worms when triturated and applied to the navel. The
fruit of it, which forms the edible peach, is humid, and cold in the
second degree.
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COMMENTARY. See under Μῆλα.
Μηλάια Ἀρμενιακὴ,
Malus Armeniaca, _Apricot_; the fruit, which some call Præcocia, is
possessed of the same powers as peaches.
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COMMENTARY. See under Μῆλα.
Μῆον,
Meum, _Spignel_; its roots are hot in the third degree, but dry in the
second. It is therefore diuretic and emmenagogue, but occasions headache
when taken often.
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