of the climbing plants. For example under this head Serapion describes
the _lebleb_ or _cussus_, the _acfin_, the _atthin_, and _lebleb maju_.
Of these the first is unquestionably the κισσὸς or ivy, and is described
in extracts from Dioscorides and Galen. Of the _acfin_ he says that it is
laxative, and quotes Dioscorides as saying that it loosens the bowels.
He says the _atthin_ is styptic, and quotes Dioscorides and Galen as
recommending it in rheums of the eyes, and fluxes of the bowels. The
last or _lebleb_ he describes upon the authority of Aben Mesuai, who
says it is hot in the middle of the first degree, dry in the beginning
of the same, of a cutting nature with some saline properties, and purges
adust bile. Afterwards he describes its medicinal powers in the same
terms as Dioscorides and Galen describe the _cissus_, that is to say, he
represents it as being rather a medicine than an article of food; says
it purges bile in doses of from one third to two thirds of a pound, when
clarified without boiling, by means of ten drachms of sugar or penidia.
His next authority, Isaac ebn Amram, says it is deobstruent. Alkanzi says
it is cold and dry, is purgative and useful in indurations. His last
authority, Abix, says the _lebleb_ is cold and moistening, cholagogue,
and along with cassia fistula and oil of almonds it proves useful in
clearing out the bowels, and relieves coughs. (De Simpl. 42.) Avicenna
under the head of _Volubilis_, i. e. _hedera_ (ii, 2, 724), and under
_Cussus_ (ib. 169), describes the κισσὸς of Dioscorides, but the former
of these rather confusedly so as to create suspicions that he used the
term in rather a lax manner. Mesue is the ancient author who treats
most elaborately of the _volubilis_, applying the term to five distinct
species, or rather genera, of which the first is probably the Hedera, the
second the Helxine, and the third the Clematis of the Greeks; the fourth,
which he calls lupulus, is acknowledged to be the _Humulus lupulus_, and
the fifth the _Convolvulus scammonium_. See his learned commentator Costa
(c. 24.) As all the others have been already treated of, we shall confine
our attention at present to the account which he gives of the medicinal
powers of the _hops_. He says the lupulus brings away some yellow bile,
clears the blood, allays its inflammation, and that its infusion or whey
is of great use for this purpose, and its syrup, he adds, cures jaundice.
He says it was little used by the physicians of his time. He recommends
it as a deobstruent of the liver, and of other internal viscera, as a
remedy in asthma, and protracted fevers; and as a plaster to the head
with rose oil or oil of chamomile, &c. (i, 24.) He treats of scammony
separately in the next chapter. The character thus drawn of the _lupulus_
does not seem at first sight to agree well with the acknowledged virtues
of the _Humulus Lupulus_. But, as Rutty remarks, he probably alludes to
the stem and not to the flowers of the plant, as being a medicine which
purges yellow bile. (M. M. 296.) The _Humulus Lupulus_ is not noticed by
any Greek writer, nor by any Roman, with the exception of Pliny. (H. N.
xxi, 50.)
The _lebleb_, noticed above, there is every reason to suppose, was the
_dolichos lebleb_. It is also treated of by Avicenna as well as Serapion.
They represent it as containing saltish juices which purge adust bile.
It is a well-known article in Hindoo Medicine. See Wise (Book of Hindoo
Medicine, 104.)
_Abrong_, or _Abrugi_.
Serapion describes it as a round grain, spotted with black and white,
which is brought from Seni (China?), having a bitter taste, hot and
dry in the second degree, a laxative of the bowels, and vermifuge. (De
Simpl. 153.) According to Dodonæus and Parkinson, it is the pea which
the latter describes and represents under the name of _pisum cordatum
vesicarium_. See Theatre of Plants (1378.)
_Ribes._
This has been supposed the ribes _or_ raspberry, but it is now well
ascertained that it is a species of _Rheum_, namely the _Rheum Ribes_.
See Sprengel (R. H. H. i, 257.) Serapion gives a full account of it;
he represents it to be a cold, astringent plant, and recommends it
in various complaints, such as cholera, smallpox, measles, and in
hemorrhoids. (De Simpl. 241.) Avicenna briefly recommends it in nearly
the same complaints. (ii, 2, 581.) See also Rhases (Cont. l. ult. i,
582.) Ebn Baithar gives a full and very interesting description of it.
He says it grows in alpine localities in Syria, and in the northern
countries, but not in Spain; that it has large, broad, round leaves, and
tender reddish spots. He calls it bitter and astringent, and recommends
it in palpitation of the heart, vomiting, and marasmus. He also praises
it in hemorrhoids, and the red flux (menorrhagia) of women; and further
commends it in measles, smallpox, and plague. Dr. Royle says (M. M. 521)
that the _Rheum Ribes_ is “the _Riwas_ of Serapion, who mentions it as
making a good sherbet.” Does he allude to the chapter on the _Ribes_
quoted above?
_Aurantium._
When we stated in another place (Vol. I, 134) that no ancient author had
noticed the _orange_, we were unacquainted with the works of Ebn Baithar,
and of D’Hanvantare, the author of the Susruta. In the latter work the
orange is enumerated with acid fruits, of a somewhat indigestible nature.
(140 et alibi.) Ebn Baithar says of the orange that it produces an oil
which is useful in flatulence and pains of the joints. The rind of the
fruit, he says, is carminative and anthelminthic, an antidote to poisons,
and removes spots from clothes. The Hindoos have been long familiar with
the _Citrus aurantium_. See the Susruta and Wise’s Hindoo Medicine (p.
191.)
_Limon._
We are now inclined to think that we were mistaken in stating (Vol.
I. 137) that the lemon was mentioned by Avicenna (ii, 2, 433.) His
description is probably to be referred to the _Statice limonium_.
However, beyond all doubt, the _Citrus medica Limon_ is fully described
by Ebn Baithar. He says the rind is bitter, acid, astringent, and
aromatic, excites the appetite, improves digestion, renders the breath
fragrant, is cordial, and an antidote to poisons. He recommends it
particularly in fevers, exanthemata, palpitation of the heart, vomiting,
&c. It appears also to be noticed several times in the Susruta. (See p.
142 et alibi.) Lemons are likewise noticed by the Persian writers on the
Materia Medica by the names of _Leemoo_ and _Neemboo_. See Royle (Mat.
Med. 297.) They have been long known to the Hindoos. See Wise (Hindoo
Med.)
_Margaritæ._
Though the Greeks and Romans were well acquainted with pearl-mussels, as
is obvious from several passages in the classical authors, it does not
appear that they ever used these articles in the practice of medicine.
They were used by the Arabians as an ingredient in their celebrated
Electuarium _de Gemmis_, (Mesue _de Elect._) and were reckoned among
their cordial medicines. Avicenna says of pearls, that they resemble
_karabe_ in medicinal powers, but are more powerful in their operation.
(De Med. Cordial.) Serapion gives a fuller account of them upon the
authority of several Arabian writers, who describe pearls as being cold,
desiccant, and attenuant, and recommend them in diseases of the eyes,
and in hemorrhages, as dentifrices in diseases of the teeth, but more
especially as cordials in palpitations and other affections of the heart.
(De Simpl. 397.) We could have wished to have given in this place, since
we have had no convenient opportunity to do so elsewhere, an exposition
of the views of the Arabians respecting the operation of _cordial
medicines_; but as this subject could not be understood without a fuller
explanation of certain parts of the higher philosophy of the ancients
than is consistent with our limits, we are reluctantly obliged to dismiss
it with a very brief notice. We would beg leave to refer our readers to
Avicenna’s elaborate treatise ‘de Medicinis Cordialibus.’ He there gives
an ingenious disquisition on medicines which operate upon the animal
spirits and dispel vapours, and first advocates views which have formed
the basis of many a modern hypothesis on this subject. Among the cordial
medicines described by him we would remark amber, gold, silver, citron,
coral, cinnamon, camphor, myrobalans, hyacinth (the gem), lapis lazuli,
myrtle, musk, mace, frankincense, silk, sandal-wood, tamarinds, zerumbet,
zeduary, &c. One important class of cordials consists of medicines which
evacuate black bile, namely, melanogogues, which we will have to treat of
in a subsequent section of this work.
In imitation of the Arabians, Paracelsus and the modern alchemists have
attributed great virtues to the precious metals and stones as cordial
medicines. See Schröder (Chemical Dispensatory, pluries.) He says of
pearls, that “they are an excellent cordial, that strengthens the balsam
of life, resists poison, pestilence, and putrefaction, and clear the
spirits.” (167.) Pearls and other precious stones have always been highly
esteemed by the Hindoo physicians. See the Susruta and Wise’s Hindoo
Medicine (124.)
_Sericum._
We have mentioned above, that silk is one of the cordial medicines
treated of by Avicenna. Silk, and especially raw silk, he says, is
attenuant and desiccative, acts as a cordial, improves the memory, proves
useful in affections of the eyes, in obstructions of the liver and other
complaints. (De Med. Cord. ii, 3.) The silkworm (_bombyx mori_) and
the uses of silk in medicine, are described with considerable accuracy
by Serapion. Like Avicenna he ranks it with the cordial medicines,
and recommends it in this capacity along with pearls, karabe, corals,
and musk. (De Simpl. c. 28.) Silk forms one of the ingredients in the
electuary of Mesue, to which he gives the following imposing title,
“Electuarium ex granis tinctoriis ad cordis palpitationem, syncopem,
mentis alienationem, seu desipentiam, moerorem sine causa manifesta,
facultates enim nostrum corpus dispensantes mirifice roborat.” See f.
89, and the interesting Commentary of Costa. It is also an ingredient in
several of the Antidotaria of Avenzoar. Ebn Baithar says, that various
Arabian authors had written on the medicinal properties of silk. One of
them quoted by him describes the use of it in medicine by burning it,
and using its ashes for collyria and other purposes. He remarks, that
Ebn Sina (Avicenna) says, that silk as an article of clothing prevents
the formation of lice. Raw silk has been used as a medicine in modern
times. Moses Charras, in his ‘Royal Pharmacopœia,’ writes thus of it:
“Many writers have attributed great virtue to raw silk. But although the
use thereof had been at all times unknown in physic, my judgment is that
it is too fragrant, that it has too much beauty, that it affords too
many conveniences to human life, that there are too many wonders in the
first original, progress, labour, and metamorphosis of the worm which
produces it, to be despised.” He adds, “that is called raw silk which
was never boiled, but is still as it were in the grain, out of which
the worm has been but newly taken.” He says further of the composition,
whereof raw silk is an ingredient, namely, _Confectio alkermes regia_,
“This confection is, without question, one of the best cordials that
ever Galenic physic invented. For it repairs and recreates the vital and
animal spirits, it ceases palpitations of the heart and swooning-fits; it
fortifies the brain, &c.” (R. P. 149.) A still more recent authority on
pharmacy, says of raw silk, _Sericum_, that it is “cordial, restorative,
one drachm in powder.” Gray (Suppl. to Pharmacop. 215.)
_Hyacinthus._
This is one of the precious stones which often occurs as an ingredient
in the Arabian formulæ for antidotes. Ebn Baithar remarks, that it is
not described by Dioscorides nor Galen. He mentions three kinds, a
yellow, a red, and a black, of which the red is the noblest. Its powers,
he says, are increased by fire. It was used as an amulet, and was held
to be cordial and alexipharmic; and, in fact, Ebn Baithar says it is
possessed of many virtues. From his mentioning of it, that, when rubbed,
it attracts straw, there seems every reason to suppose that it was
tourmaline. Some have taken the hyacinth of the Greeks and Romans for the
same, but Heeren rather supposes it to be the ruby. It is briefly noticed
as a cordial by Avicenna, Mesue, and Serapion. The last of these gives
nearly the same account of it as Ebn Baithar; that is to say, both had
copied from the same authorities. He particularly mentions it as being an
excellent phylactery to guard the body during thunder-storms. (De Simpl.
398.) The _Confectio de Hyacintho_ has been very celebrated in modern
times. See Moses Charras (Roy. Pharmacop. 147.)
_Hager Albuzedi._
It is thus described by Serapion: “Hager albuzedi is a red stone, but
less so than the hyacinth, the redness of which is more agreeable to
the eye, as there is no obscurity in it. The mines where this stone is
found are in the East. When taken from the mine it is opake; but when
divested of its outer coat by a lapidary, its goodness is discovered and
it becomes transparent. When this stone has been strongly rubbed against
the hair of the head, it attracts chaff, as the magnet does iron.” He
speaks of its being useful to the eyes when they are rubbed with it, and
says that as a seal it dispels frightsome dreams. (de Mineral. 399.)
According to Beckmann this is most probably not the tourmaline, although
it bears some resemblance to it in properties, but belongs rather to the
hyacinths. (History of Inventions.) In fact, it would appear to us highly
probable, that this article like the preceding was a variety of the ruby.
_Hager Salachil_, or _Lapis Corneolus_.
Several species of it are described by Serapion, of which the best he
says is the red. They are brought, he adds, from the mines of the Romans,
and were used principally as an amulet and dentifrice. It must have been
the same as the _Sardion_ of Theophrastus (De Lapidibus), and of Plato
(Timæus.) The term would appear to have been used in a general sense
for several of the finer kinds of agates. (De Simpl. 400.) A modern
authority thus describes it: “The Sarda _or_ Cornelian. It is a gem half
transparent, like the water wherein flesh is washed, or like bloody
flesh: hence it is called Carneolus or Cornelian. The best cornelians are
found in Sardinia.” Schröder (Chemical Dispensatory, p. 160.)
_Tincar_, or _Borax_.
We have treated of this article already under the head of _Chrysocolla_,
with which it has been often confounded. It was introduced into medical
practice by the Arabians, and there appears to us no doubt that it was
the same as our borate of soda. It was very much used for the cure of
toothache. See the authorities quoted under _Chrysocolla_. It was used
medicinally by the Hindoo physicians. See the Susruta (pluries), Wise
(Hindoo System of Medicine, 117); Ainslie (Mat. Ind. 576); Royle (Mat.
Med. 97.)
_Hager Alcazaha._
It is difficult to determine precisely what this precious stone was,
although it is pretty minutely described by Serapion. He says it is
brought from Yemen, and is of divers colours, from white to black, and
that it occasions disturbed dreams when worn as an amulet: he recommends
it, however, to be thus used by infants, and says a vessel prepared from
it, if used for holding any article of food or drink, prevents sleep. (De
Simpl. 401.)
_Lapis Lazuli._
We have in so far treated of this substance under _Cyanus_ in the
preceding Commentary. It was used, like the other precious stones, as an
amulet, but was more particularly celebrated as a melanogogue medicine.
It was further said to be useful in asthma, and as an emmenagogue.
See Serapion (De Simpl. 369); Avicenna (ii, 256). A modern authority
describes it thus: “It is a stone like a sapphire, or the flowers of
cyanus adorned with golden stones or flowers, harder than the Armenian
stone. It is in virtue like the Armenian stone, but weaker; it purgeth
chiefly melancholy. It is worn about the neck for an amulet to drive away
frights from children,” &c. Schröder, (Chymic. Dispensat.)
_Berengemish_, or _Ozimum Gariofilatum_.
Serapion, after quoting a description of it from Isaac ebn Amram, says
of it, that it is hot and dry in the end of the second degree, is useful
in coldness of the stomach, promotes digestion, is a hepatic and cordial
medicine, dispels melancholy, renders the eructations fragrant, &c.
His other authorities recommend it in similar cases. (De Simpl. 156.)
Avicenna gives a similar account of it in all respects. (ii, 2, 254.)
We suppose there is no doubt that it is the clove basil, or _Ocimum
gariofilatum_ of Miller; or, according to Sprengel, the _O. monachorum_.
_Behen._
Serapion briefly describes two varieties of it consisting of fibrous
roots, being brought from Armenia, and having a good smell with some
viscidity. Both kinds, he says, are hot and humid, and increase the
secretion of semen. (De Simpl. 223.) See also Avicenna (ii, 2, 82), and
Rhases (Contin. l. ult. iii, 29.) Avicenna holds that it is also cordial
in addition to its power of forming semen. It is the _Centaurea Behen_ L.
_Spinachia._
We have already treated of the spinach (_Spinachia oleracea_) as a
dietetical article introduced by the Arabians. (Vol. I, 113.) According
to Avicenna it is laxative of the bowels, useful in orthopnœa, and other
diseases of the chest. It is noticed in like terms by Serapion (De Simpl.
140); by Rhases (Contin. l. ult. i, 671.) Ebn Baithar says of spinach
that it is an excellent potherb, and useful in diseases of the neck and
chest, being much used for this purpose by the inhabitants of Nineveh,
who are very subject to such complaints.
_Rhabarbarum._
We have stated under _Rheum_ in the preceding Commentary (317), that it
was the _rheum rhaponticum_, which is the only species of the _rheum_
described in the regular treatises on the Mat. Med. of the Greeks and
Romans. Our author, however, would seem to allude to the _Rheum barbarum_
or purgative rhubarb, at Book I, 43, and VII, 11. Although it is stated
by some learned authorities that the rheum of Trallian (viii, 3) was a
species of the Rhabarbarum, we are satisfied from a careful examination
of the passage, that it was the rhaponticum. There can be no doubt
that the general use of the purgative rhubarb was introduced by the
Arabians, of whom Ebn Baithar is by far the most copious and instructive
under this head. He states decidedly that there are four species of
rhubarb, three of which are perfectly distinct. On the first species, by
which he evidently means the _R. Rhaponticum_, he gives extracts from
Dioscorides, Galen, Oribasius, and Paulus. He says the older physicians
knew nothing of the virtues of the purgative kinds of rhubarb until
they were discovered near to his time. He says the purgative rhubarb
acts as a deobstruent and strengthener of all the internal viscera, is
useful in mental diseases, dropsy, jaundice, marasmus connected with
obstructions, especially when combined with gum lac. He says it is most
useful in chronic diarrhœa when taken in an aromatic wine and with Indian
spikenard, and also in uterine fluxes, dyspepsia, and other complaints
of a similar nature. He praises it most especially as a stomachic.
He states, that of all the kinds of rhubarb, the Turkish possesses
the purgative quality in the highest degree. Of the other Arabian
authorities, Averrhoes is one who gives a very distinct account of the
true purgative rhubarb. (Collig. v, 42.) Mesue describes three species of
the Rhabarbarum, _or_ Rhaued, namely, Indianum, Barbarum, and Turcicum,
to all of which he ascribes purgative powers, and recommends them as
being possessed of hepatic, stomachic, and deobstruent properties, which
render them particularly serviceable in dropsy, obstructions of the
spleen, and jaundice. The dose of the infusion, he says, is from one to
ten drs.; and of the pounded, from one to three. He appears not to have
been acquainted with the Rhaponticum (De Simpl. v), whereas Avicenna and
Serapion would seem not to have known the other. It may be proper to
mention, in conclusion, that the Rheum rhaponticum is the common culinary
or tart rhubarb of this country. According to Loudon, it was introduced
in 1573, but it is most probable that we owe the introduction of it to
the Romans.
* * * * *
But it is time that we should draw this Appendix to a close. And now we
trust it will not be thought out of place to conclude with Professor
Beckmann’s eloquent eulogy on the Literature of the Arabians in his
celebrated work on the ‘History of Inventions and Discoveries.’
“What a noble people were the Arabs! We are indebted to them for much
knowledge and for many inventions of great utility; and we should have
still more to thank them for were we fully aware of the benefits we
have derived from them. What a pity that their works should be suffered
to moulder into dust, without being made available! What a shame that
those acquainted with this rich language should meet with so little
encouragement! The few old translations which exist have been made by
persons who were not sufficiently acquainted either with languages or
the sciences. On that account they are for the most part unintelligible,
uncertain, in many places corrupted, and besides, exceedingly scarce.
Even when obtained, the possessors are pretty much in the same state as
those who make their way with great trouble to a treasure, which, after
all, they are only permitted to see at a distance through a narrow gate.
Had I still twenty years to live, and could hope for an abundant supply
of Arabic works, I would learn Arabic. But ὁ βίος βραχὺς, ἡ δὲ τέχνη
μακρή.”
SECT. IV.—ON SIMPLE PURGATIVE MEDICINES.
Give of aloes one drachm, with honeyed water, in the morning. But they
who administer it in the evening or after food occasion mischief, for
it makes the food spoil. It evacuates yellow bile, less if given to the
extent of three oboli, for in that case it proves solely and entirely
eccoprotic. But purgative medicines being generally bad for the stomach,
aloes alone is stomachic. Those who cannot endure the bitterness of it
may take it formed into pills. It is manifest that purgative medicines do
not evacuate by any one simple temperament such as heat (for then all hot
things would be evacuants, such as pepper), but by some specific property
of their whole substance in like manner as the magnet attracts iron. Of
purgative medicines those which are simply laxative have been treated of
in the First Book. We are to use drastic purgatives either in order to
transfer some matter, or to dislodge and remove an indurated diathesis,
or as an alterative to the system, and in order to change the temperament
of it, or to displace any offending humour. There are certain mixed modes
complicated of the afore-mentioned. Purgative medicines are to be given
to those whose powers are firm and their understanding strong; to such as
have passed the first stage of life, and have not yet come to the last;
to those who have a strong stomach, and have collections of superfluous
matters in the body, and are not very sanguineous. The best seasons for
purging, if there be no urgent necessity, are the spring and the autumn.