dogs-tooth?), of each, dr. viij, of the tail of a scink, of spignel,
of asarabacca, of stone-parsley, of cardamom, of seseli, of each, dr.
iv; of the seed of rocket, of cinnamon, of each, dr. iij; of all-good
(horminum), of white pepper, of the seed of bastard saffron, of each,
dr. ij; of the schœnanth, of spikenard, of each, dr. j, of goat’s blood,
a mystrum (spoonful). A drachm is given with wine, but to those who are
weaker, with milk.
_Pills from xylomacer for dysenteries._ Of xylomacer, of opium, of Pontic
rhubarb, of each, scr. vj; of gall, of myrrh, of each, oz. j; mix with
palm wine.
_Remedies for the gout. The antidote from corallium._ Of rheum barbarum,
of pæony, of troglodytic myrrh, of spikenard, of each, oz. ij; of Indian
leaf, oz. j; of cloves, gr. xv, of the pimpernel having the purple flower
which they call corallium, oz. ss; of long birthworth, oz. iv, and of
round, oz. vj. One scruple is to be given as a dose every day to the
patient, when digestion is accomplished. We must begin at the autumnal
equinox, which is about the 24th of the month of September; and it is to
be taken regularly for fifty days, and then interrupted for fifteen days;
and this is to be done until the whole 365 days be completed. It is to be
given up during the whole of the dog-days, that is, from the 24th of June
to the end of August. The patient must abstain from venery, from flesh,
particularly that of swine, and from pickle, sauce, beet, carrot, mint,
and from boiled lettuces and pompions; from fishes, as the mullet, gomphi
(gobii?), mollusca, and the testacea; from all the legumes, and in short
from all things which furnish a thick chyme, and from black wine, and
from much wine of any kind. He is to bathe every day, and take exercise
either on foot or on horseback, or in a vehicle. Those who are of a drier
habit have not been injured by a less restricted diet.
_The podagric antidote of Agapetus._ Of Indian leaf, of rheum barbarum,
of saffron, of spikenard, of troglodytic myrrh, of costus, of germander,
of each, oz. ij; of hepatic aloes, oz. v; of St. John’s wort, of pæony,
of each, oz. iij; of long birthwort, of valerian, of spignel, of vervain
mallow, of pimpernel, of each, oz. iv. The mode of using it is the same
as that of corallium.
_The podagric remedy, called atactos._ Of Indian leaf, of spignel, of
vervain mallow, of the pimpernel having the blue flower, of madder,
of mastich, of saffron, of cassia, of hepatic aloes, of gentian, of
germander, of each, oz. j; of cloves, of white and of black pepper, of
each, oz. ss; of spikenard, of myrrh, of rheum barbarum, of the root of
pæony, of the long birthwort, and of the round, of each, oz. ij. To be
used in like manner.
_The podagric antidote of Proclus, answering also with ischiatic
disease._ Of germander, oz. ix; of centaury, oz. viij; of birthwort,
oz. vij; of gentian, oz. vj; of St. John’s wort, oz. v; of Macedonian
stone-parsley, oz. iv; of spignel, oz. iij; of agaric, oz. ij; of
valerian, oz. j; of Attic honey, two heminæ.
_The composition from seven ingredients for the same purposes._ Of St.
John’s wort, of long birthwort, of each, oz. j; of centaury, of ground
pine, of agaric, of each, oz. iij; of germander, oz. vj; of gentian, oz.
v. Some add likewise, of stone-parsley, oz. j; of honey, dr. v. The dose
is dr. j.
* * * * *
COMMENTARY. Celsus thus defines the nature of antidotes: “Antidota
raro, sed præcipue interdum necessaria sunt, quia gravisismis casibus
opitulantur. Ea recte quidem dantur collisis corporibus vel per
ictus, vel ubi ex alto deciderunt, vel in viscerum, laterum, faucium,
interiorumque partium doloribus; maxime autem desideranda sunt adversus
venena, vel per morsus, vel per cibos, aut potiones nostris corporibus
inserta.” He gives prescriptions for three antidotes. They consist
principally of stimulant and aromatic medicines, mixed with honey and
wine. (v, 23.)
Most of the antidotes treated of in this chapter are copied from Galen’s
work ‘De Antidotis,’ but our author, in many instances, has used the
liberty to introduce various alterations, either with the view of
simplifying or improving upon the formulæ of Galen. Mesue also treats
fully of antidotes in his work, ‘De Electariis,’ wherein he substitutes
a considerable number of Arabic articles for those used by the Greeks.
Serapion describes these compositions with extreme prolixity. (Tract.
vii.) But what shall we say of Myrepsus, who gives prescriptions for
511 antidotes? Of these, and such like multifarious compositions, it
would be idle to attempt any general analysis, and therefore we shall
pass by all the articles treated of in this chapter unnoticed, with
the exception of the _Theriac_, which was so celebrated in the records
of ancient medicine, that we think ourselves called upon to give some
further account of it. Galen devotes two distinct treatises to the
consideration of the celebrated theriac from vipers, besides giving a
general description of it in his work on antidotes. Our author’s account
of it is merely an abridgment of his. Galen mentions that Mithridates,
king of Pontus, had, by repeated experiments upon condemned malefactors,
acquired a most thorough knowledge of the proper antidotes for almost
every venomous reptile and poisonous substance, and hence he constructed
the composition bearing his name, which was long esteemed as a general
antidote to deleterious substances. From it Andromachus, the chief
physician to the emperor Nero, formed his famous theriac, having added
the flesh of vipers, and otherwise altered some of the ingredients in
the theriac of Mithridates. The prescription for it was translated into
verse by Damocrates, and the poem, consisting of 174 lines, is preserved
in Galen’s work, ‘De Antidotis.’ As stated by Galen, it was composed
of inspissated juices, liquid juices, barks, roots, flowers, seeds, and
fleshes. Of the vegetable substances which entered into the composition
of it, it is difficult to remark any one general character, although
one can have no difficulty in perceiving that by far the greater number
of them are hot, volatile stimulants, which, agreeably to the ancient
views of practice, as explained by us in the Fifth Book, were supposed
to counteract the frigidity of poisons. It was, no doubt, with the same
intention that Andromachus added the flesh of vipers, from which, as
a modern author, Moses Charras, remarks, a volatile salt and oil are
procured. In preparing the vipers, Galen directs us to cut off the head
and tail to the extent of four fingers’ breadth, and then to take out
their entrails and fat, and boil them until the backbone be separated
from the flesh, when the latter is to be taken out and formed into
trochisks, with crumb of bread. We need not occupy time with detailing
all the other steps in the formation of this multifarious composition,
as our author’s account is sufficiently ample and accurate. Galen
expresses great confidence in it, especially as an antidote to poisons,
and a remedy for inveterate diseases of the skin, such as leprosy and
elephantiasis. It derives its name, he says, either from its being used
as a remedy for the stings of venomous animals (θήρια), or because the
flesh of such a reptile, namely, the viper, entered into the composition
of it.
The Greek authorities subsequent to Galen repeat his directions for
forming this celebrated medicine, and any alterations which they make in
it are not very important. The Rheum barbarum instead of the Rhâ Ponticum
appears in the prescription given by Myrepsus. Like his predecessors,
he praises the theriac not only as an antidote to poisons, but as a
preservative from pestilential diseases. Actuarius, who describes it very
accurately, pronounces it to be the best of all the antidotes.
Averrhoes’s treatise on the theriac is interesting and worth consulting,
although his views are upon the whole much in accordance with those of
Galen. He seems to have referred its action as a medicine to its power in
rousing the vital heat of the system; and hence he very properly forbids
it to be administered in all cases of an inflammatory and bilious nature.
He therefore condemns the use of it in pleurisy unless when the pain is
dull and chronic. He says, it ought not to be given in cases of difficult
parturition, unless when it is wished to rouse the expulsive faculty, or
when the fœtus is dead. According to his account, the composition has
not arrived at perfection, when it is four years old, and it retains its
powers until after forty years.
Haly Abbas sums up the medicinal properties of the theriac with stating
that it dries the natural humidity, strengthens the viscera, cleanses the
organs of food and respiration, and expels superfluities from the brain.
Hence he pronounces it to be a remedy for all the diseases which attack
the human body. (Pract. x, 4.)
Serapion describes the following methods of trying whether the theriac be
good: 1st. Give of it to the amount of a drachm to a person who has taken
a powerful emetic or cathartic, such as white hellebore or scammony, and
if it counteract the effect of the medicine that has been taken, we know
that it is genuine. 2d. As Galen directs, having got a wild cock, allow
it to be stung by a venomous reptile, and then give it a proper dose of
the theriac. If the fowl escape unhurt we are sure that the medicine
is good; but if he die we know that it is not to be depended upon. 3d.
Give a poisonous substance, such as opium, to a cock or a dog, and then
administer the theriac, the powers of which may be judged of from the
result.
Moses Charras, who published ‘The Royal Pharmacopœia’ about the end
of the seventeenth century, thus enumerates the medicinal uses of the
theriac of Andromachus: “Treacle being composed of a great quantity
of hot medicaments, ought to be very much esteemed for the cure of
cold diseases, and of all those where the natural heat is feeble and
languishing, especially, among the rest, of palsies, epilepsies,
convulsions, and all cold diseases of the head. It is proper against all
weaknesses and want of retention in the stomach and intestines; against
the diarrhœa, dysentery, lientery, morbus cholera, and all sort of
colics; against agues, and particularly the quartan; against the worms;
against all sorts of poison, the pestilence, smallpox, the measles, and
all epidemic diseases; against the biting of mad dogs and all sorts of
venomous animals; against want of sleep, and griping pains in children;
against hysteric passions, the jaundice, and an infinite sort of other
diseases.” (P. i, c. 20.)
This famous medicine was expelled from the ‘British Pharmacopœia’ about
the middle of the last century. When its rejection was proposed by Dr.
Heberden, the College divided upon the question, and there were found
to be 13 votes for retaining, and 14 for rejecting it. Its medicinal
virtues had been previously questioned by Capivaccius, Trincavallius,
and Julius Alexandrinus. It is still retained, however, in the ‘Codex
Medicamentarius’ of Paris; and, we understand, is much used by the Greek
physicians in Constantinople. A formula for a theriac is contained in
the Greek Pharmacopœia of the present day. Although it still retains the
name of “Theriaca Andromachi,” it consists of but a very small number
of ingredients in comparison with the original preparation. Dr. Mead
says of it, “The physicians in Italy and France very commonly prescribe
the broth and jelly of viper’s flesh to invigorate and purify the mass
of blood exhausted with diseases or tainted with some vicious and
obstinate ferment.” (On Poisons.) Upon the virtues of viper’s flesh,
Duemerbroeck expresses himself in the following terms: “Carnes viperinas
ac serpentinas adversus multa venena eximiam antidotalem vim obtinere
adeo notum est ut absolutè negari non possit, idque non tantum liquet ex
Galeni testimoniis verum etiam ex quotidianâ experientiâ. Sic Hartmannus
scribit se propriis oculis vidisse, a quodam experto medico tribus diebus
continuis intra corpus gravissima quædam venena assumpta eademque paulo
post sine ullâ noxâ, ab exhibito pulvere cum astantium admiratione iterum
expulsa fuisse.” (De Peste, iii, 5.)
SECT. XII.—ON TROCHISKS, OR TROCHES.
Trochisks are so named from their form. There are three kinds of them.
For some of them are to be swallowed, some injected, and some rubbed in.
Of those which are swallowed, some are for restraining the belly, or a
flow of blood, or any other discharge, by their cooling, astringent,
obstruent, or desiccative qualities, such as that from Egyptian thorn,
that from seeds, and the like. Some are anodyne, either by deadening
the sensibility, such as the saffron, or by dispelling, like those from
aromatic substances. Some act as deobstruents on the spleen, kidneys,
and liver, such as that from bitter almonds. Of those which are injected,
some are for blunting acrimony, as in dysentery, such as those from
pompholyx, starch, and Samian earth, injected with the juice of ptisan,
or the like. Some act as astringents upon the alvine discharges, or a
flow of blood, as those from alum, acacia, and omphacium, such as that
of Philip; or that consisting of Egyptian thorn, injected with the juice
of roses or of plantain. Those that are caustic agree with spreading
dysenteries, being composed of sandarach, arsenic, quicklime, and burnt
pepper; but they are to be injected with the juice of lentils or of
rice, the intestine being first washed out with salt water, and the
patients having eaten and drunk beforehand, so that none of the powers
of the medicine may be carried up to the stomach. Those trochisks which
are injected prove serviceable principally in affections below the
navel, for their power does not reach higher up. Those which are rubbed
in are possessed of similar powers to those which are injected. But
the astringent ones are applicable in herpes, exanthemata, intertrigo,
hemorrhage, and ulcers attended with discharges, such as that of Andron
and that of Polyides. Those possessed of blunting powers agree with
carbuncle, and ill-conditioned ulcers, such as the white trochisks, and
that from lotaria. Those which burn as those mentioned above, like the
Faustian, are applicable in spreading ulcers in the pudenda and anus, and
for pterygia and sarcomata.
_The trochisk aster._ Of saffron, of castor, of spikenard, of cassia,
of myrrh, of Lemnian earth, of the bark of mandragora, of each, oz. iv;
of carrot, of parsley, of anise, of seseli, of the seed of henbane, of
storax, of each, dr. viij. Triturate with wine.
_The trochisk trigonus._ Of the seed of parsley, of the seed of henbane,
of each, dr. ij; of anise, dr. viij; of opium, dr. iij. Triturate with
water.
_The trochisk from seeds._ Of anise, of bishop’s weed, of the seed of
fennel, of each, dr. iv; of the seed of parsley, of opium, of the seed of
henbane, of each, dr. ij. Triturate with water.
_The trochisk croceus_, or _saffron trochisk_. Of anise, of the seed of
Cretan carrot, of each, dr. iv; of myrrh, of castor, of each, dr. ij; of
saffron, of opium, of each, dr. iij; of the seed of parsley, of storax,
of each, dr. iv; of the seed of henbane, dr. vj. Triturate with water.
_The trochisk from roses._ Of acacia, of gum, of the flower of roses, of
pomegranate flowers, of the juice of hypocistis, of galls, of each, dr.
iij; of the juice of green roses, of the seed of plantain, of each, dr.
j; of Indian buckthorn, dr. j.
_The trochisk from corallium._ Of the seed of henbane, of frankincense,
of each, dr. viij; of Samian earth, of corallium, of Sinopic vermilion,
of opium, of each, dr. iv; of starch, of the flowers of the wild
pomegranate, of each, dr. ij. Mix with the juice of knotgrass.
_The trochisk from amber._ Of fleawort, oz. v; of mastich, oz. iv; of the
scrapings of amber, of iris, of saffron, of each, oz. iv; of opium, oz.
ij.
_The trochisk from Egyptian thorn._ Of Egyptian thorn, of sumach, of
frankincense, of acacia, of stone-alum, of the juice of hypocistis, of
galls, of Lemnian earth, of corallium, of comfrey, of Samian aster, of
aloes, of Cretan cistus, equal parts. Mix with wine.
_The trochisk which Galen entitles the aphrodisiasticum clidion._ Of the
flowers of the cultivated pomegranate, of Egyptian thorn, of the flowers
of the wild pomegranate, of the juice of hypocistis, of acacia, of each,
dr. vj; of buckthorn, of Pontic rhubarb, of opium, of each, dr. iv; of
myrrh, dr. ij. Mix with myrtle wine, or the decoction of roses or of
myrtles.
_The clidion of Oribasius, for dysentery and cæliac affection._ Of the
immature gall, dr. viij; of opium, dr. iv. Form into pills with water,
and give three or four.
_The trochisk from hartshorn for dysentery and hæmoptysis._ Of snails,
dr. xij; of burnt hartshorn, of roasted galls, of roasted acacia, of
each, dr. v; obol. xij; of black myrtles, dr. xv; of dried opium, of
the juice of hypocistis, of each, dr. v; of the œnanthe, dr. v; of the
juice of the root of mandragora, of terra aster, of each, dr. xij; of the
sumach used for condiments, dr. xiv; of roasted pomegranate rind, dr.
vij; of frankincense, dr. viij; of the roasted bark of pine, dr. xiv; of
the seed of henbane roasted, dr. x; of the rhus coriaria, sext. ii; of
dark-coloured wine, what will be sufficient to boil the sumach until the
wine become thick. When it is strained, add the other things, and form
the trochisks.
_The trochisk of the Amazons._ Of the seed of parsley, of anise, of each,
dr. vj; of the hair of wormwood, dr. iv; of myrrh, of pepper, of opium,
of castor, of each, dr. ij; of cinnamon, dr. vj. Mix with water.
_The trochisk from bitter almonds._ Of anise, of the seed of parsley,
of asarabacca, of bitter almonds, of the hair of wormwood, equal parts;
form, with water, trochisks of dr. j each. Give to those who are free
from fever in wine and honey, and to those who have fever in water and
honey.
_The splenic trochisk from heath._ Of the fruit of heath, dr. iv; of
white pepper, of Syriac nard, of ammoniac perfume, of each, dr. ij. The
ammoniac is dissolved in water, and added to the powders, and trochisks
are formed containing a drachm each. The dose is one trochisk, with one
cyathus of oxymel.
_The trochisk from alkakengi._ Of the seed of the cultivated cucumber,
stripped of its bark, oz. iv; of the seed of henbane, of hemlock, of
each, oz. ij; of fennel, of the seed of dock, of saffron, of pine nuts,
of bitter almonds, of opium, of each, oz. j; of alkakengi, sext. iij; of
wine, q. s.
_The trochisk of Philip, for dysentery._ Of the flowers of the wild
pomegranate, of acacia, of the juice of hypocistis, of opium, of sumach,
of frankincense, of myrrh, of saffron, of gall, of aloes, of Pontic
rhubarb, of the rind of pomegranate, of myrtles, of each, dr. iv. Mix
with austere wine, and form into trochisks of three oboli each. Give
to those who are free from fever with wine, and to those in fever with
hydromel.
_The trochisk of Musa._ Of alum, of aloes, of myrrh, of copperas
(blue vitriol?) of each, oz. iss; of pomegranate rind, of saffron, of
crocomagma, of each, dr. vj, in wine.
_The preparation of the crocomagma._ Of saffron, oz. ij; of roses, of
starch, of myrrh, of aloes, of frankincense, of gum, of each, oz. j; of
costus, of spikenard, of each, dr. j, in wine. In the prescription for
oil of saffron another mode of preparing crocomagma is described.
_The trochisk Nerè, from the works of Hera._ Of myrrh, of aloes, of
saffron, of each, dr. viij; of fissile alum, dr. c. Mix with water.
_The sigillum of Polyides._ Of fissile alum, dr. iij; of frankincense,
dr. iv; of myrrh, dr. viij; of copperas (chalcanthum?), dr. ij; of the
flowers of the cultivated pomegranate, dr. xij; of the gall of bulls, dr.
vj (others use dr. xvj); of aloes, oz. j. Mix with austere wine.
_The trochisk of Pasion._ Of squama æris, dr. xij; of burnt copper, of
sal ammoniac, of round alum, of scraped verdigris, of frankincense, of
each, dr. viij; of wine, q. s.
_The trochisk Andronius._ Of the flowers of the cultivated pomegranate,
dr. x; of myrrh, dr. iv; of galls, dr. viij; of round birthwort, dr. iv;
of copperas, of saffron, of fissile alum, of crocomagma, of misy, of
frankincense, of each, dr. ij. Triturate with astringent wine or vinegar.
_The trochisk of Faustinus._ Of arsenic, dr. xij; of sandarach, dr. vj;
of quicklime, dr. viij; of burnt paper, dr. j. Mix with the juice or
decoction of myrtles; make into trochisks, and inject along with the
decoction of myrtles, of lentils, and of the roots of bramble.
_The trochisk from paper._ Of burnt paper, lb. ij; of quicklime, of
arsenic, of sandarach, of each, oz. j. Mix with the juice of plantain.
_The trochisk called Thronus Marcellius._ Of burnt paper, dr. x; of
sandarach, of arsenic, of squama æris, of fissile alum, of each, dr. iv;
of the flowers of the wild pomegranate, dr. iij; of opium, dr. ij; of
quicklime, dr. iij; of omphacium, dr. j; of the juice of hypocistis, dr.
iij. Mix with myrtle wine, and form troches of four drachms each. When
you have boiled the pomegranate rind, myrtles, and roses to a third part,
give one trochisk, or simply dr. iv to six cyathi of wine.
_The trochisk from cork._ Of burnt galls, of burnt paper, of burnt
cork, of burnt bread, of each, dr. xv. In another prescription there is
added of burnt hartshorn, dr. xv; of arsenic, dr. ij; of sandarach, of
quicklime, of each, dr. xv; of acacia, of ceruse, of each, dr. v; of
litharge, dr. iij. Triturate in wine.
_The trochisk Bithynus._ Of pomegranate rind, dr. x; of calamine, oz.
iij; of birthwort, of galls, of the root of all-heal, of iris, of
copperas, of fissile alum, of chalcitis, of misy, of squama æris, of
manna (and some also of costus), of each, oz. iss. Mix with vinegar.
_The trochisk from castor, for ulcers, spreading sores, and defluxions._
Of saffron, of aloes, of frankincense, of each, oz. j; of the flowers of
the cultivated pomegranate, of fissile alum, of castor, of manna, of
scraped verdigris, of each, oz. j; of sinopic vermilion, lb. j. Mix with
old wine.
_The trochisk from castor, for colics._ Of myrrh, of castor, of each,
scr. vj; of saffron, of opium, of each, scr. ix; of anise, of parsley
seed, of carrot seed, of each, oz. ss; of the seed of henbane, scr. xviij.
_The trochisk from wine and oil, for the fundament and pudendum._ Of
ceruse, oz. x; of litharge, oz. v; of frankincense, of the dross of lead,
of fissile alum, of each, oz. ij. Triturate with wine that does not
contain salt water. At the time of using it, mix with wine and rose oil,
or wine and myrtle oil.
_The trochisk from Phrygian stone, for the pudenda._ Take three Phrygian
stones burnt and extinguished, and mix the first with butter or rose oil;
the second with wine; and the third with honey, to the extent of oz. ij;
add, of the flower of roses, oz. iv; of pomegranate rind, oz. j.
_The trochisk from lotaria to the fundament and pudendum._ Of ceruse, of
starch, of glaucium, of saffron, of alum, equal parts. Triturate with the
juice of lotaria or wine.
_The white trochisk._ Of terra aster, oz. iv; of pompholyx, of ceruse, of
starch, of each, oz. ij; of opium, scr. iv. Mix with water.
_The trochisk from halicacabus_, or _winter cherry_. Of litharge, dr.
xxiv; of ceruse, dr. xij or xxj; of winter cherry, dr. viij; of copperas
(chalcanthum), dr. iv; of fissile alum, dr. iv; of vermilion enough to
give it colour. Mix with water.
_The trochisk from the two hellebores, and also from the two acacias._
Of the black and of the yellow acacia, of artificer’s glue (in another
prescription of fish-glue), of each, oz. iv; of ammoniac perfume, of
glaucium, of aloes, of each, oz. ij; of male frankincense, of black and
of white hellebore, of each, oz. j. Mix with vinegar of squills, and at
the time of using it dissolve either in the same or in common vinegar,
and anoint before and after the bath.
_The trochisk Criogenes._ Of myrrh, of burnt copper, of round birthwort,
of scraped verdigris, of the squama stomomatis, of the straight vervain,
of round alum, of each, oz. j; of vinegar, q. s. The vervain is to be
gathered when the sun is in Aries. It may be made into a plaster thus:
take of the trochisk, of wax, of Colophonian rosin, of oil, equal parts;
of vinegar what will be sufficient for the trituration of the trochisk.