are applied to the middle parts of the body when in a state of chronic
inflammation, or indurated, or in a hot or cold state, or affected with
defluxions; and some to the extremities when infarcted, or to the nerves
when affected with cold; or they are serviceable to the other parts when
scirrhous. These have been treated of in the section on Plasters, and
will be treated of in that on Acopa. Of those which agree with the middle
parts of the body (which are properly called epithemes), those applied
for the stomach and liver, of whatever kind they are, must require a
strengthening power from astringents; for without these there will be
danger to the life, the functional operations of these parts being
extensive; and, therefore, they are principally composed of aromatics.
When the stomach then is affected with dyspepsia, atony, or inflation,
those from seeds, and from melilots, aloes, and wormwood, from sampsuchum
(marjoram), nard, and mastich are to be applied. To the liver, those
from nutben, ammoniac, fats, and chamomile ointment; and to the spleen,
those from quicklime, arsenic, capers, willows, cardamom, verdigris,
ammoniac, and vinegar are to be applied. For defluxions about the belly,
those from wild vine, alum, apple ointment, and other astringents
are to be used. And these by a misnomer are called by the general
name of malagmata or emollient plasters, although their power be the
reverse of softening. When the viscera are in a hot state, as in ardent
fevers, those from saffron, oil of roses, the juice of linseed, endive,
knot-grass, hog’s lard, or litharge are to be applied; but when in a cold
state those from opobalsam, Indian leaf, sowbread (cassamum), and pepper.
In expectorations of blood, astringent and desiccative applications,
composed from alum, willow, and bitumen, are to be applied to the breast;
and in consumptions, those from bay berries, horehound, cardamom, and lye.
_The malagma from melilots._ Of saffron, of Celtic nard, of cyperus, of
cardamom, of iris, of myrrh, of each, oz. ij; of melilots, lb. j; of
ammoniac perfume, lb. j; of wax, lb. iij; of turpentine, lb. j; of oil of
privet, lb. iij; of gleucinum, lb. ij; of bdellium, oz. vj. Some add also
of cyphi, oz. ij; of wine, q. s.
_The malagma Polyarchium, from Galen’s work, ‘according to the parts.’_
Of wax, of turpentine, of bdellium, of ammoniac perfume, of cardamom, of
cyperus, of each, one mina; of melilot, of amomum, of Indian nard, of
saffron, of myrrh, of frankincense, of the wood of cinnamon, of each, dr.
xxv; of oil of privet, hemina j; of Italian wine, q. s. Prepare and use
sometimes unmixed and sometimes diluted with the cerate of privet.
_The Polyarchium, otherwise._ Of xylobalsam, of costus, of iris, of
cyperus, of myrrh, of the schœnanth, of cardamom, of frankincense, of
spikenard, of mastich, of storax, of bdellium, of amomum, of Indian leaf,
of saffron, of cassia, of pellitory, of long birthwort, of each, oz. j;
of ammoniac perfume, oz. iss; of roasted rosin, oz. iij; of turpentine,
lb. j; of stag’s marrow, oz. ij; of wax, lb. ij; of opobalsam, oz. vj; of
wine, oz. viij.
_The malagma Philagrianum._ Of saffron, oz. iss; of aloes, of ammoniac
perfume, of bdellium, of storax, of each, oz. j; of the fat of geese, oz.
ij; of the medicine œsypum, oz. iv; of palm-nuts, oz. ij; of wax, lb. j;
of nard, oz. vj; of the ointment of apples, oz. vj; of wine, what will be
sufficient for triturating the dry things.
_The fragrant malagma._ Of saffron, of aloes, of mastich, of wormwood, of
storax, of wild vine, of sowbread, of cloves, of each, oz. iij; of nard,
lb. j; of wax, lb. j; of oil of apples, oz. vj; palm-nuts, xij; of wine,
q. s.
_The malagma Baion._ Of cardamom, of cassia, of Celtic wild vine, of the
flowers of the wild pomegranate, of virgin wax, of each, scr. viij; of
savin, of sowbread, of amomum, of each, scr. vj; of the schœnanth, scr.
xviij; of iris, scr. iv; of cloves, scr. iss; of the lily perfume, oz.
ij; of frankincense, of myrrh, of each, oz. j; of ladanum, oz. vj; of
bdellium, of mastich, of aloes, of nard, of the oil of lentisk, of each,
oz. ss; of maple rosin, of pine rosin, of turpentine, of each, oz. iij;
of opobalsam, oz. j; of ammoniac perfume, scr. vj; of wax, oz. vj. The
bruised juicy and dried things are to be pounded with oil of wild vine.
In another prescription, some add, of pepper, scr. xviij, and of musk,
scr. j.
_The Galenian malagma._ Of saffron, oz. ss; of aloes, oz. j; of mastich,
oz. iij; of the fruit of wormwood, scr. viij; of wild vine, scr. viij;
three large dates; of wax, oz. iij; of oil of apples, oz. vj.
_The malagma Brythrion._ Of storax, oz. v; of quinces, oz. xx; of masucha
or masuaphium, of saffron, of each, dr. x; of crumbs of bread, of cyphi,
of each, dr. v; of wild vine, oz. iiss; of sowbread, of wormwood,
of each, dr. x; of cloves, scr. xv; of ammoniac perfume, scr. x; of
opobalsam, scr. viss; of nard, oz. v; of Colophonian rosin, of gleucinum,
of oil of apples, of each, oz. x; of oil of roses, dr. x; of bee-glue,
oz. v; of turpentine, oz. x; of honey, coch. x; of Indian leaf, dr. x; of
spikenard, dr. x; of wax, oz. viiss. Triturate with Falernian and Aminæan
wine.
_The splenic malagma of Nilus, for all other cases of induration._ Of
wax, lb. j; of ammoniac perfume, lb. j; of oil of privet, lb. j; of
saffron, oz. ss (some make it, oz. j); of vinegar, q. s.
_The malagma citrinum._ Of wax, of Colophonian rosin, of each, lb. j;
of ammoniac perfume, of arsenic, of lime, of alum, of vinegar, of each,
cyath. viij. Triturate the dry things with the vinegar.
_The barber’s malagma._ Of dried pitch, lb. j; of wax, of pine rosin, of
ammoniac perfume, of natron, of dry bay-berries, of the fat of bulls, of
each, lb. ij; of the flour of fenugreek, sext. j; of pollen, sext. j; of
the dried root of the black chamæleon, lb. j.
_The malagma, from goat’s dung, of Oribasius, for splenic affections,
dropsies, and scirrhous liver._ Of oil of privet or very old oil, lb.
iij; of wax, lb. iiss; of the dung of goats, of bay-berries stripped of
their bark, of Illyrian iris, of each, sext. j; of turpentine, lb. j; of
mustard, of natron, of cyperus, of the seed of radish, of the bark of
the root of capers, oz. iij; of the medullary part of colocynth, oz. ij;
of fenugreek, oz. j. Sometimes the dry things are added to the soluble
and sometimes they are mixed with vinegar. But if there is a flux of the
bowels, the colocynth must not be added.
_The malagma spongiola, from goat’s dung, for dropsies._ Of Brutian
pitch, lb. iiss; of natron, lb. j; of the medullary part of colocynth,
of pellitory, of opoponax, of granum cnidium, of each, oz. iij; of bark
of the root of capers, of frankincense, of iris, of the fat of bulls,
of elaterium, of squama æris, of parsley-seed, of the seeds of spurge
(lathyrides), of each, oz. vj; of bay-berries, sext. ss; of the flour of
fenugreek, oz. ss; of bull’s gall, oz. ij; of oil of privet, sext. ss; of
wax, lb. j; of roasted rosin, lb. iij; of mountain goat’s dung, of the
seed of rosemary, of cyperus, of cardamom, of each, oz. vj.
_The malagma from bay-berries._ Of wax, of rosin, of pitch, of
bay-berries, of bull’s fat, of each, lb. j; of natron, of ammoniac
perfume, of each, oz. vj; of vinegar, q. s.
_The malagma from seeds._ Of cardamom, of cyperus, of savin, of natron,
of bay-berries, of cassia, of melilot, of fenugreek, of Celtic nard,
of parsley-seed, of sampsuchum, of anise, of the root of panacea, of
frankincense, of ammoniac perfume, of turpentine, of each, oz. iij; of
honey, of wax, of nard, of each, lb. j; of the fat of bulls, lb. j.
_The fetid malagma for pleurisy._ Of pine rosin, lb. j; of wax, of green
rue, of oil of privet, of each, oz. vj; of sulphur vivum, of opoponax, of
sagapen, of each, dr. iv. Some add also of galbanum, dr. iv.
_The malagma from sampsuchum._ Of wax, lb. j; of turpentine, lb. ij; of
sampsuchum (marjoram?), of bay-berries, of fenugreek, of each, sext. j;
of nard, q. s.
_The malagma of Apollophanes for hepatic diseases._ Of wax, dr. lxxx; of
turpentine, of manna, of each, dr. xl. Pound with the lees of iris-oil
and anoint the mortar.
_The malagma copton, for hardness of the stomach and liver._ Of
bee-glue, oz. vj; of storax, oz. ij; of mastich, oz. j; of turpentine,
oz. ss; of the lees of nard, q. s.
_The malagma from wild vine._ Of wild vine, of aloes, of saffron, of
acacia, of fissile alum, of dried roses, of the juice of wormwood, of
galls, of the oil of unripe olives, of Syrian sumach, of manna, of each,
dr. j; of myrtle-oil, of wax, of each, lb. j; five large palm-nuts; of
Aminæan wine, q. s.
_The Antyllian malagma._ Of fissile alum, oz. ss; of aloes, oz. j; of
mastich, scr. vj; of wild vine, scr. viij; of the oil of unripe olives,
scr. viij; of dried roses, scr. viij; of Syriac sumach, scr. x; of the
Egyptian thorn, scr. x; of the flowers of the wild pomegranate, scr. xx;
of galls, scr. xv; of wax, oz. v; of oil of apples, q. s.
_The malagma from grape stones._ Of saffron, of sandyx, of wild vine,
of each, oz. j; of dried alum, oz. iv; of the flowers of the wild
pomegranate, of oil of unripe olives, of the flower of roses, of dried
myrtles, of each, oz. ij; of white wax, lb. j; of oil of apples, lb. ij;
of quinces, oz. iv; ten Nicolan palm nuts; of Aminæan wine, q. s.; of
dried grape stones, oz. viij. In using, take of the medicine, oz. iij; of
wax, oz. j.
_The malagma from dill._ Of green dill, oz. vj; of melilot, oz. ij;
of chamomile, oz. ij; ten green heads of poppy. Having boiled, mix of
the decoction, lb. iij; and as much of oil; and when the decoction is
consumed, add of fresh hog’s lard, lb. ij; and separately triturate of
the inner part of baked squill, oz. ij; and of stag’s marrow, oz. ij. Mix
all together.
_The malagma ambrosia, for stopping fevers._ Of litharge, lb. j; of fresh
hog’s lard, oz. vj; of the juice of linseed, oz. vj; of white wax, oz.
ix; of oil of roses, lb. j; of honey, oz. iij; of saffron, oz. j. Some
add also the raw yelks of ten eggs.
* * * * *
COMMENTARY. Le Clerc thus describes these preparations: “Ce qu’on
appelloit malagma ne différoit fort de l’emplâtre. Galien déclare
(Pharmac. gén. vii, 5) qu’il est indifférent qu’on se serve du terme de
malagme, ou de celui d’emplâtre.” He adds, “Ce qu’on appelloit epithème
étoit aussi à peu près le même chose.” (Hist. de la Méd.) According to
Galen, the malagmata derived their name from being used as emollient
applications to parts in an indurated state, and were all moderately
calefacient, being in general neither desiccative nor humectative. He
describes the composition of these preparations with his usual accuracy
and minuteness.
Celsus gives a full account of the malagmata. He says plasters,
malagmata, and pastils differ, inasmuch as malagmata consist principally
of aromatics, whereas, the other two are rather formed from metallic
substances. In general, he says, they are rather calefacient than
refrigerant; some, however, are refrigerant, and are used as applications
to the joints in gout. A few are not only calefacient but also
epispastic. He gives prescriptions for 35 malagmata. He makes no mention
of epithemes. (v, 17, 2.) Scribonius Largus, likewise, treats fully of
the malagmata (§ cclv-cclxvii).
Oribasius states that there are three varieties of malagmata: the first
consisting of dry things, namely, roots and herbs; the second kind, of
metallic substances, or a certain proportion thereof; and the third, of
juices, suet, and tears. (Med. Collect. x, 28.)
A full account of them is given by Actuarius (Meth. Med. vi, 9) and
Myrepsus (§ xi, xxxiv.) The following epitheme is said to be powerfully
purgative: “Of scammony, of elaterium, of spurge, of each, dr. viij; of
white and of black hellebore, of bull’s gall, of each, dr. iij; of the
root of the wild cucumber, of the leaves of wormwood, of each dr. x; of
Tuscan wax, dr. viij; of turpentine rosin, dr. iv; of Attic honey, oz.
viij; of red nitre, oz. j.” (Myrepsus, l. c.)
The following is a malagma for luxated joints and contusions: “Of
galbanum, oz. j; of saffron, dr. ij; of ammoniac perfume, of pure wax,
of each, oz. iss; of dried pitch, lb. iss; of very acrid vinegar, coch.
iss.” (Ibid.)
SECT. XIX.—ON RESTORATIVE OINTMENTS (ACOPA), LINIMENTS, CALEFACIENT
PLASTERS (DROPACES), AND SINAPISMS.
The acopa are so named for having been first invented for the feeling
of lassitude, as a tensive, ulcerative, and osseous lassitude; but they
agree with many other complaints. Some, then, are calefacient, some
emollient, and some stimulant. The calefacient are prepared from pepper,
pellitory, the seed of rosemary, and the like. They agree with affections
of the nerves, and strong frigidity which cannot be readily restored to
heat. The emollient agree with induration, scirrhus, and infarction of
the joints; and the materials of which they are formed have been pointed
out by us when treating of plasters. The stimulant being composed of
lemnestis, the seed of rosemary, euphorbium, the granum cnidium, and the
like, are to be used in chronic affections, and such as are difficult
to dislodge, namely, in such cases as sinapisms are applicable. The
consistence of all the acopa is to be intermediate between the cerates
and plasters. The liniments resemble the acopa, but have a more liquid
consistence. The dropax has a two-fold composition, the one being like
a plaster, and the other like a malagma. Some rub them into the part
warm. Their materials are like those of the acopa and plasters. It serves
the purpose of a cataplasm, agreeing with the same chronic affections
in which sinapisms are applicable. A dropax (“calefacient plaster”) is
applied before a sinapism, in order to prepare the body for the mustard;
and after the sinapism, in order to remove the residue of the complaint.
The sinapism is not composed of many ingredients, but is a most powerful
application, agreeing particularly with chronic affections after all
other remedies have been tried in vain. It is more especially applicable
in cephalæa, hemicrania, epilepsy, vertigo, and mania, when applied to
the head; and in asthma, orthopnœa, and chronic cough when applied to
the chest; and in chronic catarrh, a sinapism may be applied both to the
head and chest; and to the stomach and belly in chronic affections of
them. It is a suitable remedy in all ischiatic and podagric cases, to any
part which has lost its tone, or is in a cold state, and cannot easily
be warmed. The limits of the action of the medicine are, when violent
pain has been produced, and the flesh becomes more livid and swelled up,
and so that after the bath it may become blistered in a mild manner. But
if the sensibility has been lost, care must be taken lest the burning
proceed too far without being perceived, and therefore the part is to be
often uncovered and examined. Of acute diseases, lethargy, cataphora,
and catochus admit of sinapisms, which, if at the commencement, are to
be applied to the legs, but if the matter has fixed in the part, to the
head. Those which are in a cold state and cannot be warmed but with
difficulty, must have sinapisms applied to the legs and arms. Sinapisms
are to be entirely proscribed when there is continued fever or an ulcer;
also in affections of cartilaginous parts, and such as have no flesh.
For the parts which are devoid of flesh are sometimes burnt black when
sinapisms are applied to them.
_The acopon called Bromion._ Of wax, of Colophonian rosin, of common
rosin, of each, lb. j; of hog’s lard, oz. iv; of butter, oz. vj; of
marshmallows, of fenugreek, of linseed, of each, lb. ij; of oil, lb. j;
of galbanum, oz. iiss. Having boiled the juice with the oil until the
most of the juice be consumed, add the other things with wax and galbanum.
_The complex acopon._ Of the juice of marshmallows, of fenugreek, of
linseed, of rue, and of cumin, of each, lb. ij; of stag’s marrow, lb. j;
of old oil, lb. j; of the fat of geese, of opobalsam, or nard, of each,
lb. j; of wax, of Colophonian rosin, of common rosin, of each, lb. iss;
of euphorbium, of turpentine, of opoponax, of each, oz. vj; of castor,
oz. iij; of the herbs from which the juice is formed, of each, lb. j, is
to be taken and boiled like the former.
_The acopon of Azanites._ Of hog’s lard, lb. ij; of the fat of bulls, of
rosin, of Colophonian rosin, of the medicine œsypum, of wax; of each, lb.
j; of galbanum, oz. iij.
_The acopon of Basilius._ Of marshmallows, of chamomile, of melilot,
of linseed, of fenugreek, of each, oz. iss; of amomum, oz. iij. These
things are macerated in sext. viij of the wine of Ascalon or the Cilician
for three days, and boiled to a milky consistence. Then lb. v of the
juice, with lb. ivss of old oil are boiled until a moderate quantity
of the juice remain; and then there are added to it of butter, oz. vj;
of turpentine, oz. iv; of the fat of geese, oz. xv; of stag’s marrow,
triturated with a little oil, oz. v; of white wax, lb. iij.
_The acopon Lysiponium._ Of pepper, of castor, of storax, of mastich, of
aloes, of elecampane, of iris, of each, oz. iv; of euphorbium, of costus,
of ammoniac perfume, of myrrh, of marjoram (sampsuchum), of frankincense,
of cyperus, of cassia fistula, of the seed of rosemary, of each, oz. iij;
of adarce, of amomum, of bdellium, of xylobalsam, of each, oz. ij; of
Indian leaf, of spikenard, of pellitory, of saffron, of each, oz. j; of
opobalsam, lb. j; of the ointment of nard, of the ointment of privet, of
gleucinum, of each, lb. ij; of wax, lb. j.
_A fetid acopon from Galen’s work, secundum genera._ Of wax, of
turpentine, of each, dr. xxiv; of galbanum, of ammoniac perfume, of each,
dr. vj; of old oil, hemin. ij; of stag’s marrow, dr. viij. Use both
undiluted and diluted.
_Another fetid acopon._ Of turpentine, dr. lvj; of wax, dr. xxviij; of
œsypum, of honey, of each, dr. vj; of stag’s marrow, dr. vj; of ammoniac
perfume, of galbanum, of aphronitrum, of bay berries, of each, dr. vj; of
old oil, sext. j; of wine, cyath, ij. Some add also of castor, dr. iij.
_The barbaric acopon from euphorbium, for ischiatic diseases, and many
other purposes._ Of opoponax, oz. j; of Tuscan wax, lb. j; of turpentine,
lb. iiss; of galbanum, oz. j; of ammoniac perfume, oz. ij; of euphorbium,
of castor, of white pepper, of each, oz. ij; of stag’s marrow, oz. iv;
of œsypum, oz. iv; of lemnestis, (a saline concretion), it is the same
as adarce, oz. ss; of the oils of storax, of bay, of iris, and of sweet
marjoram, of each, oz vj; of old oil, lb. ij; of hedychroum, oz. vj.
_The acopon called Pyxis._ Of Colophonian rosin, lb. iss; of turpentine,
oz. viij; of ammoniac perfume, oz. iij; of frankincense, oz. ix; of old
oil, lb. ij; of the juice of linseed, lb. j; of cow’s milk, lb. j; of
the fat of geese, oz. vj; of butter, oz. viij; the whites of xxiv eggs.
Having prepared it, lay it up in a vessel of box wood.
_The acopon from the fir, of Galen._ Of the ripe seed of the fir tree,
j Italian modius, i. e. sext. xvj; of oil, lb. xv; of wax, lb. iv; of
rosin, of pine-nut, or of turpentine, of each, oz. iv. Having bruised
the seed of the fir, add it to the oil, and allowing it to remain forty
days, filtrate and throw away; and having mixed the other things, use for
spontaneous lassitude, paralysis, and coldness of the joints. But if the
necessity for using it be urgent, we must boil the seed of the fir with
the oil, mixing with them, sext. iv of water, to prevent them from being
burnt. They are used in podagric and arthritic affections.
_The same otherwise._ Of oil, hemin. xxv, i. e. sext. xiiss; of the fruit
of the fir, mod. j, i. e. sext. xvj; of the rosin of ash, lb. iij; of the
rosin of pine-nut or of turpentine, lb. iij; of wax, lb. j.
_The acopon from the black poplar, for the same affections._ Instead of
the fruit of the fir, adding an equal quantity of the fruit of the black
poplar, prepare the other things in like manner.
_The liniment of Zosimus, celebrated for tremblings._ Of pine rosin, oz.
xvj; of wax, oz. iv; of old oil, lb. j; of opoponax, oz. ij; of adarce,
oz. j; of euphorbium, oz. j; of natron, oz. iv; of tender aphronitrum,
oz. iv. Triturate the natron, euphorbium, and adarce with wine, then
add the opoponax, and triturate together. Melt the soluble substances
separately with alkanet, that they may acquire colour, and having cooled,
mix.
_The dropax, or calefacient plaster Gallus. Of Oribasius._ Of the
Colophonian rosin which is redolent of frankincense, of pine rosin,
and of that which is called the woody, being found only in Italy, of
the pitch of ships, of dried pitch, of each, lb. iv; of wax. lb. iv;
of roasted rosin, oz. xv; of Brutian pitch, lb. ij; of natron, lb. j;
of bitumen, of galbanum, of adarce, of pellitory, of each, oz. vj; of
opoponax, of euphorbium, of white hellebore, of pepper, of each, oz. iv;
of sulphur vivum, oz. iij; of castor, of ammoniac, of the wild grape
dried, of each, oz. ij; of Sicyonian oil, lb. j; of opobalsam, oz. vj.
_Otherwise, a simple dropax._ Of wax, lb. j; of dried pitch, lb. iss; of
Brutian pitch, lb. j; of pine pitch, lb. iss; of roasted rosin, lb. j,
oz. iij. Having first prepared the part with natron, apply.
_The preparation of a sinapism._ On the preceding day, dried figs are
to be macerated in tepid water, and next day they are to be properly
filtrated and strongly pounded. Then some acrid mustard, such as the
Syriac and Egyptian, is to be triturated separately, pouring on it a
little of the infusion, and mixing and forming into a mass; if we wish
to form a strong sinapism, joining two parts of mustard to one of dried
figs, but if weak, in the inverse proportion; and if a moderate one,
mixing equal parts. If the mustard before it is triturated, be allowed
to macerate in vinegar, as some do, it becomes weaker. After the mustard
has been cleared away, and the bath used, if the pain continue violent,
or if redness and blisters supervene, we are to wet a cloth in the juice
of mallows, or of fenugreek, with oil of roses, and apply. Then we may
use the rose cerate with ceruse. But in cases of paralysis, when the
sensibility is impaired, care must be taken, and the part frequently
uncovered and examined, for often they are burnt immoderately without
being sensible of it. And goat’s dung, applied with vinegar, is more
efficacious than mustard, especially in diseases of the hip-joint.
_The liniment from writing-ink acting as a rubefacient, especially in
cases of hemicrania. From the works of Alexander._ Of euphorbium, of
writing-ink, of each, dr. iv; of troglodytic myrrh, of crocomagma, of
white pepper, of each, oz. iij; of saffron, dr. ij; of vinegar, q. s.,
so that these things may be properly triturated, and become of the
consistence of the sordes in baths; and then anoint with it, beginning
from the middle of the eyebrow to the whole temple, especially if it be
bare of hairs; and after it cools, anoint again, and when the remedy acts
properly, let the man be put into a bath.
* * * * *
COMMENTARY. Le Clerc says of the Acopa: “On les appelloit _acopa_
comme qui diroit, _Unguens qui ôtent les douleurs_, ou la lassitude,
parcequ’on s’en servoit principalement pour le délasser, ou pour apaiser
les douleurs qu’on sent après le travail et la fatigue.” (Hist. de la
Méd.) Galen explains that although this class of ointments derived
their name from their being originally used as soothing applications to
parts which were pained from severe exertion, they came afterwards to
be applied for various other purposes, as for removing all deep-seated
pains, indurations, contractions, and the like. Their consistence, he
says, is nearly the same as that of the liquid cerates or the ointments
made from wax and oil. According to their qualities, he adds, they have
the epithets of emollient, calefacient, anodyne, relaxant, or alterative,
applied to them. He describes, in prose and verse, the composition of
an almost countless variety of these preparations. (De med. sec. gen.
vii.) Celsus says of the acopa: “Acopa quoque utilia nervis sunt.” He
gives formulæ only for two acopa, which consist of aromatic and stimulant
medicines mixed with oil or some fragrant ointment. (v, 25.) Oribasius
divides them into three kinds, the emollient, the calefacient, and the
scarifacient; the last being a near approach to sinapisms. On the acopa
see further Scribonius and Actuarius.
The _liniments_ of the ancients seem to have been very much the same as
those of the moderns. Celsus says of them: “Ἔγχριστα autem Græci vocant
liquida qui illinuntur.” (v, 243.) In consistence and qualities they
nearly resembled the acopa, being composed of a large proportion of oil
with a small quantity of wax or honey. Myrepsus gives prescriptions for a
considerable number of them.