The lists of poisonous substances treated of by Dioscorides, Aëtius,

and Actuarius are nearly the same as our author’s. Those of Nonnus

and Scribonius Largus are less numerous. The Arabians treat of several

substances, the nature of which it is now difficult to determine. The

catalogues of Avicenna and Rhases are the fullest; those of Haly Abbas

and Alsaharavius scarcely contain so many articles; all of them, however,

contain several substances which are not treated of by the Greek writers

on toxicology. Among these we may just mention that they treat of the

gall of the viper, of the leopard, of an animal called leunza (leæna?),

of the shark, and also of the extremity of the stag’s tail, and bad

castor. The sweat of different animals is also included in their lists.

SECT. XXX.—ON CANTHARIDES.

The most grievous symptoms follow the administration of cantharides,

for almost from the mouth to the bladder the parts are tormented with

a gnawing pain. The taste resembles pitch or cedar rosin, and the

patients have inflammation of the right hypochondrium, with dysuria, and

frequently they pass blood by urine, and sometimes it is discharged by

the intestines, as in dysentery: they fall into deliquium animi, nausea,

and vertigo, and at last they become delirious. The proper remedies

are vomiting with water and oil, drinking milk, taking four drachms of

Cimolian earth with honied water, pine kernels, the seeds of cucumber,

fat beef soup, or soup of geese or of mutton; the flesh of fowls, lambs,

sheep, or pigs, being tender and fat, when boiled with linseed; much

must; dr. iv of the bark of rosemary; and after the food inject by

clyster the juice of rice, or of chondrus, or of spelt, or of ptisan,

or of mallows, or of linseed, or of marshmallows, or of fenugreek. And

sometimes having cleared out the intestine with honied water and nitre,

we may then inject these things, and afterwards allay the inflammation

with cataplasms of linseed and barley; for at first these things are

pernicious. Then we may have recourse to baths of sweet water, and give

the ointments of iris and of roses in a draught.

* * * * *

COMMENTARY. The symptoms occasioned by taking cantharides, according

to Nicander, are erosion of the whole intestinal canal, ulceration of

the bladder, affection of the chest, and wild delirium. His remedies

are emetics, such as fat, the oil of iris with rue, or Samian aster,

laxatives, milk in clysters or taken by the mouth, and the decoction

of vine-shoots with honey. Dioscorides describes the symptoms in the

same terms as our author, and like him recommends emetics of oil and

emollient clysters, such as the decoction of linseed or of mallows. Like

our author, he disapproves of warm applications, such as cataplasms and

the hot bath at the commencement, because by their heat they promote the

distribution of the poison over the system; but after a time they are

useful, he says, by allaying the pains and promoting the discharge of

the poison by the cutaneous perspiration. His other remedies being the

same as our author’s, we need not enumerate them. Galen states that the

wings and feet of cantharides prove useful for removing the deleterious

effects occasioned by taking their bodies. His treatment otherwise, which

is borrowed from Asclepiades, is very similar to that of Dioscorides. He

in particular recommends the Lemnian earth, or terra sigillata, as an

emetic in this case. (De simpl. ix.) He also speaks favorably of milk.

(Ib. and de antidot. ii.) He approves very much of animal and vegetable

oils given in sweet wine or tepid water to produce vomiting. Galen

states decidedly that the viscus upon which the action of cantharides

is exerted is the bladder. (Ad Pison.) The treatment recommended by

Scribonius Largus is little different. Aëtius, Oribasius, and Actuarius

only copy from Dioscorides, without suggesting any improvement. Avicenna

and Rhases mention that cantharides occasion inflammation of the penis

and erections. They agree with the Greeks in recommending oily emetics,

clysters of the same, and, what we believe is an improvement which we

owe to the Arabians, injections of rose-oil into the bladder by means of

a waxen tube (flexible catheter). Rhases approves of bleeding, provided

it be long since the patient was bled, and violent pain be felt in the

region of the thighs, that is to say, if the urinary organs are much

affected. Haly Abbas mentions ardor urinæ, strangury, and bloody urine

among the symptoms, and recommends oil by the mouth as an emetic and

purgative, and by injection. Alsaharavius mentions swelling of the

penis, bloody urine, and suppression thereof, and remarks that the same

effects have been sometimes brought on by the external application of

cantharides, in which case he recommends the tepid bath and emollient

fomentations. His treatment is like that of his other countrymen; for

example, he joins them in approving of injecting rose-oil into the

bladder.

It would appear that cantharides were sometimes used by the ancients for

the purpose of committing suicide. According to Cicero, it was by this

means that C. Carbo destroyed himself. (Ad Familiar, ix, 21.)

Ambrose Paré, Matthiolus, and all the earlier modern writers

on toxicology, follow the treatment laid down by the ancients.

Notwithstanding the concurrent testimonies of all these authorities,

Professor Orfila, in the last edition of his ‘Toxicologie,’ and Dr.

Christison, in his late work on ‘Poisons,’ affirm “that oil is the

reverse of an antidote.” Yet, in a case lately published, the free

administration of olive-oil was followed by copious discharges, both

upwards and downwards, of cantharides mixed with the oil. (Edinb. Med.

and Surg. Journ. No. 104, p. 214.) And surely, if laxatives are to be

administered at all, oily ones are to be preferred, as producing least

irritation, and not being likely to be absorbed.

It can scarcely admit of dispute, that the _mylabris cichorei_ is the

same as the ancient cantharis. It is still used in Turkey and India for

the composition of blistering plasters, being possessed of much the same

properties as the Spanish fly.

SECT. XXXI.—ON THE BUPRESTIS.

Those who have drunk of the buprestis experience a taste resembling fetid

natron, which is followed by violent pain of the stomach and bowels;

there is swelling of the abdomen, resembling dropsy, and the skin of

the whole body is distended, the urine also being suppressed. They are

relieved by the same remedies as are given to those who have taken

cantharides; but they derive benefit in particular after evacuations by

vomiting and by the bowels, from taking dried figs, and drinking the

decoction of them with wine or milk, or a mixture of wine and honey,

and they may eat all kinds of pears, and take a woman’s milk. When the

violence of the disease has subsided they may eat with advantage Theban

palm-nuts boiled in wine.

* * * * *

COMMENTARY. Isidorus says of the buprestis, “animal est in Italiâ parvum,

simillimum scarabæo longipedi.” (Orig. xii, 8.) See also Ælian (H. A. vi,

35); Pliny (H. N. xxx. 10.) The symptoms and treatment, as described by

the other authorities, are nearly the same as in our author’s description.

Among the remedies recommended by Nicander, the most efficacious are

milk and emetics of tepid oil. (Alex. 360.) The Arabians do not treat

of this article separately from cantharides, unless it be the stuphe of

Alsaharavius. (Pract. xxx, 2, 8.)

We can have no hesitation in holding that the buprestis of the ancients

was the _lytta vesicatoria_, or Spanish fly. See Sprengel (Comment. in

Dioscor.) and Schneider (ad Nicand.)

SECT. XXXII.—ON THE SALAMANDER.

When a person has taken of salamander, inflammation of the tongue

supervenes, with difficulty of speech, trembling, torpor, and ulceration.

Certain parts of the body all around become livid, so that often, if the

medicine remain, they mortify and drop off. In this case we should do the

same things as for cantharides; but more particularly we must administer

to them pine-rosin, or that of the pitch tree, or galbanum with honey,

or pine-kernels with a decoction of ground-pine, or nettle-leaves boiled

along with lilies in oil, the boiled eggs of land or sea tortoise, soup

of frogs, having the root of eryngo boiled with them.

* * * * *

COMMENTARY. The principal symptoms, as detailed by Nicander, are

inflammation of the tongue, torpor, tremblings, aberration of mind,

vibices, &c. He treats it like narcotic poisons, with stimulants and

attenuants, such as pine-rosin, the leaves of ground-pine, nettle-seed

mixed with the flour of tares, &c. Dioscorides, Avicenna, and most of

the authorities direct us to treat this case of poisoning like that

of cantharides; Alsaharavius recommends emetics, draughts containing

pine-seed, honey, vinegar, wine, &c., with fat flesh. Oil and milk are

recommended by most of the authorities.

Avicenna says the salamander is a species of lizard. Aristotle mentions

the fabulous story of its being proof against fire as a circumstance

which was related. Pliny (H. N. x, 67), Ælian (H. A. ii, 31), and Phile

(c. 17) repeat it confidently. On the other hand, Dioscorides affirms

that the story is entirely without foundation (ii, 56.)

It is the _salamandra terrestris_. Sprengel says it emits a cold mucus,

which may extinguish a small lire. (Notæ in Dios. l. c.)

SECT. XXXIII.—ON THE PITYOCAMPA, OR PINE-CATERPILLAR.

When pine-caterpillar is drunk, there is straightway pain of the mouth

and palate, strong inflammation of the tongue, pain of the stomach and

intestines, with a prurient sensation of tension; and there is a fiery

heat of the whole body, and anxiety. Such cases are to be relieved in

like manner as those who have drunk cantharides; but in their case,

instead of plain oil we may substitute the ointment of apples.

* * * * *

COMMENTARY. Our author, and indeed all the others, only copy from

Dioscorides.

Sprengel mentions several species of erucæ which infest pine-trees, such

as the leparis monacha, lasiocampa pini, &c. (Notæ in Dioscor.) Virey

remarks, that among the Romans there was an express law forbidding the

administration of the hairy caterpillar of the pine, as it produces the

most serious symptoms, and even loss of life, by its hairs. (Hist. des

Mœurs des Anim.)

SECT. XXXIV.—ON THE SEA-HARE.

When the sea-hare has been drunk an ill-savoured taste, like that of a

fetid fish, supervenes, and after a time the bowels are pained and the

urine becomes obstructed, or if any is discharged it is of a purple

colour. They loathe and detest all kinds of fishes, and have fetid

perspirations mixed with blood. We must give them therefore asses’ milk

or must frequently, or a decoction of the root and leaves of mallows,

or the root of hogs-fennel triturated with wine, or dr. j. of black

hellebore, or of the juice of scammony in honied water, and the warm

blood of a newly-killed goose, and river-crabs alone, if they can be

borne, may be given. It is a symptom of recovery when they can eat fish.

* * * * *

COMMENTARY. Nicander’s description of the symptoms is like our author’s,

and his remedies are hellebore, and scammony, asses’ milk, &c. Haly Abbas

recommends only emetics at first, and afterwards milk. When there is

continued oppression of breathing he directs us to bleed and give the

syrup of poppies. (Pract. iv. 49.) Alsaharavius, like Nicander, depends

principally upon drastic purgatives, such as scammony and hellebore.

(See also Nonnus, 279.) Galen says it produces ulceration of the lungs.

(See Ther. ad Pison. and de Med. sec. gen. i.) For an account of the

lepus marinus, see Ælian (H. A. ii, 45; ix, 51; xvi, 19); Pliny (H. N.

ix, 48; xxxii, 1); Dioscorides (ii, 20; vi, 34,); Philostratus (vi, 32);

Phile (93). According to Schneider, it is called _chat marin_ in France.

Gorræus says it is a species of lizard, and resembles the land hare only

in colour. Sprengel inclines to think that it is the _aplysia depilans_.

See also Paris and Fonblanque (Méd. Jurisprud. ii, 141.) Rondelet refers

it to the class _mollusca_, and gives a drawing of it. (De Piscibus,

xvii.) Bellonius and Gesner give the same account of it, and all agree

respecting its poisonous qualities. They describe it as being a mass of

nearly unorganized flesh. Virey says it has long appendages like the ears

of the hare, but which are its eyes.

SECT. XXXV.—ON THE RED TOAD OR MARSH FROG.

When the red toad or marsh frog is taken, it brings on swelling of the

body, with intense paleness resembling the colour of the box-tree; and

dyspnœa supervenes with fœtor of the mouth, hiccough, and sometimes an

involuntary emission of semen. They are easily remedied, however, after

vomiting, by taking a large draught of undiluted wine, and two drachms

of the root of sweet cane, or the same dose of cyperus. We must also

compel them to exercise themselves strenuously in walking and running, on

account of the torpor which is upon them; and they ought to take the bath

every day.

* * * * *

COMMENTARY. Nicander says the bufo apricans superinduces upon the body

difficulty of breathing, fetid breath, and colour like that of the

thapsus; he means probably jaundice. His remedies are, the flesh of frogs

boiled or roasted, pitch mixed with sweet wine and the spleen of a marsh

frog. Pliny says a decoction of marsh frogs in vinegar is an effectual

remedy in this case and against salamanders. (H.N. xxxii, 5.) Dioscorides

recommends emetics, wine, and active exercise. Avicenna, Rhases, and Haly

Abbas recommend nearly the same treatment. Haly approves of friction,

especially over the stomach. (Pract. iv. 49.) See a learned dissertation

on the Poisonous Ranæ in Schneider’s Notes on Nicander (Alexipharm.); see

also Gorræus’ Commentary on the same. Schneider inclines to think that it

must have been the _bufo cornutus._

Ælian states that when the blood of the phrynus is given with wine,

it proves a very fatal poison. (H. A. xvii, 12.) It would appear from

two passages in the Satires of Juvenal that in his time criminal acts

of poisoning were generally performed by means of this substance. (See

Sat. i, 510, and vi, 659.) Paris and Fonblanque, however, deny that any

species of toad is poisonous. See also Pennant, (B. Z. iii, 17.) He calls

the Rana rubeta the natter-jack.

SECT. XXXVI.—ON LEECHES.

If leeches have been swallowed with water, and have stuck to a part in

deglutition, you may ascertain that this has happened from the mouth of

the stomach being, as it were, sucked and bitten, which is a symptom of

the leeches having been swallowed. Sometimes florid blood is spit up by

hawking when the leeches have fixed to the windpipe. They may be rejected

by swallowing brine, or the leaves of beet with vinegar, or by drinking

snow with oxycrate. Let gargles of nitre (_soda_) with water be used,

and of copperas with vinegar. When they have stuck to the throat, put

the patient into a warm hip-bath and give him cold water to hold in his

mouth, and they will readily come to the cold. Some give bugs to those

who have swallowed leeches. I, says Galen, by using garlic in such cases,

have not stood in need of bugs.

* * * * *

COMMENTARY. Nicander judiciously recommends when leeches have been

swallowed to drink vinegar, to take ice or snow, sea-water, fossil salt

(sal gemmæ?), or salt prepared from sea-water. Dioscorides treats the

case like our author. Celsus merely says, “acetum cum sale bibendum est.”

Bugs are recommended by Anatolius. (Geopon. xiii 17.)

Aaron, one of the authorities quoted by Rhases, directs us to lay the

patient in the sunshine and examine his throat carefully; and if the

leech can be detected to extract it with a forceps. If this cannot

be effected he recommends him to gargle the throat with some bitter

decoction or to swallow the same, if the leech has descended to the

stomach. He also directs him to hold snow in the mouth. (Contin. vii.)

Avicenna recommends nearly the same plan of treatment, and, like our

author, mentions the following device in order to get a leech extracted

that is fixed in the gullet. The patient is to go into a hot bath and

hold cold water in his mouth, which will have the effect of attracting

the leech towards it. (iii, 9, 5.)

When a leech has fastened in the throat of a beast of burden and cannot

be got at by the hand, Columella directs hot oil to be poured in by means

of a pipe, or if it has passed into the stomach, it is to be killed with

hot vinegar. (vi, 18.) The vapour from pounded bugs was also a popular

remedy in such cases. (Ibid. and Geopon. xiii, 17.)

SECT. XXXVII.—ON THE CHAMÆLEON.

When one has taken the black chamæleon intense gnawing and pain

supervene, and tremors with disturbance of the whole body; then

convulsions attack, with pituitous and frothy vomiting, and in some cases

hiccough with loss of speech, and distortion of the countenance. A fatty

decoction of wheat taken hot will be applicable in such cases, and a

sweet watery wine also hot, vomits, drinking of milk, emollient clysters,

and fomentations by cataplasms. To that kind which occasions suffocation

and lividity, a draught of wormwood or of natron with oxymel or of

radishes will be proper, and also fomentations to the hypochondrium.

* * * * *

COMMENTARY. Dioscorides and Aëtius give a similar account of the

treatment and symptoms. On the chamæleon, see Apuleius (de Herb. 109.)

The black chamæleon treated of in this section is the _carthamus

corymbosus._ It is quite a different plant from the white chamæleon which

is treated of in the 46th section.

SECT. XXXVIII.—ON HENBANE.

Hyoscyamos when drunk or eaten brings on disorder of mind like that

of persons in intoxication; but is easily cured, being remedied by

copious draughts of honied water and milk, especially that of asses

or, if not, of that of goats or cows, and of the decoction of dried

figs. Pine kernels are also serviceable in such cases, and the seed of

cucumber taken with must, and salt wine with fresh axunge and must, and

nettle-seed in like manner, or natron with water will be proper, also

succory, mustard, cresses, radishes, onions, and garlic, each of these

being taken with wine. They must then be made to remain in a state of

rest in order that, like those who have drunk wine, they may digest what

they have taken.

* * * * *

COMMENTARY. The description of the symptoms in Nicander’s Alexipharmics

is imperfect owing to an hiatus in the text. His remedies are milk,

fenugreek, nettle-seed, succory, cresses, mustard, the heads of garlic,

&c.

This section is taken from Dioscorides. Celsus recommends hot water and

milk, especially that of asses.

The description of the symptoms, as given by Aëtius, is somewhat fuller

than our author’s, but not otherwise different. He and Scribonius Largus

mention lividity of the members. Alsaharavius says, it induces sleep,

stupor, and coldness of the extremities. Avicenna and Haly Abbas

recommend the theriac and antidote of Mithridates. Rhases speaks highly

of milk. (Contin. ult.)

The general remedies which they all recommend are emetics, vinegar,

milk, sweet wine, and at last, vegetable stimulants, such as mustard and

onions, and the theriac.

See an account of the different varieties of henbane known to the

ancients in Dioscor. (iv, 64.); Galen (Med. Simpl. viii); Pliny (H. N.

xxv, 4); and in Schulze (Toxicol. vet. 20.) See also the Seventh Book of

this work.

The Arabians, in this place, treat of another narcotic to which they give

the name of _Derufitum_ or _Darfion._ See Avicenna (iv, 6, 1, 4); Rhases

(xxxix.)

SECT. XXXIX.—ON CORIANDER.

Coriander from its smell cannot be mistaken. When drunk it renders the

voice thick, and brings on madness like that from intoxication. Wherefore

those who have taken it talk obscenely, and the smell of the coriander

is perceptible from the whole body. They are relieved after the removal

of the poison by common oil or that of iris (as mentioned above), by

undiluted wine with wormwood and drank by itself; by eggs emptied into

one vessel and triturated with brine and swallowed; and brine also may be

drunk, and salt broth from a hen or a goose, and sweet wine taken with

lye.

* * * * *

COMMENTARY. According to Nicander, the symptoms are violent delirium,

and great derangement of the mind, as in intoxication. His remedies are

principally emetics and wine, the intention of giving which is quite

obvious. Dioscorides gives nearly the same account of the symptoms and

treatment. Galen (de Simp. Med. viii) attacks Dioscorides in the most

unmeasured terms for saying that the action of coriander is frigorific,

while, on the contrary, he maintains that it is calefacient. Avicenna

combats the reasoning of Galen and agrees with Dioscorides; as do

Apuleius among the Latins, and Alsaharavius and Rhases among the

Arabians. Pseudo-Macer calls it a cold austere medicine.

With regard to the treatment, the Arabians recommend oily emetics, with

soda, pepper, salt, strong wine, &c. Avicenna (iii, 6, 2, 8); Rhases

(Cont. xxi); Alsaharavius (Pract. xxx. 2.)

Schulze is satisfied that the corion or coriandrum of the ancients was

the same as our coriander. He appears, however, to have rather overrated

its deleterious properties. It is only in particular states of the body

that it proves at all injurious. (Toxicol. vet. vii.) Sprengel also

is satisfied as to the identity of the ancient and modern coriander.

(Comment. in Dios.)

SECT. XL.—ON PSYLLIUM OR FLEAWORT.

Fleawort when drunk occasions coldness of the whole body and torpor,

with relaxation and lowness of spirits, which are relieved by the same

remedies as those given to persons who have drunk coriander.

* * * * *

COMMENTARY. All the authorities agree in representing its effects as

being similar to those produced by coriander. They treat the case then

upon general principles with wine, pepper, and other such stimulants.

Schulze finds some difficulty in acknowledging that the _plantago

psyllium_, L. is the true psyllium of the ancients, and yet he admits

that no other plant has so good a claim to be identified with it. We see

no grounds for scepticism on this point.

SECT. XLI.—ON CONIUM OR HEMLOCK.

Hemlock, when drunk, brings on vertigo and dimness of vision, so that the

person can no longer see even to a small distance; there is hiccough,

disorder of the mind, and coldness of the extremities, and at last he

is suffocated in convulsions, the breath in the arteria aspera being

stopped. At first, therefore, as in other cases of poisoning, we must

bring it up by vomiting, and afterwards, by means of an injection,

evacuate whatever part had passed into the intestines; and then, as

our great remedy, we have recourse to undiluted wine, giving it at

intervals, during which we must administer the milk of cows or of asses,

or wormwood with pepper, wine, and castor; and rue and mint, with wine,

and a dram of cardamom or of storax; or of pepper, with nettle-seeds in

wine; or the tender leaves of bay tree; and in like manner laserwort, or

the juice thereof, with common wine or must; and sweet wine drunk alone

answers well.

* * * * *

COMMENTARY. Theophrastus seems to have been acquainted with the sedative

properties of hemlock, for he recommends pepper and rosemary as antidotes

to it. (H. P. ix, 24); and Athen. (Deip. ii, 73.) The operation of

this poison in the case of Socrates is well described by Plato in his

‘Phædo.’ Socrates, after swallowing the poisoned cup, walked about for a

short time as he was directed by the executioner: when he felt a sense

of heaviness in his limbs he lay down on his back; his feet and legs

first lost their sensibility, and became stiff and cold; and this state

gradually extended upwards to the heart, when he died convulsed.

The symptoms, according to Nicander, are dimness of sight, vertigo, a

sense of suffocation, coldness of the extremities, impeded respiration,

and death. His remedies are emetics of oil, or undiluted wine, clysters

of the same, and undiluted wine taken by the mouth, with pepper, nettle,

assafœtida, and the like. Dioscorides, and all the other authorities,

recommend much the same treatment. Pliny and Aëtius mention lividity,

after death, as a symptom of poisoning by cicuta.

Theophrastus (H. P. vi, 2) and Pliny (H. N. xxv, 95) have described the

conium. Schulze is satisfied that it is the _conium maculatum_, L., and

in this opinion we fully agree with him. He adds, that the ancients have

made no mention of the cicuta virosa.

Dioscorides and most of the others enumerate convulsions among the

symptoms. It will be remarked, that in the abstract given above of

the symptoms of poisoning by hemlock in the case of Socrates, we have

stated that the great philosopher died convulsed. This we think the true

interpretation of the term used by Plato (ἐκινήθη), although it has not

been so understood by most of his interpreters. Dioscorides, in another

place, states somnolency, coma, stertor, lividity, torpor, coldness,

stupor, insensibility, and pruritus of the whole body, as the common

symptoms of poisoning by opium, mandragora, or conium.

Schulze ranks, among ancient mistakes, the assertion of Galen, that

narcotic substances may, in some instances, become digested and prove

nutritive. But Dr. Christison says, that both vegetable and animal

poisons may become digested, of which he gives an interesting example

with regard to opium (On Poisons, p. 52.)

SECT. XLII.—ON THE JUICE OF THE POPPY.

When one has drunk of the juice of the poppy drowsiness comes on, with

coldness and intense itching, so that often when the medicine takes

effect such an itching comes on that the person is roused from sleep

thereby. The smell of the medicine too is emitted from the whole body.

The remedies in such cases, after rejecting the substance taken by

vomiting with oil, and evacuating downwards by a stimulant clyster, are

oxymel drank with salts, or honey with warm rose-oil, and much undiluted

wine with wormwood and cinnamon, and warm vinegar by itself, and natron

with water, and marjoram with lye, the seed of rue and pepper given with

castor, and oxymel, savory, or the decoction of marjoram with wine. We

must also rouse by aromatics, put the person into a hot bath, and foment

on account of the pruritus which supervenes; and after the bath we may

use fat broths, with wine or must. Marrow also drunk with oil is useful.

* * * * *

COMMENTARY. According to Nicander, the symptoms of poisoning by

poppy-juice are coldness of the extremities, eyes fixed, heaviness of the

eyelids, profuse and fetid perspiration, paleness, swelling of the lip,

relaxation of the under jaw, slow respiration, cold breath, and the usual

precursors of dissolution, namely, distortion of the nostrils, lividity

of the nails, and hollow eyes. His remedies are emetics, such as the oil

of iris or of roses, wine and honey; hot drink and rousing the patient by

cries, striking his body in different places, and wrapping it in cloths

smeared with oil and hot wine, and the hot bath as a restorative.

The symptoms mentioned by Dioscorides are lethargy, violent pruritus, and

the perspiration smelling of opium. His remedies are the same as those

of our author, namely, emetics at first, then clysters, and afterwards

wine and vinegar, with various stimulant and strong-scented things; such

as pepper, cinnamon, castor, marjoram, &c. The patient is to be roused

as directed by Nicander; and baths and fomentations are to be used to

relieve the pruritus.

Galen relates the case of a person reduced to the last stage of coldness,

whom he saved by administering freely a strong, light-coloured, and

fragrant wine. Yet, he remarks correctly, a small quantity of weak wine

operates unfavorably by promoting the distribution of the poison over the

system. He, in particular, recommends vomiting at first with wine and

oil, and afterwards strong clysters.

Aëtius mentions, among the symptoms, violent pruritus and convulsions.

None of the other Greek writers mention convulsions, but, among the

Arabians, Avicenna, Rhases, and Alsaharavius, have mentioned them. Modern

experience has determined that they are an occasional, but not a frequent

symptom produced by the immoderate administration of opium.

Scribonius Largus directs us, after repeated vomiting, to apply

embrocations of vinegar and roses to the head, to rub the feet, and to

put sinapisms to them and the thighs. Simeon Seth strongly recommends

vinegar.

Haly Abbas and Alsaharavius, and, in short, all the Arabians recommend

nearly the same treatment; namely, emetics of oil and water, or oil and

wine, hot clysters, acrid and strong-scented things, such as castor,

assafœtida, savin, &c., and the warm bath, friction, sternutatories, and

every means calculated to arouse, and to prevent sleep.

Serapion, Rhases, Avicenna, Haly Abbas, and Alsaharavius, agree in

stating that the smallest dose of opium which will prove destructive

to human life is two drachms. Modern authors are not agreed as to the

smallest quantity which may prove fatal, but surely, as Dr. Christison

remarks, Dr. Paris has fixed the minimum dose too low, when he affirms

that four grains may be sufficient to produce this effect. On the other

hand, we should think that a smaller dose than that mentioned by the

Arabians might be sufficient to destroy life. Perhaps the ancient opium

may have been weaker than that now in use.

It is worthy of remark, that most of the ancient authorities recommend

vinegar in cases of poisoning by opium, but we are inclined to think that

none of them administered it at the commencement, nor until the poison

had been removed from the bowels. This practice agrees very well with the

rule of treatment laid down by Orfila, Paris, and Christison, who state

that vinegar is prejudicial, if given at first, by favouring the solution

of the poison, but proves useful afterwards by acting as a restorative to

the system.

None of the ancient authorities recommend venesection.

In another work we have thus explained the ancient theory of the action

of opium upon the human frame. “In order to understand properly the ideas

entertained by the ancients respecting the _modus operandi_ of opium, it

will be necessary to say a few words in explanation of their opinions

upon certain points of physiology. Aristotle taught that the prime cause

of all the operations of life is mind, and that the prime instrument by

which it performs them is heat, which, therefore, he denominates the

_co-cause_ (συνάιτιον). He illustrates his meaning by comparing the mind

to the artificer, and heat to the wimble or saw by which he performs

his work. Having remarked, no doubt, that the heart is the warmest part

of the body, he appears to have considered it as the spring which turns

the whole machinery of the animal frame, the brain and nerves deriving

their origin and influence from it. (I need scarcely mention how well

these ideas accord with the ingenious hypothesis lately advanced by M.

Serres.) Many facts, indeed, seem to point out the supreme importance

of the heart. It is, as the ancients remarked, the _primum movens et

ultimum moriens_; and, along with its accessory organ, the lungs, it is

evidently the part which, in the higher classes of animals, renders them

independent of the many variations of heat and cold to which they are

subjected. It is this wonderful organ which, under the guidance of the

principle of life, preserves the heat of the body unaltered in all the

different gradations of temperature, from more than 100 degrees above

the boiling, to as many below the freezing point of the thermometer. It

seems, in fact, a real Prometheus that steals the fire from heaven. The

connexion between heat and the vital actions is very apparent also in

the inferior animals, who are not provided with such an apparatus for

preserving an equability of temperature. Thus the zoophyta, insecta, et

vermes, with the loss of heat, lose also sensibility and muscular energy,

which they recover again when their heat is restored. In this case it

is evident that heat is the cause (or at least the _co-cause_) of the

vital actions, and not the vital actions of heat. It has always appeared

to me a striking fact, illustrative of the great influence of heat over

the vital actions, that the strength of all animals is, bulk to bulk,

proportionate to the degree of their animal heat.

“This doctrine of the supreme authority of the heart, as being the focus

of heat, thus maintained by Aristotle, was eagerly defended by the

great Arabian commentator, Averrhoes, and by his countryman, Avenzoar,

who keenly attacked Galen for having questioned its truth, and taught,

as they represent, that the brain is the leading organ in the animal

frame. After having, however, carefully ransacked every part of Galen’s

works, in which I could suppose it likely to meet with any allusion to

this doctrine, I am led to believe that these Arabians, in the heat of

controversy, have misrepresented the real opinion of their master’s

rival. Galen appears decidedly to have maintained with Hippocrates—‘that

there is in the body no one beginning, but that all parts are alike,

beginning and end: for a circle has no beginning.’ Agreeably to this

idea, Galen remarks, that the brain cannot properly be said to derive

its powers from the heart, since an animal will run, breathe, and cry

after its heart has been taken out; nor can the heart be said properly to

derive its powers from the brain, since it will palpitate and contract,

after all communication with the brain is cut off, nay, after it has

been removed from the body. In so far, then, the functions of the brain

and the heart are independent of one another. But the brain is dependent

upon the heart and its appendages for vital heat, without which it would

be unable to continue its functions; and the heart, on the other hand,

is dependent upon the brain for imparting nervous influence to the

respiratory organs, without which it could not preserve its vital heat

unaltered. Hence the mutual connexion and sympathy of important organs—a

doctrine much insisted upon by ancient authors, and which bears some

resemblance to the theory lately advanced by Mr. Morgan and Dr. Addison.

“We shall now have no difficulty in understanding the ideas of the

ancients regarding the operation of opium. Galen and Avicenna believed

that the poison exerts its primary influence upon the heart, and impairs

its vital heat. Of course they considered its operation on the brain as

secondary. They called the action of narcotics frigorific or congealing,

no doubt because they remarked that it was attended with a diminution

of vital heat, and to this they attributed the loss of sensibility and

muscular energy. I leave it to the reader to judge whether this theory or

the modification of it lately proposed by Messrs. Morgan and Addison be

the more plausible.” (Edinburgh Medical and Surgical Journal, No. 103.)

But although the ancient physiologists maintained that the prime organs

of the animal frame suffer sympathetically in cases of poisoning, they

did not hold, it will be remarked, that all poisons exert their primary

action on the nervous system. This is the hypothesis lately advocated

by Messrs. Morgan and Addison, but which is, in fact, only a revival of

that maintained by Schulze in his ‘Toxicologia Veterum.’ He thus states

his theory of the action of poisons,—“Omnia symptomata et lethales

venenorum effectus hoc unum quam luculentissimè demonstrant, _ab omnibus

venenis nervos ipsos graviter affligi._ Nervea igitur vis seu vitalis, a

veneni stimulis commota, aut majori impetu agit, aut prævalente veneni

vehementia prorsus silet, nexusque omnes sensorii communis cum reliquis

nervis turbantur, vitâ animali aut graviter periclitante, aut prorsus

interiturâ.” (Toxic. Vet. vii.) Dr. Mead also, in his last edition of his

work on Poisons, advocates this hypothesis.

It appears to us, however, that this theory, although very simple and

plausible, is somewhat too exclusive. And that there are other modes by

which poisons operate than through the brain and nerves appears to be

demonstrated by the fact now clearly established, that poisons act upon

vegetables as well as upon animals. (V. Annales de Chimie, t. xxix.) Now

as vegetables are possessed of neither sensibility nor motion, it seems

preposterous to suppose that they have any nervous system.

Perhaps, then, we cannot do better than revert to the old doctrine

delivered by Alsaharavius. Sometimes, he says, poisons act upon the

heart, and thereby prove instantly fatal; sometimes upon the liver,

producing jaundice and phthisis; sometimes upon the brain, when they

occasion delirium; and sometimes their action is local, giving rise to

corruption and lividity of the part. (Pract. xxx. 2, 18.)

That the primary action of narcotics is upon the heart appears to us,

upon the whole, the most probable theory hitherto advanced upon the

subject.

SECT. XLIII—ON THE JUICE OF THE CARPESIA.

When the juice of carpesia is drunk it brings on heavy sleep and acute

suffocation. These are relieved by the same remedies as those given to

persons who have drunk hemlock.

* * * * *

COMMENTARY. This section is taken, almost word for word, from

Dioscorides. Matthiolus confesses that he was quite unable to determine

what substance it was. (Comment. in Dioscor. vi, 13.) It is doubtful

whether the καρπήσιον of Galen and the κάρπασον of Dioscorides be the

same substance, and whether either be the same as the ὀποκάρπασον.

Sprengel can arrive at no certain conclusion respecting it. Valerius

Cordus supposed it to be the _piper longum._

SECT. XLIV.—ON MANDRAGORA OR MANDRAKE.

When mandragora has been drunk, stupor immediately comes on, with loss

of strength, and a strong inclination to sleep, so that the affection

differs in nothing from that which is called lethargy. Before any of

these symptoms come on, vomiting will be proper in this case; and

afterwards honied water, or natron and wormwood with must, or taken in

a dulcified wine, embrocations to the head with rose-oil and vinegar,

rousing by shaking the body, and by strong-smelling things, pepper,

mustard, castor, and rue pounded with vinegar, liquid pitch, and the

wicks of lamps lighted and extinguished, will be proper. When they are

difficult to rouse we may also apply sternutatories, and have recourse to

the general remedies in such cases.

* * * * *

COMMENTARY. Our author, as usual, follows Dioscorides. Matthiolus,

by the way, in his commentary, questions the propriety of applying

rose-oil and vinegar to the head, as these things are of a cold nature,

whereas stimulants and calefacients are indicated. Perhaps these things,

when poured from a height upon the head, might prove restorative and

stimulant. The other Greek authorities however, as, for example, Aëtius

and Actuarius, approve of the practice. Alsaharavius recommends emetics,

and also directs us to pour vinegar and rose-oil on the head, and to take

vinegar in which hyssop and the like have been boiled.

Rhases recommends vomiting by means of water, honey, and fossil salt;

after which sweet wine is to be given, and vinegar and rose-oil poured

upon the head; castor, pepper, and rue are to be administered, along with

sternutatories. He mentions, however, that he knew an old medical man

who cured a young woman, who had fallen into a state of syncope, with

flushing of the face, after swallowing the apples of mandragora, by the

affusion of snow-water on her head. Avicenna properly directs everything

to be done to prevent sleep.

Schulze is satisfied that it is the _atropa mandragora_ of Linnæus.

There seems no doubt, however, that the mandragora of Theophrastus is

the _atropa belladonna_; while the mandragora mas of Dioscorides is

the _mandragora vernalis_, Bertol.; and the M. femina of the same, the

_mandragora autumnalis._

Theophrastus, Dioscorides, Galen, Athenæus, Aëtius, Suidas, Hesychius,

Apuleius, Pollux, and Frontinus, have made mention of the hypnotic

property of mandragora. It is singular that it should now have fallen

into neglect. It appears to have been used as a medicine in the days of

Shakespeare. Iago says:

“Not poppy nor mandragora

Nor all the drowsy syrups of the world,

Shall ever medicine thee to that sweet sleep

Which thou owed’st yesterday.”

_Othello._

We will have occasion to treat of it in the Seventh Book.

SECT. XLV.—ON ACONITUM OR WOLFSBANE.

Wolfsbane immediately after being drunk occasions a sensation of

sweetness on the tongue, with a little astringency; vertigo supervenes,

more especially when the person attempts to rise up, and it brings on a

watering of the eyes; there is heaviness of the chest and abdomen, with

eructation of much flatus. In these cases the medicine must be brought up

by vomits, and the contents of the bowels evacuated by a clyster. We must

also give draughts from marjoram and rue, or from horehound with wine,

or from wormwood, or from rocket, or from southernwood, or mezereon, or

ground-pine. Opobalsam, too, taken to the amount of one drachm, with

wine, will likewise answer with them; also the rennet of a kid, or of a

hare, or of a fawn, with vinegar, and the dross of iron, or iron itself,

or gold, or silver, may be dissolved in wine, and the liquid taken,

and lye with wine, and the broth of a boiled cock, or the broth of fat

flesh taken with wine. The ground-pine, which is said to be a specific

in Heraclea of Pontus, where wolfsbane grows, is called holocleron, but

ionia in Athens, and sideritis in Eubœa.

* * * * *

COMMENTARY. The symptoms, as described by Nicander, are astringency of

the lips, palate, and gums, gnawing pains at the stomach, singultus,

flatulence, running from the eyes, double vision, as from intoxication.

His remedies seem to have been principally emetics and calefacients. Thus

he recommends a handful of quicklime to be drunk with a hemina of wine,

also southernwood, spurge, ground-pine, marjoram, opobalsam, the metallic

preparations mentioned by our author, and the like. The accounts of the

treatment given by Dioscorides, Aëtius, and Actuarius agree exactly with

our author’s. Avicenna, Rhases, and Haly Abbas, in like manner, recommend

emetics, clysters, and calefacient medicines internally.

Diogenes Laertius states, upon the authority of Eumelus the historian,

that Aristotle the philosopher despatched himself with a draught of

aconite. (Vita Aristot.) Pliny relates that this poison proves fatal when

applied to the genital organs of women. (H. N. xxvii, 2.)

The ancients have described several varieties of aconite. See

Theophrastus (H. P. ix, 19); Pliny (H. N. xxv, 75); Schulze (Toxicol,

vet.); Schneider (in Nicand. Alexiphar.); and Sprengel (Rei. Herb.

Hist.) These modern authors in general are disposed to think that it was

the _iris tuberosa_. Sprengel, however, in the notes to his edition of

Dioscorides, is decided that the second species of Dioscorides (Mat. Med.

iv, 78) is the _aconitum napellus_; but respecting the first species,

he is in great doubts. All agree that the aconitum of Theophrastus is

different from the A. of Dioscorides and the other toxicologists. We

may be permitted to add, that the symptoms of poisoning by aconitum, as

given by Nicander, agree so well with those reported lately of cases of

poisoning by the _aconitum napellus_, that we cannot doubt their identity.

SECT. XLVI.—ON IXIA.

Ixia, which is also called ulophonon, when drunk has some resemblance

both in taste and smell to basil-royal. It brings on strong inflammation

of the tongue, and disorder of the mind; it suppresses all the

secretions, occasioning borborygmi and rumbling, with deliquium animi;

but there are no alvine evacuations. After the greater part of the

poison has been brought up by vomiting, or evacuated by the bowels, they

will experience relief from drinking the decoction of wormwood, with

much wine, vinegar, or oxymel, or the seed of wild rue, or the root of

laserwort, and in the like manner the decoction of tragoriganum with

some of the aforementioned, or with milk; or of turpentine, of nard, of

castor, of laserwort, of each an obolus in wine. The fruit also of the

walnut triturated with wine will be proper; or of rosin, of castor, and

of rue, of each dr. j; and in like manner of mezereon, dr. ij; of the

juice of thapsia, dr. ij, with honied water; and hot vinegar may be drunk

by itself.

* * * * *

COMMENTARY. Nicander’s description of the symptoms is very similar to

that given by our author, and his treatment seems to have been conducted

upon the same principles; namely, by administering emetics and purgatives

at first, and, afterwards, discutient and detergent medicines, to

overcome the viscid nature of the poison. Our author’s plan of treatment

differs in no material respect from that recommended by Dioscorides,

Aëtius, Actuarius, Avicenna, and Alsaharavius. Avicenna described it by

the name of _aldabach_; Alsaharavius, by those of _alfos_, _aldolia_, i.

e. arbor risi.

Apuleius make ixias, ulophonon, chamæleon, ocymoides, and various cardui

synonymes (109.) The ixias, according to Gorræus, is a species of

chamæleon, but what species cannot be determined. (See, also, Schneider’s

note on Nicander.) Matthiolus calls it a glutinous substance, found in

the root of the chamæleon, or carline thistle. Schulze is decided that it

was a species of carlina (Toxicol. vet., 22.) See Harduin’s note on Pliny

(H. N. xxii, 21.) After mature consideration, we have no difficulty in

referring it to the _carlina acaulis_, or carline thistle.

SECT. XLVII.—ON EPHEMERON, OR MEADOW SAFFRON.

When one swallows ephemeron (which some call colchicum, because it grows

in Colchis, or bulbus silvestris), pruritus takes place over the whole

body, as if stung by nettle or squill; there is a gnawing pain within,

and great heat of the stomach, with considerable heaviness; but when the

affection gains strength, blood is discharged from the bowels, mixed

with the scrapings thereof. The same remedies are to be applied as to

those who have drunk salamander, in vomits and clysters. But before

the medicine gain ground we must give a decoction of oak-leaves, or of

acorns, or of the rind of pomegranate, or of wild thyme with milk, or the

juice of bloodwort, or of vine-tops, or of brambles, or of the medulla of

fennel-giant, or of myrtle berries, with wine; and when levigated myrtles

themselves are pounded and macerated in water, the liquor thereof may be

taken with advantage. And, in like manner, the middle pellicle of the

chesnuts, called Sardian, may be taken with the aforesaid juices, and

marjoram may be drunk with lye. Those affected are manifestly relieved by

drinking hot cow’s milk, and retaining it in the mouth, so that they who

have plenty of it do not stand in need of any other remedy.

* * * * *

COMMENTARY. Our author’s detail of the symptoms is taken entirely from

Nicander, and his treatment also is mostly derived from the same source.

They seem to have depended principally upon vegetable astringents,

such as oak-bark, pomegranate-rind, and chesnuts, for checking the

hypercatharsis. Pliny, like our author, strongly commends milk (H.

N. xxvii, 33.) Dioscorides recommends emetics, clysters, vegetable

astringents, and demulcents. Alsaharavius says, that hermodactylus

occasions pruritus of the whole body, swelling of the palate, pains of

the stomach, and the like. He recommends emetics, clysters, cows’ milk,

and vegetable astringents, such as acorns with wine. This, it will

be remarked, is similar to the account which the Greeks give of the

symptoms and treatment of ephemeron, which is undoubtedly the _colchicum

autumnale_; and this circumstance tends strongly to prove the identity

of the ephemeron and the hermodactylus. We agree with Schulze, Prosper

Alpinus, and Humelbergius, that they were unquestionably the same plant,

notwithstanding that Sprengel, Matthiolus, and Dr. Murray are of a

different opinion. Dr. Paris considers that there is no doubt of their

identity. (See a learned dissertation on the Ephemeron in a note by

Schneider, on Nicander’s Alexipharmics.) We shall only further add, in

this place, that the learned Ardoyn, in his elaborate work on Poisons,

contends, that there is no doubt of the identity of the colchicum and the

hermodactylus. We, in fact, are surprised that this should have been ever

questioned.

SECT. XLVIII.—ON THE SMILAX OR YEW.

The tree called smilax is named thymium by some, and taxus by the Romans.

When drunk it brings on coldness of the whole body, suffocation, and

speedy death; the remedies for which are all those things which are given

to those who have drunk of hemlock.

* * * * *

COMMENTARY. The description of the symptoms and the plan of treatment are

borrowed from Nicander, or, rather, copied direct from Dioscorides.

Different opinions have been entertained respecting the poisonous

nature of the yew. Haller, Bulliard, and others, deny that it is

poisonous; while Berkley, Ray, Matthiolus, and others, affirm that

it is. Orfila holds it to be a narcotic poison (chap. iv, cl. 4.) We

have known instances of its proving fatal to cattle. The newspapers

lately contained a melancholy case of a boy poisoned by yew-berries at

Winchester. Matthiolus is not pleased with Dioscorides for making it

to be a frigorific medicine; but Orfila, it appears, gives it the same

character; that is to say, he holds it to be narcotic. Virgil alludes to

its poisonous qualities:

Sic tua Cyrnæas fugiant examina taxos.

See, also, Theophrastus (H. P. i, 5, and iii, 9); and Schulze (Tox. vet.

17).

SECT. XLIX.—ON THE STRYCHNOS FURIOSA, CALLED DORYCNIUM, BY SOME.

When one drinks of dorycnium, which some call strychnos furiosa, there

follows a sensation, as it were, of milk to the taste; constant hiccough,

watering of the tongue, and frequent ejection of blood; and there are

mucous discharges by the bowels, as in dysenterical cases. They are to

be remedied before any of these symptoms supervene, by those things

which are taken for ephemeron, I mean emetics and clysters, and whatever

else can evacuate the substance which had been taken. Honied water is

a particularly good remedy; or the milk of asses or of goats and sweet

wine, in a tepid state, may be drunk with a small quantity of anise.

Bitter almonds also are proper, the boiled breasts of fowls, all the

shell-fish eaten raw and boiled, crabs and crawfish, and the broth of

them when drunk.

* * * * *

COMMENTARY. Our author’s detail of symptoms is taken mostly from

Nicander, or, perhaps, direct from Dioscorides. The poet’s plan of

treatment seems to have been much the same as that of Paulus. He omits,

indeed, to make mention of emetics and purgatives as being general

remedies in all cases of poisoning; but he recommends milk, must, and the

crustacea, such as the pinna, echinus, &c. The other authorities supply

nothing additional. Avicenna treats of it under the name of uva vulpis

stupefactiva mala; he copies from Dioscorides (iv, 6; i, 7.)

There is considerable difficulty about the nature of the dorycnium. Our

author, Aëtius and Apuleius, make it to be the same as the strychnos

furiosa, which is generally held to be either the solanum sodomeum, or

the atropa belladonna. On this subject, see Galen (de Med. sec. loc. x,

3); Pliny (H. N. xxi, 105); Apuleius (de Herb., 22). Schulze affirms,

that none of the ancient poisons is so little known as the dorycnium.

He is undecided as to its nature, except that it belonged to the

diadelphous or leguminous plants, and he is inclined to think that it was

an astragalus. (Toxicol. Veterum, 2.) Sprengel inclines either to the

convolvulus cneorus, L., or the con. dorycnium, L. But as far as we can

see, the most probable conjecture that can be made regarding it is, that

it was either the _solanum sodomeum_, or _atropa belladonna_.

SECT. L.—ON THE SARDONIAN HERB.

The herb called the Sardonian is a species of ranunculus, when drunk,

or eaten, it brings on disorder of the intellect, and convulsions with

contraction of the lips, so as to exhibit the appearance of laughter.

From this affection that ill-omened expression, the Sardonian laugh, took

its rise. In these cases, therefore, after vomiting, it will be proper

to give honied water and milk, with embrocations and lubrications of the

whole body, by calefacient remedies; and to have recourse to hot-baths of

hot oil and water, and to anoint properly and rub them after the baths;

and, upon the whole, to conduct the treatment as for convulsions.

* * * * *

COMMENTARY. Dioscorides and our author are perfectly agreed as to the

symptoms and treatment. Aëtius recommends, likewise, castor with sweet

wine. Solinus, like our author, says that it brings on contractions

of the muscles, and the risus Sardonicus. Avicenna acknowledges his

ignorance of the nature and proper treatment of this herb, but supposes

that it belongs to the class of acute poisons. There seems, however,

no reason to doubt that it was a species of ranunculus. Schulze makes

it the _ranunculus sceleratus_, L., which bears the English name of

celery-leaved crowfoot; and we are clearly of the same opinion, although

Avicenna seems to make a distinction between the Sardonian herb and the

_kebekengi_, or apium risus, which is the βατράχιον of Dioscorides. See

Alsaharavius (Pract. xxx, i, 39.)

SECT. LI.—ON THE HORNED POPPY.

Seeing that the species of poppy called the horned, when eaten or drunk,

brings on the same symptoms as the juice of poppy, it is to be treated by

the same remedies.

* * * * *

COMMENTARY. Miller says that the glaucium is called horned poppy because

it is a species of poppy having husks resembling horns. See some account

of it in Apuleius (53.) Schulze remarks that Dioscorides has described

several varieties of the poppy. 1, Papaver hortense; 2, P. opiiferum; 3,

P. agreste; 4, P. rhæas; 5, P. ceratites sive corniculatum; 6, Hypecoum.

The fifth of these, or horned poppy, is the glaucium luteum, Scop.

Dioscorides gives a distinct description, but treats of it as a medicine

rather than as a poison. (M. M. iv, 66.) None of the Arabians treat of it

separate from opium.

SECT. LII.—ON PHARICUM.

The substance called pharicum in taste completely resembles nard,

and when drunk it brings on paralysis, with disorder of the mind and

convulsion. After evacuation by vomiting, we must give the patient to

drink, along with wine, some wormwood, cinnamon, myrrh, or Celtic nard

(which some call saliunca), or of spikenard, dr. ij, or two oboli of

myrrh mixed with must or iris, and the flower of saffron with wine. The

head is to be shaven, and a cataplasm consisting of barley-flour, with

levigated rue and vinegar, is to be applied.

* * * * *

COMMENTARY. Nicander, like our author, compares its taste to that of

spikenard, and says that it proves fatal in one day, inducing delirium.

He recommends the same internal medicines, and also makes mention of

applying a stimulant cataplasm to the head, evidently with a view of

relieving the phrenitis. The other authorities recommend similar

treatment.

There is great disagreement among the ancient writers on toxicology

respecting the nature of the pharicum. (See the notes of Gorræus and

Schneider on Nicander.) The former remarks that many suppose it a species

of nard. Dioscorides (Præf. vi) and Galen (Antidot. ii) make it to be

a herb. Scribonius Largus, and Hesychius consider it to have been a

compound medicine. After balancing all the statements Schneider comes

to the conclusion, that most probably it was a composition from agaric.

Schulze is wholly undecided as to its nature. (Toxic. Vet. 21.) Sprengel,

in like manner, can come to no certain conclusion respecting it. (Notæ in

Dioscor. l. c.)

SECT. LIII.—ON TOXICUM.

The toxicum seems to be so called because the barbarians anointed their

darts (τοξεύματα) with it. When a person has drunk of it, inflammation

of the lips and tongue comes on, also irrestrainable madness leading to

various fantasies, so that in the treatment of them they are difficult to

cure, and it is rare that any of those who have drunk of it can be saved.

However, they are to be forcibly bound with ligatures, and compelled to

drink sweet wine with rose-oil, and to vomit. Turnip seed, also, drunk

with wine will be proper for them, and the root of cinquefoil, the

blood of a he or she-goat when taken, oak bark, that of the beech or

ilex triturated with milk; also quinces when eaten, or triturated with

pennyroyal and drunk in water; and ammomum, and the fruit of balsam with

wine. But if any escape the danger they remain for a long time confined

to bed, and when they get out of it they spend the rest of their lives in

a state of timidity.

* * * * *

COMMENTARY. The symptoms detailed by Nicander are much the same as those

enumerated by our author, namely, swelling of the mouth and throat, with

violent internal pains. His remedies likewise are much the same, namely,

forcing the patient, after he is well secured, to drink wine until he

vomit, and making him take bruised apples, rose-oil, oil of iris, &c.

He says, that certain savage nations upon the Euphrates poisoned their

arrows with it, which rendered their wounds immedicable, occasioning

lividity and putrefaction. Dioscorides, Aëtius, Actuarius, and, in short,

all the ancient authorities, copy his account.

It is very difficult to determine the nature of the toxicum. Theophrastus

describes a species of calamus by the name of toxicus. (H. P. iii,

12.) Avicenna, however, admits that he was wholly unacquainted with

its nature. (iv, 6; i, 29.) Some have supposed, with considerable

probability, that it was a preparation from the rhus toxicodendron.

Schulze is only decided that it was a vegetable poison. (Tox. Vet. 19.)

But it even seems doubtful whether it was a simple or compound medicine,

and whether of an animal or vegetable nature. (See Schneider’s note on

Nicander’s Alexiph. 248.) Sprengel inclines to the opinion that it was

collected from the venom of serpents. (Notæ in Dioscor.) All, however, is

mere conjecture on this subject.

SECT. LIV.—ON MUSHROOMS.

Of mushrooms, some prove deleterious from their general nature, and some

by the quantity taken. They all bring on suffocation resembling choking.

The general remedy which is to be instantly applied is to compel the

persons affected to vomit by means of oil. They are also wonderfully

relieved by drinking of the lye from vine-shoots, or from the wood of

the wild pear with oxycrate, salts, or natron. And wild pears or their

leaves, if boiled with mushrooms, take away their suffocative quality,

and if eaten they prove beneficial. Hen’s dung, drunk in oxycrate, proves

beneficial to them; likewise a drachm of birthwort, or of wormwood with

wine, and honey when licked or drunk with water; and baum with natron,

or the root and fruit of all-heal with wine, the burnt lees of wine with

water, and copperas with vinegar, radish, mustard, or cresses when eaten.

And since certain mushrooms having been tasted of by venomous animals

occasion not only suffocation but also ulceration of the intestines, we

must give in such cases plenty of wormwood, and the decoction of figs,

and of marjoram, and honied water. Emetics, the hot hip-bath, and raw

barley-flour when applied to the hypochondria, will also be proper.

* * * * *

COMMENTARY. Nicander mentions suffocation as the common effect of taking

mushrooms. His remedies are radishes, rue, the flowers of copper,

natron, mustard, lixivial ashes, &c. Our author copies from Aëtius.

Simeon Seth recommends honey with tepid water, and a moderate quantity

of natron. Ruffus (ap. Oribas. Med. Collect, viii, 24) recommends

clysters of natron, wormwood, the juice of radish, and the decoction of

rue. Dioscorides recommends emetics of oil, natron, &c., and afterwards

vinegar and stimulant decoctions. Avicenna’s remedies are nearly the same

as those of our author. Alsaharavius directs us to give at first emetics,

and then calefacients, such as pepper, cumin, wine, and, if necessary,

the theriac. Haly Abbas, in like manner, recommends emetics, and then

wine with honey, the theriac, &c. The symptoms, he says, are cold sweats,

faintings, and embarrassment of breathing. All the ancient authors affirm

that mushrooms act upon the organs of respiration, and we remark that

a sense of suffocation is generally mentioned in the cases reported by

modern writers.

For a full report of fungi, or mushrooms, see Dioscor. (iv, 53);

Pliny (H. N. xxii, 46); Schulze (Tox. Vet. 14); Sprengel (Comment. in

Dioscor.); Schweighaeuser (in Athen. Deipnos. ii, 59); Schneider (ad

Nicand. Alex. 521). Diphilus, as quoted by Athenæus, states that all

mushrooms which are black, livid, and hard, or which grow hard after

being boiled, are of a deleterious nature. He recommends us to give

mulse, oxymel, natron, and vinegar, so as to produce vomiting.

Dioscorides gives the following characters of poisonous fungi: Such as

grow near rusty nails, or putrid rags of cloth, or near the lodging-place

of reptiles, or by trees which have bad fruits, are deleterious; such

have a glutinous coagulum (membrane adhering to the cap?) and when

gathered soon become putrid and melt away. (M. M. iv, 83). According to

Sprengel, these characters are not universally applicable (l. c.); but

considering the experience which the ancients had in the use of these

articles, they are no doubt generally so. The _amanita muscaria_, the

_agaricus necator_, and many other species, may be set down as belonging

to the ancient list of poisonous mushrooms.—Schulze, who appears to

have paid great attention to the subject, enumerates the poisonous

mushrooms of the ancients as follows:—1, Agaricus muscarius; 2, Agaricus

piperatus; 3, Agaricus emeticus; 4, Boletus versicolor; 5, Boletus

laricis. (Toxic. Vet. xiii, 5.)

SECT. LV.—ON BULLS’ BLOOD.

The blood of a newly-killed bull brings on dyspnœa and suffocation,

obstructing the passages about the tonsils and the parts concerned in

deglutition with violent spasms; the tongue, in such cases, is also

found red; the teeth are stained, and there are clots between them. In

this case we must avoid giving a vomit, because the grumous blood will

be more firmly fastened in the stomach by being raised upwards with the

contractions. We must give those things which are calculated to dissolve

the coagulated blood and loosen the belly; green figs, therefore, are

to be administered when filled with juice, along with oxycrate and

natron. All kinds of rennet are also proper with vinegar, and the root of

laserwort, with its juice in like manner; also cabbage seed, the lye of

figs, and the leaves of fleabane with pepper, and the juice of bramble

with vinegar. The bowels are also to be evacuated. Those who are going to

recover have fetid and bloody discharges by the anus. Cataplasms, made

of barley-flour with honey, are also to be applied to the regions of the

stomach and bowels.

* * * * *

COMMENTARY. Bulls’ blood being exceedingly viscid and indigestible might

prove deleterious by becoming quickly coagulated in the stomach: we do

not find any mention of it, however, in modern works on toxicology.

Themistocles is said to have despatched himself with it. Nicander makes

no mention of emetics, and Dioscorides, like our author, condemns the

use of them. Nicander recommends almost the same identical remedies as

our author. It will be remarked that they are all of a penetrating,

attenuant, and solvent nature, such as wild figs, natron, laserwort, the

rennets of certain animals, &c. Galen mentions the pernicious effects

of coagulated blood in the stomach, and recommends hot vinegar for it.

(De Al. boni et mali succi.) Ruffus (ap. Oribas. Med. Collect. viii,

24) recommends clysters composed of natron, vinegar, the decoction of

cabbage, and of its seed, with vinegar.

The Arabians treat the case in a similar manner. Alsaharavius directs

us to give vinegar, natron, wine, and the like, also diuretics, but he

forbids the use of emetics.

Sprengel inclines to believe that bulls’ blood may prove deleterious,

if allowed to remain long in the stomach, by evolving azotic gas. He

therefore approves of the hot vinegar recommended by Galen. (Comment.

in Dios. 25.) Ardoyn states that a large quantity of bulls’ blood taken

into the stomach may produce suffocation by stopping the action of the

diaphragm. (De Venen. iv, 23.)

SECT. LVI.—ON COAGULATED MILK.

Those who take a large draught of milk containing rennet, experience a

great feeling of suffocation from its becoming coagulated. In treating

them, we may give as an antidote rennet with vinegar, compelling them

often to drink of it; also the dried leaves of calamint, and its juice

in like manner, or the roots of laserwort, or its juice with oxycrate,

thyme with wine, and the lye used by bonnet-makers; but nothing saltish

must be given, for thereby the milk becomes more firmly coagulated and is

converted into cheese. Neither must we make them vomit, for thereby the

coagula being lodged in the stomach will produce suffocation.

* * * * *

COMMENTARY. Gorræus, in his notes on Nicander, remarks that milk only

proves prejudicial when taken in great quantity, immediately after

the rennet has been added to it, and before it has curdled. See also

Matthiolus and Ardoyn (de Venenis). Nicander recommends the same remedies

as our author, namely, such as are of a cutting and attenuant nature,

as rennet, vinegar, wine, lasewort, &c. Dioscorides forbids all saltish

things. Ruffus (ap. Oribas. Med. Col. viii, 24) recommends a clyster of

vinegar and natron, or asses’ milk with much salt. Celsus says, with his

accustomed brevity, “Si lac intus coit, aut passum, aut coagulum, aut

cum aceto laser.” See also Galen (l. c.) Haly Abbas, Rhases, Avicenna

and Alsaharavius also recommend rennet with pepper, assafœtida, vinegar,

&c. For bad milk which has spoiled on the stomach, all the Arabian

authorities concur in recommending first an emetic of hydromel, and

afterwards wine with pepper.

Sprengel accounts for the deleterious effects of curdled milk in the

same manner as he does for those of bulls’ blood, and remarks, that the

acid contained in the rennet of certain animals especially of hares, is

well calculated for dissolving and evacuating the coagulum (Comment. in

Dioscor. l. c.)

The Arabian authorities treat, among the deleterious substances, of flesh

and fish which have been cooked and hung up in a wet place until they

have become unwholesome. When eaten in this state, Rhases says they bring

on violent vomiting and purging, and may prove fatal unless the proper

remedies are applied. For these symptoms he recommends repeated emetics

and then purgatives; after which wine and pepper is to be given; and, in

the end, the remedies for poisonous mushrooms. (Ad Mansor. viii, 27, 28.)

See also Alsaharavius (Pract. xxx, 2, 15); Haly Abbas (Pract. iv.) Haly

Abbas recommends vomiting by means of tepid water, oxymel, and salt.

They treat, in like manner, of rancid fruits; which they state act

as poisons when eaten in large quantity. For the cure of these they

recommend emetics, the rob of bitter grapes, and medicines to whet the

appetite. Rhases (ad Mansor. viii, 30); Avicenna (iv. 6; i, 30.)

Avenzoar relates, at considerable length, the history of a case in which

delirium and other bad symptoms had been brought on and kept up by

drinking out of a cup which had been poisoned with some putrid meat. (i,

9, 9.)

SECT. LVII.—ON HERACLEAN HONEY.

Those who eat or drink the honey formed in Heraclea, of Pontus,

experience the same symptoms as they who have drunk of wolfsbane, and the

same remedies will be applicable. They are readily relieved by drinking

frequently of mulse, having the leaves of rue mixed with it.

* * * * *

COMMENTARY. This section is taken from Dioscorides.

Avicenna makes mention of a poisonous kind of honey produced in Arabia,

for which he applies much the same remedies as those recommended by our

author. (iv, 6; i, 32.)

The effects of Pontic honey in occasioning madness is mentioned in the

‘Anabasis’ of Xenophon (iv, 8.) The same character of it is given by

Aristotle, Pliny, Diodorus Siculus, and Ælian. Tournefort confirms the

ancient accounts of its inebriating effects. See Sprengel (ad Dioscor.

ii, 103.)

SECT. LVIII.—ON GYPSUM.

Gypsum, when drunk, produces suffocation, by being converted into stone;

hence we must transfer the remedies applicable to those who have taken

mushrooms, giving them in this case, and substituting the decoction of

mallows for oil; for being of a fatty nature it lubricates the parts, and

prevents them from being injured by the stony hardness of the gypsum.

Oil, also, in honied water is proper; and the decoction of figs, and the

lye of figs, or of the ashes of vine-shoots with much wine, and marjoram,

or thyme with lye or vinegar. Clysters are also to be administered,

consisting of must and the decoction of mallows.

* * * * *

COMMENTARY. Our author copies closely from Dioscorides.

Rhases and Avicenna treat this case upon much the same principles as

the Greeks, only they give scammony freely at first, and if dysentery

supervene they recommend the remedies suitable for it. Aëtius,

Dioscorides, and the other Greek authors, although they approve of

clysters, say nothing about drastic purgatives. Avicenna says, gypsum

in its action resembles ceruse, but is even more powerful than it in

inducing strangulation. Haly Abbas says, gypsum occasions colic and ileus

with dryness of the mouth, suffocation, difficulty of making urine, and

so forth. He directs clysters at first, and afterwards an electuary of

pepper and mustard to be given. Alsaharavius forbids emetics, recommends

water mixed with honey, and olive-oil for drink, also emollient clysters,

and sweet wine.

For an account of gypsum, see Pliny (H. N. xxxvi, 59) and Theophrastus

(de Lapidibus.) Isidorus gives the following description of it:—“Gypsi

plura genera: omnium autem optimum, lapis specularis: est enim signis

ædificiorum, et coronis gratissimus.” (Orig. xvi, 3.) The gypsum

speculare was evidently selenite, or crystallized sulphate of lime. See

Matthiolus (Com. in Dioscor.)

Dr. Kidd gives the following account of the varieties of the ancient

gypsum:—“It was, by the general description of it, an earthy compound of

lime; but the ancient naturalists seem to apply it to sulphate of lime,

the gypsum of the present day, and sometimes to a calcined carbonate of

lime, or quicklime, which they called calx.” (Mineral. b. i, p. 70).

Sir John Hill gives a full account of the ancient gypsums in his notes

on Theophrastus (de Lapidibus.) “Gypsum,” he says, “is nothing more

than a selenite less elegant than the rhomboidal or plated kinds.”

There can be no doubt that the γυψος διαφάνης of Philoponus (Com. in

Aristot. de Anima. ii) was pure selenite. It is singular that our recent

authorities on toxicology have not included gypsum in the list of

poisonous substances which they treat of, although there is good reason

to believe that the powder, if given in any great quantity, is highly

deleterious. We know for certain that gypsum, or stucco, is often used

for poisoning rats and mice. It is further deserving of remark that all

the earlier modern authorities on medicine, down at least to the middle

of the 16th century, treat of gypsum as an active poison. All the ancient

authorities, it will be seen, represent it in this light. Pliny makes

mention of a case of suicide committed by means of gypsum (H. N. xxxvi,

24.)

SECT. LIX.—ON CERUSE.

Ceruse, owing to its colour, cannot be mistaken, and when taken

voluntarily it whitens the palate, tongue, and the intervals between

the teeth. It also brings on hiccup and cough, dryness of the tongue,

and coldness of the extremities, with disorder of the intellect and

difficulty of moving. In this case it will be proper to give honied

water or the decoction of figs, or of mallows, or hot milk, or sesame

triturated with wine, or the lye of vine-shoots, or the oil of marjoram,

or of iris; also the bones of peaches, with a decoction of barley or

frankincense, or the gum of prunes, or the juice of the elm which

is contained in its follicles, along with tepid water; but let them

immediately vomit. The juice of thapsia will also be proper for them, or

three oboli of the juice of scammony, when drunk with honied water.

* * * * *

COMMENTARY. Nicander compares the colour of ceruse to frothy milk. The

symptoms of poisoning by it are constriction of the palate and gums,

asperity of the tongue, singultus, a dry cough, nausea, heaviness of the

head, unnatural vision, and torpor. His remedies are emetics of oil, thin

milk, decoctions of mallows, sesame triturated with wine, prunes or elms,

which are to be given partly as emetics, and partly with the intention

of their being digested; for which purpose the patient is to be put

into the warm bath. See the Paraphrase of Eutecnius; also Dioscorides,

Aëtius, Avicenna, and Rhases, who recommend similar treatment. Aëtius,

like our author, directs us to give scammony, evidently to counteract its

astringency. Alsaharavius recommends emetics of the decoction of figs

with mead or common oil, the infusion of wormwood as a diuretic, scammony

with hydromel, and hot milk. Rhases recommends emetics of the decoctions

of figs and oil, with drastic purgatives and diuretics. (Ad Mansor.

viii, and Contin. xx, 2.) Avicenna’s principles of treatment are quite

similar, that is to say, he trusts to emetics, diuretics, and clysters,

and prevents the patient from sleeping. (iv, 6, 1.) Haly Abbas recommends

an emetic consisting of honey with hot water, vinegar and salt; he also

gives diuretics, such as the infusion of parsley, fennel, anise, and

southernwood. (Pract. iv.)

Dr. Alston says, “our white lead is certainly the ψιμύθιον of Dioscorides

and the cerussa of Pliny.” It was prepared by exposing the carbonate of

lead to the vapours of vinegar. See Milligan (Ad Cels. p. 112.)

SECT. LX.—ON LIME, SANDARACH, AND ARSENIC.

Lime, sandarach, and arsenic, when taken in a draught, bring on pains

of the stomach and bowels, with violent corrosion. Wherefore we must

administer all things of a diluent and solvent nature, such things as

will produce ready vomiting and lubricate the bowels, as the juice of the

marsh or common mallows, and a decoction of linseed, or of spelt, or of

rice, copious draughts of milk and honied water, broths which are fatty

and contain wholesome juices.

* * * * *

COMMENTARY. Nicander has not treated of poisoning by these substances.

Dioscorides, Aëtius, and Actuarius give almost the same account of

the symptoms and treatment as our author. Their remedies are emetics,

lubricants, and laxatives. The Arabians copy their descriptions and

follow their treatment. Thus Alsaharavius directs these cases to be

treated by giving emetics of oily and fatty things, emollient clysters,

and unctuous articles, to prevent ulceration of the intestines. Avicenna

orders, in the first place, an emetic of warm water and oil, then

emollient decoctions, such as those of linseed and mallows, and fat

broths and milk. The cough is to be soothed by demulcents. (iv, 6, 1.)

Rhases states that quicklime and arsenic occasion putrefaction of the

intestines. (Cont. xxxvii. tr. 1.) Galen, however, has stated that

arsenic is not, properly speaking, a septic, but a strong caustic. (De

Simp. 1.)

However meagre this account of these important medicines may appear, it

will be seen, upon reference to the standard works on toxicology, that

the treatment at the present day scarcely differs, in any one point,

from the ancient mode of practice. Emetics, demulcents, consisting of

decoctions of emollient herbs, or copious draughts of milk, laxatives and

clysters, form the present practice.

The ancient arsenicum, or auripigmentum, was orpiment; the sandarach

was realgar, or the orange-red sulphuret. Our oxide of arsenic is a

factitious substance, prepared by sublimation from cobalt: it is much

more deleterious than auripigmentum or orpiment. Servitor and Avicenna

have described the factitious arsenic, or oxide of arsenic of the

moderns. The Arabian chemist Geber treats largely and ingeniously of

orpiment, which he holds to be closely allied to sulphur. He also speaks

of sublimed arsenic. (iii. 29.)

SECT. LXI.—ON LITHARGE.

Litharge, when drunk, brings on heaviness of the stomach and bowels,

with intense tormina; sometimes by its weight it wounds the intestines,

occasions retention of urine and swelling of the body, which becomes of

a leaden hue, and assumes an unseemly appearance. In such cases it will

be proper, after vomiting, to give the seed of the wild clary (horminum)

to drink with wine, three oboli of myrrh, wormwood, parsley-seed, pepper,

the flower of privet with wine, and the dried dung of wild pigeons, with

nard and wine.

* * * * *

COMMENTARY. The symptoms which Nicander mentions as being superinduced

by litharge are borborygmi, pains resembling those of ileus, retention

of urine, and discoloration of the skin. His remedies are carminatives,

warm stimulants, and diuretics, such as myrrh, clary, St. John’s-wort,

hyssop, pepper, hedge mustard taken in wine, the green shoots of privet,

and the fruit of pomegranate. Scribonius Largus recommends emetics and

calefacient medicines, such as pepper, myrrh, parsley. The Arabians,

namely, Rhases, Avicenna, and Alsaharavius, concur in recommending

emetics, drastic purgatives, and calefacient medicines.

The ancient litharge was prepared like the modern. It is a semi-vitrified

peroxide of lead.

SECT. LXII.—ON LEAD.

When a person has drunk the shavings of lead or its soil, he experiences

the same symptoms as those from litharge, and is to be treated in the

same manner.

* * * * *

COMMENTARY. We need scarcely say that litharge is now ascertained to be

a preparation of lead. (See the preceding section.) Most of the ancient

authorities state, like our author, that the symptoms and treatment of

poisoning by lead and litharge are exactly the same. It appears singular

that it should be asserted in some modern works on the materia medica

that the ancients were unacquainted with the deleterious properties of

lead. Galen even mentions that water conveyed in leaden pipes sometimes

proves deleterious by occasioning dysentery. (Med. sec. loc. vii.)

Aëtius makes the same observation. (xi, 45.) Palladius, the writer on

agriculture, speaks of it in the following terms: “Ultima ratio est,

plumbeis fistulis ducere, quæ aquas noxias reddunt; nam cerusa plumbo

creatur attrito, quæ corporibus nocet humanis.” (ix, 11.) Vitruvius also

mentions that water impregnated with lead is deleterious. (Arch. viii.)

Pliny notices the deleterious effects of the exhalations from lead mines.

(H. N. xxxiv, 50.)

The Greek writers on toxicology do not treat of copper as a poison; but

the Arabians have done so in brief terms, all agreeing in recommending

the same treatment as in cases of poisoning with arsenic. (See Avicenna,

Rhases, Haly Abbas, and Alsaharavius.) These authorities, likewise, lay

down in very succinct terms the treatment of poisoning by iron, which

they direct to be conducted upon general principles. They in particular

recommend laxative and demulcent medicines. (See Avicenna iv, 6, 18.)

As a slight novelty in their practice we may mention that he recommends

the affusion of vinegar with oil of roses, violets, &c., upon the head.

Averrhoes recommends from ⅓ to 1 dr. of balsam. (Coll. v.)

SECT. LXIII.—ON MERCURY.

Mercury, when swallowed, brings on the same symptoms as litharge, and

the same remedies are to be used in this case. A copious draught of milk

seems to be beneficial, and vomiting ought to be produced.

* * * * *

COMMENTARY. Dioscorides, Galen, and Aëtius give the same imperfect

account of this important medicine and poison as our author gives, and

supply no additional information of any importance. The Arabians were

better acquainted with its properties, having ascertained that it might

be taken in its metallic state with impunity. Rhases says, “I do not

think that any great harm will result from drinking mercury when it is

pure, unless it be pains in the stomach and intestines. It afterwards

passes out in its natural state, especially if the person who swallowed

it moves about. I gave a draught of it to an ape, nor did I perceive

any inconvenience arise from it, except, as I have mentioned, that it

appeared to be pained in its belly, for it often bit it with its mouth,

and grasped it with its hands.” (Ad Mansor. viii, 42.)

Haly Abbas gives a similar account. Mercury, he says, in its natural

state, is not poisonous, and merely occasions some tormina in the belly;

but when killed (oxydised?) it is deleterious, and is to be remedied

by giving emetics of oil and dill, and afterwards oily clysters, &c.

(Pract. iv, 53.) See a similar account in Avicenna (iv, 6, 1, 2.) Mercury

that has been killed, or sublimed, that is to say attenuated, produces,

he says, grave symptoms, such as pain of the bowels, a bloody flux,

retention of urine, and so forth. He recommends, after vomiting, myrrh in

wine, with honied water, &c.

Serapion mentions that fumigations with mercury are very prejudicial

by superinducing nervous affections and paralysis. (De Simpl. 385.)

Alsaharavius is, we believe, the only ancient author who has mentioned

that rubbing the body with mercury occasions swelling of the mouth,

tongue, and throat, with erosion of those parts. He directs us to wash

or gargle with the decoction of dill, camomile, or mint. (Pract. xxx,

3.) Pliny mentions milk as a remedy against gypsum, ceruse, sulphur, and

mercury. (H. N. xxviii.)

Not having access to the unpublished MSS. of the ancient ‘Scriptores

Chemici,’ we cannot pretend to determine whether or not they had acquired

any considerable skill in analysing and detecting poisonous substances.

See an interesting account of these mss. in Fabricii ‘Bibliotheca

Græca,’ xiii, p. 747. Consult also Vossius ‘De Naturâ Artium,’ v. 9; Sir

William Drummond’s Papers in the ‘Classical Journal’ on the Literature

of the Ancient Egyptians; and Doutens ‘Dec. de Modern.’ p. 176. The only

original work on the chemistry of the ancients which we have read with

any attention is the ‘Chemia’ of Geber, which contains much curious

information regarding the metals, although nothing that suits our present

purpose.

SECT. LXIV.—ON WHITE HELLEBORE, THAPSIA, ELATERIUM, BLACK AGARIC, WILD

RUE, GITH, AND THE DOWN OF THE CACTOS.

We must be guarded in the administration of certain medicinal substances,

which often occasion as great danger as poisons themselves. Such are the

following, namely, white hellebore, thapsia, elaterium, and the black

agaric, for these bring on either suffocation or hypercatharsis, in which

cases we may cure the suffocation in the way described for mushrooms, and

such like substances, and stop the hypercatharsis by such things are as

calculated to suppress immoderate discharges. Likewise certain substances

which might seem not injurious to any considerable degree, will sometimes

occasion dangerous symptoms, and should not be neglected. Such are the

wild rue, gith, and the fresh poppy, which are the flowers of the thorn

called cactos. In such cases the administration of a vomit alone relieves

those who have taken them.

* * * * *

COMMENTARY. This section is taken from Dioscorides. Of the pappus

Actuarius says, like our author, that it is the flower of the thorn

called cactos, and that vomiting relieves those who have taken it. (Meth.

Med. v, 12.) See Avicenna (iv, 6, 1); and Rhases (ad Mansor. viii, 49.)

Alsaharavius directs us in the case of hellebore to clear the stomach by

emetics, and to apply cooling plasters of citrons, apples, and roses. For

the wild rue he recommends emetics of oil, emollient clysters, and the

ashes of vine tops taken with water and vinegar.

In the Seventh Book we shall have occasion to state the opinions which

have been entertained respecting the helleborus albus of the ancients.

Schulze is very undecided. (Toxic. vet. iv.) The thapsia he makes to

be the same as the T. fœtida of Linnæus. Theophrastus has described

it (H. P. ix, 23). Pliny says it occasions swelling of the body, with

erysipelas. (N. H. xiii, 43.)

We shall treat of the elaterium also in the Seventh Book. Hippocrates

uses the word as a general term for all drastic purgatives, but by

Dioscorides, and the subsequent writers on the materia medica, it is

applied to the fæcula of the _momordica elaterium_.

The agaricus muscarius is a well-known poisonous mushroom. Schulze

properly remarks that its effects are narcotic; and Dr. Christison places

it in the class of narcotico-acrid poisons. See sec. liv.

Schulze is much inclined to believe that the πήγανον ἄγριον here treated

of is the _peganum harmala_ of Linnæus, a plant intermediate between the

ruta and melanthium. He is also disposed to think that the melanthium

of the ancients was the _nigella sativa_, L. We are inclined to adopt

this opinion from the text of Avicenna. (iv, 6, 1, 16.) Sprengel agrees

with Anguillara and Dalechampius in opinion that the cactos was the

_cynara cardunculus_, L., or cardoon artichoke, a variety of the C.

scolymus. (Comment. in Dioscor.) Schweighaeuser inclines to the opinion

of Villebrun, the French translator of Athenæus, who makes it to be the

C. sylvestris latifolia, which he says grows commonly in Sicily at the

present day. (In Deipnos. ii, 83.)

Under this head we may notice the treatment of poisoning by gum

euphorbium, and the spurges, of which no mention is made by the Greek

authorities on toxicology. For the Arabians, see Avicenna (iv, 6, 1, 4,

5); Rhases (Contin. xx, 2; ad Mansor. viii, 48); Alsaharavius (Pract.

xxx, 1, 19.) The symptoms as given by them all are, violent pain and heat

in the primæ viæ, with bloody discharges, and death, unless timely relief

be given. Their remedies are immediate vomiting with hot water and oil,

then administering demulcents, barley-water, and in the end, the theriac.

Galen and Haly Abbas, in their treatises on the Theriac, recommend it in

this case of poisoning.

The mezereon is not noticed by the Greeks or Romans either as a poison

nor as a medicinal substance. The Arabians treat of it under both these

heads. See Avicenna (iv, 6, 1); Rhases (ad Mansor. viii, 53.) The

symptoms as given by them are violent vomiting and purging, for which

they recommend sweet milk, butter, juleps, in the first place, and in

extreme cases the theriac and sealed earth. The Arabian authorities

confound their mezereon with the chamæleon of the Greeks, treated of in

the thirty-seventh section of this book. The _dende_ of Avicenna and

Serapion was the strychnos colubrinus, according to Sprengel. (R. H. H.

i, 250.)

Rhases classes the nux vomica along with the articles treated of in

this section. He recommends us in all these cases to give warm water to

promote the vomiting, and render it easier, and if violent convulsions

come on, he directs the patient to be put into a warm bath, and anointed

with hot oils. (Ad Mansor. viii, 49.) Serapion treats of it in his

Materia Medica (163.) The Arabians also treat of the methel-nut.

We are unable to determine satisfactorily the nature of the _condisi_,

which is treated of by the Arabians, under the present head. See Rhases

(ad Mansor. viii, 49); Avicenna (iv, 6, 1, 16.) Alsaharavius calls it

_cundes_. The symptoms, he says, are dryness of the nose, throat, and

palate, sneezing, muttering delirium, pain of the stomach, and, unless

speedy relief be brought, death. (Pract. xxx, 1, 24.) Ardoyn mentions

that some referred it to the struthium; but the above characters do not

at all apply to the soapwort (_saponaria officinalis_, L.), which is the

στρόυθιον of Theophrastus and Dioscorides. See further Sprengel (Comment.

in Dioscor. i, 192.)

The sow-bread (_cyclamen Europæum_) is also treated of by the Arabians

under this head. See Avicenna (iv, 6, 1, 16); Rhases (ad Mansor. viii,

59); Alsaharavius (Pract. xxx, 1, 24.) The symptoms, according to

Alsaharavius, are swelling of the throat, and strong pain of the bowels.

The sow-bread is treated of as an article of the Materia Medica by

Dioscorides (ii, 193.)

Dioscorides (M. M. iv, 82) does not reckon the oleander (_nerium

oleander_, L.) destructive to man, but the Arabians rank it among the

deleterious substances, of a heating and desiccant nature; and recommend

for it emetics, with the decoction of fenugreek, figs with honey, and the

like. See Avicenna (iv, 6, 18); Alsaharavius (Pract. xxx, 1, 27); Rhases

(ad Mansor. viii, 36.)

The anacardium, or Malacca bean, is treated of as a poison by Rhases

(Contin. xx, 2; ad Mansor. viii, 35); Avicenna (iv, 6, 1, 9);

Alsaharavius (Pract. xxx, 1, 42); Haly Abbas (Pract. iv, 50.) They all

describe it as an irritant poison, and recommend emetics of animal and

vegetable oils, with demulcents, to obviate the bad effects of it.

The apocynum, although not treated of by the ancient authorities on

toxicology, is described as a deleterious substance by Dioscorides (Mat.

Med. iv, 81); by Galen (De Simpl.); and by Pliny (H. N. xxv, 83.) It

appears to be the _periploca Græca_, L.

Dioscorides and Pliny likewise reckon saffron, or the _crocus sativus_, a

deleterious plant. Its deleterious action is very weak.

The atramentum sutorium, which was a solution of vitriol, was used as a

poison. See Cicero (ad Familiar. ix, 21.)

SECT. LXV.—ON DOMESTIC ARTICLES, SUCH AS WINE AND COLD WATER.

Cold water when drunk in a great quantity, and much undiluted sweet wine,

more especially after the bath, running, or violent exercises, bring on

suffocation and pains. In such cases, venesection quickly had recourse

to, and evacuation by clysters, remove the impending danger.

* * * * *

COMMENTARY. Galen says, “Some by taking an immoderate draught of cold

water have been instantly seized with dyspnœa, convulsions, and tremors;

in a word, their whole nervous system has become affected.” (Meth. Med.

ix, 5.)

Dioscorides, Aëtius, and Actuarius concur in recommending the same mode

of treatment as our author. The Arabians, however, treat those who

have taken a draught of cold water unseasonably in a very different

manner from the Greeks. Thus Rhases and Avicenna recommend undiluted

wine internally, and the application of a plaster over the liver. The

difference between the practice of the Greeks and Arabians may be thus

accounted for. A large draught of cold drink may either threaten to

prove fatal at once by producing a violent impression upon the nerves

of the stomach, or it may superinduce symptoms resembling those of

gastritis. In the former case the practice of the Arabians may seem most

proper in order to support the heat and powers of the system, whereas

that of the Greeks will be indicated when inflammatory symptoms have

come on; and, indeed, even the Arabians bled under these circumstances.

(Avicenna, iv, 61, 31.) For an immoderate draught of pure wine which has

been taken unseasonably, the Arabian authorities concur with the Greek

in recommending immediate evacuation of the stomach and venesection,

to which they add cold water or whey, with troches of camphor. See in

particular Avicenna (iv, 6, 1, 31.)

APPENDIX TO BOOK V.

As no better opportunity is likely to occur, we shall in this place give

a short notice of two subjects connected with medical practice, which are

entirely omitted by our author.

ON FEIGNED DISEASES, AND THE DETECTION OF THEM.

Galen, we believe, is the only ancient author who has treated professedly

of the detection of simulated diseases. He begins his short treatise

on this head with remarking, that persons feign diseases from various

motives, and that it is expected the physicians should detect such

impostures. That, for example, inflammation, erysipelas, and œdema,

when produced artificially, ought to be distinguished from the same

diseases when they originate in constitutional causes. He adds, that

hæmoptysis, hæmatemesis, and bloody discharges from the bowels, are often

simulated. Hæmoptysis is simulated by opening a vein in the gums, and

sucking blood from it while one affects to cough. Others, he says, affect

dementia, fatuity, and insanity, all which cases the vulgar expect that

the physician should detect. Inward pain, such as that of colic, he had

often known to be simulated, and relates briefly an interesting case in

point. He remarks, that experience and natural sagacity will enable a man

to expose all impositions of this nature. He gives a very interesting

account of the manner in which he detected the nature of a swelling at

the knee, that had been produced intentionally by the juice of thapsia

(_thapsia garganica_, deadly carrot?) Feigned inward pains, he remarks,

may often be distinguished from the real by the aversion which the

_malingerer_ discovers to swallow medicines, which he would be anxious

to have given him if he were actually in acute pain; and adds, that the

state of the pulse, and the other symptoms of intestinal diseases, will

assist in making the detection. (Quomodo coarg. sint qui fing. se Ægrot.

t. iii, 388, ed. Basil.)

ON PROFESSIONAL IMPOSTORS.

Rhases has an interesting chapter on this head. The frauds of impostors,

he says, are more numerous than could be contained in his whole work.

Some of them, he adds, pretend to be able to cure epilepsy, and having

made a crucial incision in the back part of the head, they extract from

the wound something which they hold in their hands, and thus impose upon

people. Others, in like manner, cause it to be believed that they extract

a small lizard by the nostrils. Some of these characters, he says,

make it be believed that they remove films from the eye, by secretly

introducing a small membrane into the eye, and taking it out again.

Others manage to create a belief that they suck water from the ear with

a reed. Others also make it be believed that they extract worms from the

ears or teeth. Others practice a trick by which they obtain the credit of

extracting the ranula below the tongue. Why should I mention those, he

adds, who introduce pieces of bone into wounds and ulcers, and afterwards

extract them? He says, it is not uncommon for these impostors to sound

a man for the stone, pretend to find one, perform the operation, and

exhibit a calculus which they themselves had introduced secretly into the

incision. Others pretend to cure piles, make incisions about the anus,

and form ulcers there which did not exist before. Certain of them affect

by scarifications and other means to suck the vitreous humour from the

hip-joint, while they exhibit something of the kind which they themselves

have introduced. There are some who undertake to collect all the

infirmities of the body into one spot, and then extract them; for this

pretended object they raise an itching and violent heat in some place by

means of _alkekengi_ (winter cherry); and having accomplished this they

exact a fee for removing the uneasiness from the spot, which they do by

anointing it with oil. There are others who will make a man believe that

he has swallowed hairs, glass, or the like; and then tickling his throat

with a feather, and making him vomit, they exhibit the substance in

question as if it had been brought up. Thus, he adds, they often do much

mischief, and sometimes are guilty of culpable homicide. He concludes by

warning sensible people to be upon their guard against such wretches. (Ad

Mansor. vii. 27.)