In cases of impotence, it may be proper to rub the parts frequently with
an ointment containing a small part of the root of the narcissus, or the
seed of the thymelæa, or pellitory, or stavesacre, or the seed of the
nettle, or of anise. Let them also before their meals take a drink with
pepper, or satyrium, or rocket, or bastard saffron, or all together.
Before food, let him also eat the small red bulbi roasted, with salt and
oil, or a little of the squill dried in the sun. They may also use the
compound preparations elsewhere described, and often indulge in obscene
reading.
* * * * *
COMMENTARY. Athenæus mentions that it was a practice with some to put
sponges into beds, as incentives to venery. He states, upon the authority
of Theophrastus, that certain medicines are possessed of aphrodisiacal
properties, to an almost incredible degree. (Deipnos, i, 15.) He says
the immoderate use of wine often induces impotence; and relates that it
had this effect upon Alexander the Great. (Deipnos, x, 45.) Hippocrates
mentions that many of the Scythians were affected with impotence, by
being constantly on horseback. (De Aer, &c. vi, 22.) See Coray’s Note,
and Littré’s Hippocrates, (t. iv, p. 9.) It would appear that many of
the ancient athletæ, rendered themselves impotent by self-denial and
immoderate exercise. (Galen. de Loc. affect, vi, versus finem.)
The ancients held, that most of the testacea are aphrodisiacal. See
Plautus (Casina, ac. ii, sc. 8, l. 59,) and the note of Lambinus (Ed.
Gronov.); also Petronius Arbiter (Satyricon.)
The rocket (_eruca_) was particularly celebrated as an aphrodisiacal
herb. See Pliny (H. N. xix, 8), and Juvenal (Sat. ix, 134.); Columella
(in Hort.); Galen (de Fac. Alim. lib. ii.) Ovid calls it _herba salax_.
(Remed. Amor. 799.)
On this subject, see Rhases (ad Mansor. v, 62, Contin. xxiv); Avicenna
(iii, 20, 1); Alsaharavius (Pract. xxii, 11.) Rhases gives a long list of
articles which were supposed to be possessed of aphrodisiacal properties,
such as nettle-seed, elecampane, rape-seed, mint, rocket, cresses,
cubebs, &c. Avicenna’s account, however, is the fullest. He directs the
parts to be rubbed with liniments, containing stavesacre, pellitory,
squills, myrrh, assafœtida, and the like.