SECT. XII.—ON TROCHISKS, OR TROCHES.
Trochisks are so named from their form. There are three kinds of them. For some of them are to be swallowed, some injected, and some rubbed in. Of those which are swallowed, some are for restraining the belly, or a flow of blood, or any other discharge, by their cooling, astringent, obstruent, or desiccative qualities, such as that from Egyptian thorn, that from seeds, and the like. Some are anodyne, either by deadening the sensibility, such as the saffron, or by dispelling, like those from aromatic substances. Some act as deobstruents on the spleen, kidneys, and liver, such as that from bitter almonds. Of those which are injected, some are for blunting acrimony, as in dysentery, such as those from pompholyx, starch, and Samian earth, injected with the juice of ptisan, or the like. Some act as astringents upon the alvine discharges, or a flow of blood, as those from alum, acacia, and omphacium, such as that of Philip; or that consisting of Egyptian thorn, injected with the juice of roses or of plantain. Those that are caustic agree with spreading dysenteries, being composed of sandarach, arsenic, quicklime, and burnt pepper; but they are to be injected with the juice of lentils or of rice, the intestine being first washed out with salt water, and the patients having eaten and drunk beforehand, so that none of the powers of the medicine may be carried up to the stomach. Those trochisks which are injected prove serviceable principally in affections below the navel, for their power does not reach higher up. Those which are rubbed in are possessed of similar powers to those which are injected. But the astringent ones are applicable in herpes, exanthemata, intertrigo, hemorrhage, and ulcers attended with discharges, such as that of Andron and that of Polyides. Those possessed of blunting powers agree with carbuncle, and ill-conditioned ulcers, such as the white trochisks, and that from lotaria. Those which burn as those mentioned above, like the Faustian, are applicable in spreading ulcers in the pudenda and anus, and for pterygia and sarcomata.
The trochisk aster. Of saffron, of castor, of spikenard, of cassia, of myrrh, of Lemnian earth, of the bark of mandragora, of each, oz. iv; of carrot, of parsley, of anise, of seseli, of the seed of henbane, of storax, of each, dr. viij. Triturate with wine.
The trochisk trigonus. Of the seed of parsley, of the seed of henbane, of each, dr. ij; of anise, dr. viij; of opium, dr. iij. Triturate with water.
The trochisk from seeds. Of anise, of bishop’s weed, of the seed of fennel, of each, dr. iv; of the seed of parsley, of opium, of the seed of henbane, of each, dr. ij. Triturate with water.
The trochisk croceus, or saffron trochisk. Of anise, of the seed of Cretan carrot, of each, dr. iv; of myrrh, of castor, of each, dr. ij; of saffron, of opium, of each, dr. iij; of the seed of parsley, of storax, of each, dr. iv; of the seed of henbane, dr. vj. Triturate with water.
The trochisk from roses. Of acacia, of gum, of the flower of roses, of pomegranate flowers, of the juice of hypocistis, of galls, of each, dr. iij; of the juice of green roses, of the seed of plantain, of each, dr. j; of Indian buckthorn, dr. j.
The trochisk from corallium. Of the seed of henbane, of frankincense, of each, dr. viij; of Samian earth, of corallium, of Sinopic vermilion, of opium, of each, dr. iv; of starch, of the flowers of the wild pomegranate, of each, dr. ij. Mix with the juice of knotgrass.
The trochisk from amber. Of fleawort, oz. v; of mastich, oz. iv; of the scrapings of amber, of iris, of saffron, of each, oz. iv; of opium, oz. ij.
The trochisk from Egyptian thorn. Of Egyptian thorn, of sumach, of frankincense, of acacia, of stone-alum, of the juice of hypocistis, of galls, of Lemnian earth, of corallium, of comfrey, of Samian aster, of aloes, of Cretan cistus, equal parts. Mix with wine.
The trochisk which Galen entitles the aphrodisiasticum clidion. Of the flowers of the cultivated pomegranate, of Egyptian thorn, of the flowers of the wild pomegranate, of the juice of hypocistis, of acacia, of each, dr. vj; of buckthorn, of Pontic rhubarb, of opium, of each, dr. iv; of myrrh, dr. ij. Mix with myrtle wine, or the decoction of roses or of myrtles.
The clidion of Oribasius, for dysentery and cæliac affection. Of the immature gall, dr. viij; of opium, dr. iv. Form into pills with water, and give three or four.
The trochisk from hartshorn for dysentery and hæmoptysis. Of snails, dr. xij; of burnt hartshorn, of roasted galls, of roasted acacia, of each, dr. v; obol. xij; of black myrtles, dr. xv; of dried opium, of the juice of hypocistis, of each, dr. v; of the œnanthe, dr. v; of the juice of the root of mandragora, of terra aster, of each, dr. xij; of the sumach used for condiments, dr. xiv; of roasted pomegranate rind, dr. vij; of frankincense, dr. viij; of the roasted bark of pine, dr. xiv; of the seed of henbane roasted, dr. x; of the rhus coriaria, sext. ii; of dark-coloured wine, what will be sufficient to boil the sumach until the wine become thick. When it is strained, add the other things, and form the trochisks.
The trochisk of the Amazons. Of the seed of parsley, of anise, of each, dr. vj; of the hair of wormwood, dr. iv; of myrrh, of pepper, of opium, of castor, of each, dr. ij; of cinnamon, dr. vj. Mix with water.
The trochisk from bitter almonds. Of anise, of the seed of parsley, of asarabacca, of bitter almonds, of the hair of wormwood, equal parts; form, with water, trochisks of dr. j each. Give to those who are free from fever in wine and honey, and to those who have fever in water and honey.
The splenic trochisk from heath. Of the fruit of heath, dr. iv; of white pepper, of Syriac nard, of ammoniac perfume, of each, dr. ij. The ammoniac is dissolved in water, and added to the powders, and trochisks are formed containing a drachm each. The dose is one trochisk, with one cyathus of oxymel.
The trochisk from alkakengi. Of the seed of the cultivated cucumber, stripped of its bark, oz. iv; of the seed of henbane, of hemlock, of each, oz. ij; of fennel, of the seed of dock, of saffron, of pine nuts, of bitter almonds, of opium, of each, oz. j; of alkakengi, sext. iij; of wine, q. s.
The trochisk of Philip, for dysentery. Of the flowers of the wild pomegranate, of acacia, of the juice of hypocistis, of opium, of sumach, of frankincense, of myrrh, of saffron, of gall, of aloes, of Pontic rhubarb, of the rind of pomegranate, of myrtles, of each, dr. iv. Mix with austere wine, and form into trochisks of three oboli each. Give to those who are free from fever with wine, and to those in fever with hydromel.
The trochisk of Musa. Of alum, of aloes, of myrrh, of copperas (blue vitriol?) of each, oz. iss; of pomegranate rind, of saffron, of crocomagma, of each, dr. vj, in wine.
The preparation of the crocomagma. Of saffron, oz. ij; of roses, of starch, of myrrh, of aloes, of frankincense, of gum, of each, oz. j; of costus, of spikenard, of each, dr. j, in wine. In the prescription for oil of saffron another mode of preparing crocomagma is described.
The trochisk Nerè, from the works of Hera. Of myrrh, of aloes, of saffron, of each, dr. viij; of fissile alum, dr. c. Mix with water.
The sigillum of Polyides. Of fissile alum, dr. iij; of frankincense, dr. iv; of myrrh, dr. viij; of copperas (chalcanthum?), dr. ij; of the flowers of the cultivated pomegranate, dr. xij; of the gall of bulls, dr. vj (others use dr. xvj); of aloes, oz. j. Mix with austere wine.
The trochisk of Pasion. Of squama æris, dr. xij; of burnt copper, of sal ammoniac, of round alum, of scraped verdigris, of frankincense, of each, dr. viij; of wine, q. s.
The trochisk Andronius. Of the flowers of the cultivated pomegranate, dr. x; of myrrh, dr. iv; of galls, dr. viij; of round birthwort, dr. iv; of copperas, of saffron, of fissile alum, of crocomagma, of misy, of frankincense, of each, dr. ij. Triturate with astringent wine or vinegar.
The trochisk of Faustinus. Of arsenic, dr. xij; of sandarach, dr. vj; of quicklime, dr. viij; of burnt paper, dr. j. Mix with the juice or decoction of myrtles; make into trochisks, and inject along with the decoction of myrtles, of lentils, and of the roots of bramble.
The trochisk from paper. Of burnt paper, lb. ij; of quicklime, of arsenic, of sandarach, of each, oz. j. Mix with the juice of plantain.
The trochisk called Thronus Marcellius. Of burnt paper, dr. x; of sandarach, of arsenic, of squama æris, of fissile alum, of each, dr. iv; of the flowers of the wild pomegranate, dr. iij; of opium, dr. ij; of quicklime, dr. iij; of omphacium, dr. j; of the juice of hypocistis, dr. iij. Mix with myrtle wine, and form troches of four drachms each. When you have boiled the pomegranate rind, myrtles, and roses to a third part, give one trochisk, or simply dr. iv to six cyathi of wine.
The trochisk from cork. Of burnt galls, of burnt paper, of burnt cork, of burnt bread, of each, dr. xv. In another prescription there is added of burnt hartshorn, dr. xv; of arsenic, dr. ij; of sandarach, of quicklime, of each, dr. xv; of acacia, of ceruse, of each, dr. v; of litharge, dr. iij. Triturate in wine.
The trochisk Bithynus. Of pomegranate rind, dr. x; of calamine, oz. iij; of birthwort, of galls, of the root of all-heal, of iris, of copperas, of fissile alum, of chalcitis, of misy, of squama æris, of manna (and some also of costus), of each, oz. iss. Mix with vinegar.
The trochisk from castor, for ulcers, spreading sores, and defluxions. Of saffron, of aloes, of frankincense, of each, oz. j; of the flowers of the cultivated pomegranate, of fissile alum, of castor, of manna, of scraped verdigris, of each, oz. j; of sinopic vermilion, lb. j. Mix with old wine.
The trochisk from castor, for colics. Of myrrh, of castor, of each, scr. vj; of saffron, of opium, of each, scr. ix; of anise, of parsley seed, of carrot seed, of each, oz. ss; of the seed of henbane, scr. xviij.
The trochisk from wine and oil, for the fundament and pudendum. Of ceruse, oz. x; of litharge, oz. v; of frankincense, of the dross of lead, of fissile alum, of each, oz. ij. Triturate with wine that does not contain salt water. At the time of using it, mix with wine and rose oil, or wine and myrtle oil.
The trochisk from Phrygian stone, for the pudenda. Take three Phrygian stones burnt and extinguished, and mix the first with butter or rose oil; the second with wine; and the third with honey, to the extent of oz. ij; add, of the flower of roses, oz. iv; of pomegranate rind, oz. j.
The trochisk from lotaria to the fundament and pudendum. Of ceruse, of starch, of glaucium, of saffron, of alum, equal parts. Triturate with the juice of lotaria or wine.
The white trochisk. Of terra aster, oz. iv; of pompholyx, of ceruse, of starch, of each, oz. ij; of opium, scr. iv. Mix with water.
The trochisk from halicacabus, or winter cherry. Of litharge, dr. xxiv; of ceruse, dr. xij or xxj; of winter cherry, dr. viij; of copperas (chalcanthum), dr. iv; of fissile alum, dr. iv; of vermilion enough to give it colour. Mix with water.
The trochisk from the two hellebores, and also from the two acacias. Of the black and of the yellow acacia, of artificer’s glue (in another prescription of fish-glue), of each, oz. iv; of ammoniac perfume, of glaucium, of aloes, of each, oz. ij; of male frankincense, of black and of white hellebore, of each, oz. j. Mix with vinegar of squills, and at the time of using it dissolve either in the same or in common vinegar, and anoint before and after the bath.
The trochisk Criogenes. Of myrrh, of burnt copper, of round birthwort, of scraped verdigris, of the squama stomomatis, of the straight vervain, of round alum, of each, oz. j; of vinegar, q. s. The vervain is to be gathered when the sun is in Aries. It may be made into a plaster thus: take of the trochisk, of wax, of Colophonian rosin, of oil, equal parts; of vinegar what will be sufficient for the trituration of the trochisk.
The trochisk melanchlorus, or black-coloured. Of myrrh, of aloes, of burnt squama æris, of arsenic, of fissile alum, and of round alum, of iris, of chalcitis, of misy, of fossil salt, of copperas, of ceruse, of natron, of litharge, of the root of all-heal, of calamine, of pomegranate rind, of galls, of round birthwort, of the squama stomomatis, of scraped verdigris, of each, oz. j; of vinegar, q. s. It is formed into a plaster thus: of the trochisk, oz. ij; of Colophonian rosin, of wax, of oil, of each, oz. vj; of vinegar, what will be sufficient for the trituration of the trochisk.
The trochisk pantolmius, for chironian and malignant ulcers, and for discharges. Of cassia, of burnt copper, of ceruse, of litharge, of scraped verdigris, of fissile alum, and of round, and of liquid, and of the plinthitic alum, of the root of all-heal, of the long and of the round birthwort, of pomegranate rind, of copperas, of purslain, of the iris called astragalitis, of chalcitis, of misy, of ammoniac perfume, of sal ammoniac, of verdigris, of iron, of squama æris, of aloes, of diphryges, of frankincense, of galls, of sarcocolla, of burnt lead, of olive leaves, of sori, of myrrh, of liquid melanteria, of the flowers of the wild pomegranate, of the Egyptian thorn, of sulphur which has not been touched with the fire, of natron, of red sumach, of Syriac sumach, of chrysocolla, of elm-leaved sumach (rus coriaria), of acacia, of the spuma salis, of omphacium, of arsenic, equal parts. Triturate during the heat of the dog-days with vinegar for thirty days.
The trochisk of Nymphodotus. Of aphronitrum, oz. j; of Alexandrian natron, of Gallic soap, of each, oz. j; of Cappadocian salt, of mastich, of galls, of each, dr. iv; of rose leaves, of amomum, of starch, of each, oz. j; of Indian leaf, dr. j; of fissile alum, of costus, of each, dr. ij; of myrtle wine, q. s.
The trochisk from thapsia, for hemicrania. Of the juice of thapsia (deadly carrot), dr. xvj; of myrrh, dr. viij; of opoponax, of euphorbium, of each, dr. vj; of natron, of the Parthic juice, of each, dr. iv; of pepper, of sagapen, of each, dr. ij; of vinegar, q. s. In using it, rub it in with vinegar, and after six hours wash it off. If you wish to use in a reduced state, mix with equal parts of cerate, and spread it, allowing it to remain for a day and a night.
The trochisk called subdititious, for dysentery and pains of the anus. Of terra aster, of starch, of each, oz. iij; of saffron, oz. ij; of acacia, of tragacanth, of each. oz. j; of castor, of frankincense, of buckthorn, of each, oz. ss; and in hotter temperaments, also, of opium, oz. ss; mix with the juice of fleawort, and form into oblong trochisks.
Commentary. Celsus informs us that they are the same as the pastilli of the Latins. He thus describes their general properties: “Pastilli hæc ratio est: arida medicamenta contrita humore non pingui, ut vino vel aceto, coguntur, et rursus coacta inarescunt, atque, ubi utendum est, ejusdem generis humore diluuntur.” He gives prescriptions for six trochisks. (v, 20.)
Galen remarks that trochisks derive their name from their spherical shape. He treats of them at great length in the fifth book of his work ‘De Comp. Med. sec. gen.’ Many of our author’s receipts are copied from him.
For an account of the Arabian trochisks, see in particular Serapion (vii, 18); Haly Abbas (Pract. x, 14); and Mesue (i, 8.) The following is Mesue’s formula for the trochisks of camphor: “The trochisks of camphor, for ardent fevers, heat of the blood and bile, warm intemperament of the liver, insatiable thirst, jaundice, consumption, and hectics.—℞ Of rose leaves dr. iv; of spodium, of liquorice āā, dr. ij; of yellow saunders, dr. iiss; of the seeds of citrons, melons, cucumbers, and gourds, of saffron, of tragacanth, of gum, of spikenard, āā dr. j; of lignum aloes, of cardomum, of starch, of camphor, āā dr. j; of white sugar, of manna, āā dr. iij. Mix with the mucilage of fleawort and water of roses.” Myrepsus’s formula for the same is little different. He describes the composition of 136 pastils.
Moses Charras gives the following account of trochisks: “They are also called pastils, rolls, cakes, and lozenges. Trochisks were invented as well to preserve a long time the virtue of certain medicaments as to unite together the virtue of several. To which purpose having finely powdered the ingredients, which are to be powdered, they are to be incorporated with some juice, syrup, or other viscous liquor, to make therewith a solid paste, out of which are formed little trochisks, flat, round, triangular, square, long, or otherwise, which being spread upon paper, and dried out of the sun, and at a distance from the fire, to the end they may be dried in all parts alike, may be put up in boxes or pots for use.” (Royal Phar. ii, 21.)
Troches are pharmaceutical preparations still frequently used. According to the directions in the ‘Edinburgh Dispensatory,’ “they are composed of powders made up with glutinous substances into small cakes, and afterwards dried.” There is this difference, however, between the troches of the moderns and the trochisci of the ancients, that all the former are given internally, whereas many of the ancient trochisci were used as external applications. Of this description are five out of the six pastilli described by Celsus. Le Clerc says of them: “Ils differoient des emplâtres, et des collyres, en ce qu’il n’entroit aucune matière huileuse dans les trochisques et qu’ils servoient pour le dedans aussi bien que pour le dehors.” (Hist. de la Méd.)