SECT. XI.—ON THE DIFFERENT KINDS OF ANTIDOTES.
The Preface of Galen’s work on Antidotes. Those compositions which cure affections not when they are applied externally, but when taken internally, are named antidotes by the ancients. There are three different kinds of them. The first are those which are administered for deleterious substances; the second, for those animals called venomous; and the third are the remedies for affections occasioned by bad articles of food. Some antidotes profess to fulfil all these three purposes, such as the one called theriac.
The preparation of the hedychroum, which forms an ingredient of the theriac. Of the bark of the root of aspalathus, of calamus aromaticus, of costus, of asarabacca, of xylobalsam, of valerian, of amaracus, of mastich, of each, dr. vj; of carpobalsam, dr. ij; of marum, dr. xvj; of the flower of the rush, dr. ij; of cinnamon, dr. xxiv; of amomum, of cassia, of rheum, of each, dr. viij; of Indian nard, of the cassia leaf (malabathrum), dr. xij; of myrrh, dr. xxiv; of saffron, dr. xij; mix with fine wine, and form into trochisks, having smeared the finger with opobalsam.
The preparation of trochisks of squills. Having covered over the squills with clay or dough, roast it moderately, and taking of the inner parts of it, p. ij; and of the flour of tares, p. j; and having triturated in like manner, form trochisks.
The preparation of the theriac trochisks. Having chosen four or five vipers of a tawny colour, and recently taken, cut off their heads, and four fingers’ breadth of the part next the tail, and having removed the skins and entrails, boil the rest in a new pot, with dill and a moderate quantity of salts, until the spines be separated from the flesh. Then removing and cleaning away properly the flesh from the spines, and having mixed with them an equal quantity of clean bread, and triturated them in like manner, form into small balls, having your fingers smeared with opobalsam, and cool in the shade.
The preparation of the theriac antidote. Of the trochisks of squills, dr. lxviij; of the theriac trochisks, dr. xxiv; of hedychroum, dr. xxiv; of cinnamon, dr. xxiv; of common pepper, dr. xxiv; of the juice of poppies, dr. xxiv; of dried roses, dr. xv; of water-germander, of rape-seed, of Illyrian iris, of agaric, of liquorice, of opobalsam, of each, dr. xij; of myrrh, of saffron, of ginger, of rhaponticum, of the root of cinquefoil, of calamint, of horehound, of stone-parsley, of cassidony, of costus, of white and long pepper, of dittany, of the flower of sweet rush, of male frankincense, of turpentine, of mastich, of black cassia, of spikenard, of each, dr. vj; of the flower of poley, of storax, of parsley-seed, of seseli, of shepherd’s pouch, of bishop’s weed, of germander, of ground pine, of the juice of hypocistis, of Indian leaf (malabathrum), of Celtic nard, of spignel, of gentian, of anise, of fennel-seed, of Lemnian earth, of roasted chalcitis, of amomum, of sweet-flag, of balsamum, of Pontic valerian, of St. John’s wort, of acacia, of gum, of cardamom, of each, dr. iv; of carrot-seed, of galbanum, of sagapen, of bitumen, of opoponax, of castor, of centaury, of the species of birthwort called clematis, of each, dr. ij; of Attic honey, lb. x; of Falernian wine, oz. ij. Put into a mortar the opium, hypocistis, myrrh, sagapen, liquorice, storax, acacia, and opoponax, and having poured in some honey pound and dissolve: then pouring in wine so as to cover them, macerate for three days; then having pounded the others, unite them, and scum the honey. It is to be laid up in vessels of silver or glass, not quite full, and the covers taken off every day. In case of need it may be used for persons bitten by venomous animals, and those who have taken anything poisonous, after seven years, a quantity of it, to the size of a filbert, being drunk twice a day, in three cyathi of wine. In like manner, to those who are in a dangerous state from some obscure cause, when the disorder in the body imitates the quality of a mortal poison, as is the case particularly in pestilential diseases, it is to be given once a day. But in all other affections, it is to be used from the tenth to the twentieth year. For coughs, pains of the chest or side, it is to be given at night, if free from fever, with wine and honey; but if feverish, with hydromel, to the extent of an Egyptian bean. In all cases of hæmoptysis, it is to be given morning and evening, to the size of an Egyptian bean; if recent, in oxycrate; or, if chronic, in the decoction of comfrey. In cases of flatulence, tormina, or cæliac affections, it is to be taken in the morning, to the size of an Egyptian bean, in hot water. It excites an intense appetite, and removes rigors, coldness, and vomiting of bile when drunk before the attack. It promotes menstruation, and expels the fœtus when dead, if drunk to the size of an Egyptian nut with honeyed water, or sweet wine, in which rue or dittany has been boiled. In the case of loss of voice, it is drunk alone, and with double the quantity of tragacanth in wine and honey, or sweet wine, being retained under the tongue and allowed to melt. For diseases of the spleen or liver, it is given with oxycrate; but if they are in a scirrhous state, with a cyathus and a half of oxymel, or vinegar of squills. For nephritic complaints, it is given with oxymel to the size of an Egyptian bean. In dysenteric cases it is given to the same amount, with the decoction of sumach, morning and evening. For dimness of vision it answers excellently thus: Mix oz. ij of the antidote, and of opobalsam, with one cyathus of honey, and after a little anoint with it. It is also used as a dentifrice. Many, for the sake of prophylaxis, take it at new moon to the size of a Grecian bean, after digestion, with a cochleare of honey and two cyathi of water. In like manner they use it when upon a journey they suspect that the air or water is bad.
Theriac salts. Take four female vipers recently caught; and then putting into a mortar one Italian modius of ammoniac or common salt, pound into thick pieces, along with it, of gentian, lb. iss; of round birthwort, lb. iss; of the hair of the small centaury, lb. ij; of cardamom, of horehound, of each, oz. vj; of water germander, of parsley, of Cretan germander, of each, lb. j; of the seed of garden rue, sext. ij: unite these with a sufficient quantity of Attic honey, and throwing the half of them into a new pot, and then the four vipers alive, add to them fresh tender squills, cut into small pieces, and then join to them the remaining half of the mixture formerly mentioned. Then having covered up the pot carefully, make three or four perforations in its lid to allow the vapour to escape, that it may indicate to you the progress of the operation of roasting. At first much smoke will be seen issuing, fuliginous and very turbid, indicating that the fire is acting upon the animals. You must then take care lest you inhale any of this smoke, which is infected with the exhalation from the vipers. When this vapour has ceased, you may see a fine flame issuing through the holes, by which you may know that they are properly roasted. Then having removed the pot from the fire, and allowed it to cool for a whole day and night, take out the ashes, pound them carefully, and sift them along with these mixtures: of the seed of wild rue, of Cretan hyssop, of each, oz. ix; of the seed of fennel, of Celtic nard, of Scythian base horehound, of each, oz. vj; of Macedonian stone-parsley, of Indian leaf, of each, oz. iv; of amomum, of grapes, of the seed of horminum toasted, of each, oz. iij; of the shoots of marjoram, of the shoots of thyme, of each, oz. ij; of juniper berries, of white and of long pepper, of each, lb. j; of the root of laserwort, oz. x; of coriander seed, of ginger not perforated, of the seed or root of satyrium, of pennyroyal, of the seseli of Marseilles, of mint, of each, oz. vj; of cassia fistula, oz. ij; of cinnamon, oz. j. I, however, have made the preparation, so that I did not burn the animals, but mixed the trochisks from them, as related under the theriac, with those things which are burnt along with the vipers, that the bitterness which they have in them may be laid aside during the burning. I added just such a proportion of the trochisks as I conjectured to agree with the contents of the four vipers. And truly in this way they turned out excellent.
The Mithridatic antidote from scinks. Of troglodytic myrrh, of ginger, of cinnamon, of each, dr. x; of spikenard, of frankincense, of shepherd’s pouch, of opobalsam, of schœnanth, of costus, of cassidony, of seseli, of galbanum, of turpentine, of long pepper, of castor, of hypocistis juice, of storax, of the leaves of malabathrum, of each, dr. iv; of black cassia, of poley, of white pepper, of water germander, of carrot-seed, of carpobalsam, of cyphi, of bdellium, of Celtic nard, of gum, of stone-parsley, of opium, of cardamom, of the seeds of fennel, of gentian, of rose-leaves, of each, dr. viij; of dittany, of anise, of sweet flag, of valerian, of each, dr. iij; of Athamantic spignel, of acacia, of the belly of a scink, of the seed of St. John’s wort, of each, dr. iss; of wine and honey, q. s. Prepare it in like manner as the theriac. Galen says, that it applies to the same cases as the theriac, with the exception of those who have been bitten by the viper, for there the theriac is more efficacious.
The antidote from different kinds of blood being a remedy against all venomous animals and deadly poisons. Of white and long pepper, of costus, of sweet flag, of valerian, of anise, of Cretan dittany, of each, dr. ij; of amomum, of opobalsam, of the seed of wild rue, of the seed of fennel, of Ethiopian cumin, of dill, of the dried blood of a male duck, of the blood of a kid, of the blood of a goose, of the blood of a female duck, of the seed of the wild rape, of each, dr. iij; of gentian root, of trefoil, of the schœnanth, of frankincense, of dried roses, of each, dr. iv; of cinnamon, dr. ij; of water germander, dr. viij; of stone-parsley, of poley, of myrrh, of nard, of each, dr. vj; of cassia, dr. iij; of Cyrenaic juice, dr. iij; of cassidony, dr. v; of asarabacca, dr. ij; of ammoniac perfume, dr. iij; of Athamantic spignel, dr. ij; of agaric, dr. ij; of carpobalsam, gr. xx; of boiled honey, q. s.
Simple oxymel. Of the most acrid white vinegar, sextar. j; of water, sextar. ij; of honey, sextar. j; boil to the consistence of the most liquid honey, despumating the honey.
The vinegar of squills. Of white squills cut into pieces, dried in the shade for forty days, and again cleaned, one mina; of good vinegar, sextar. xij. Put them into a vessel, cover it up, and allow to remain in the sun for sixty days; after which the squill is to be expressed and thrown away, and the strained vinegar laid up in a vessel. Some add one mina of squills to sextar. vj; others add the same quantity of green squills to the vinegar, and allow them to remain in the vessel six months; and it becomes more penetrative. It is applicable for defluxions of the mouth, as a gargle, and when drunk, for many internal affections, excepting when there is ulceration, and for many other purposes.
The oxymel of squills. Of the internal tender parts of squills, lb. ij; of strong white vinegar, sext. xv; of pepper, of Macedonian stone-parsley, of each, dr. ij; of Cretan carrot, of bishop’s weed, of anise, of Celtic nard, of lovage, of asarabacca, of cardamom, of spikenard, of amomum, of rha Ponticum, of each, oz. ss; of the seed of fennel, of cumin, of laserwort, of ginger, of pellitory, of Cretan hyssop, of costus, of pennyroyal, of each, oz. j; of green mint, one fasciculus; of green rue, five branches; of Attic honey, one sextarius; of rob, sext. ij; of green parsley, one fasciculus. Put the white inner parts of the squills bruised into the vinegar, and allow it to macerate seven days during the heat of the dog-days: then taking out the squills, which, if dried, are to be pounded, but if green, not pounded, add to the vinegar, and again, after seven days, having strained all, add the honey and rob to the vinegar, and having boiled to a proper consistence, lay them up in a glass vessel. This remedy is to be taken as a potion before food, or along with food for a sauce. It is much used.
Galen’s medicine from squills, answering particularly with epileptics. Having broken down squills with your hands into small pieces, put into a vessel used for containing honey, and having covered it up properly, put it in a place exposed to the midday during the heat of the dog-star; forty days after the rising of the dog-star loose it, and you will find that the body of the squill is melted down. Taking, then, its juice, sweeten it with some very fine honey, and give every day a spoonful of it, if to children, a small one, but if to adults, a large one. But triturate the body of the squill itself with honey and give a spoonful of it. It is inferior in power to the juice.
The antidote of Philo. Of white pepper, dr. xx; of hyoscyamus, dr. xx; of the juice of poppies, dr. x; of saffron, dr. v; of pellitory, of euphorbium, of spikenard, of each dr. j; of Attic or any other fine, well-boiled honey, q. s. Give to adults the size of a filbert, to smaller persons, that of a bean, and to children, the size of a chick-pea. It is an excellent anodyne and soporific medicine.
The Athanasian anodyne and pleuritic antidote, from Oribasius. Of cassia, dr. viij; of spikenard, of amomum, of saffron, of opium, of storax, of myrrh, of costus, of each, dr. iv; of despumated honey, q. s. The dose the same as that of the antidote of Philo.
The antidote from two peppers of similar powers. Of cardamom, of castor, of opium, of each, dr. iij; of myrrh, of costus, of white and of long pepper, of galbanum, of each, dr. iij; of saffron, dr. iij. Mix with well-boiled honey, and give to the size of a bean.
The antidote from poppy-heads and rob. Having macerated, in a sextarius of rob, eight or ten green, but not watery heads of poppy the day after they are gathered, and an ounce of liquorice for one day, boil until they are dissolved; and after they have acquired a moderate consistence, take from the fire, and put into a vessel, and use in the case of watchfulness, accompanied with fever, and when there is a thin defluxion from the head upon the chest.
The antidote from poppy-heads and honey. Boil the poppy-heads, as mentioned above, and the ounce of liquorice in oz. j of rain-water or spring-water until dissolved; and having squeezed it out, add to the decoction half a sextarius of honey and boil until it acquire consistence. Give it in those cases which, along with a mitigation of pain and the production of sleep, require purgative and detergent medicines, for the parts within the thorax, or about the lungs and kidneys.
The compound antidote from poppy-heads. Take of the water in which poppy-heads have been boiled, according to the above-mentioned proportion, sext. j; of sweet wine, two heminæ; of honey, lb. j; of saffron, of the juice of hypocistis, of each, dr. iv; boil to a proper consistence. That which is prepared from honey, poppy-heads, and quinces is more grateful to the stomach. It becomes more efficacious if along with the poppy-heads some melilot and liquorice be also boiled in the water.
A simple linctus or lohock from horehound, principally for consumptions. Boil a pound of the hair of horehound in six heminæ of water until but a third remain; then throw away the herb, and adding to the water an equal quantity of honey, boil to the consistence of honey, and give one cochleare (spoonful).
A compound lohock from horehound. Of the hairy parts of horehound, of Illyrian iris, of hyssop, of pennyroyal, of liquorice, of parsley, of each, oz. ij; of fatty dried figs, oz iij; of the kernels of the pine containing rosin, oz. iij; bruise the dry things into large pieces, and macerate with the figs in sextar. iij of water, and boil to a third part. Then having strained the water, add of honey, lb. ij, and boil to the consistence of honey.
The lohock from tares. Of bitter almonds, oz. ij; of the flour of tares, oz. iv; of hyssop, oz. iv; of iris, oz. ss; of toasted pine-nuts, oz. ij; of honey, sextar. j, or q. s.
The lohock called Dodecatheon. Of Illyrian iris, oz. iv; of tares, oz. iv; of hyssop, oz. ij; of nettle-seed, oz. ij; of liquorice, oz. ij; of fenugreek, oz. ij; of the bulbi, oz. iv; of toasted linseed, oz. iv; of gith, scr. xviij; of pennyroyal, scr. viij; of toasted pine-nuts, oz. ij; of pepper, scr. vj; of honey, q. s.
The antidote Sotira. Of spikenard, scr. xxxix; of myrrh, scr. xxvij; of saffron, scr. xxxvij; of castor, scr. xxxix; of opium, scr. xxxvj; of stone-parsley, scr. xlv; of anise, scr. ix; of parsley, scr. vij; of the schœnanth, scr. xxxvj; of cassia, scr. xij; of long pepper, scr. xij; of the seed of sinon, scr. vj; of storax, scr. xviij; of amomum, scr. xij; of seseli, scr. xij; of hedychroum, scr. xviij; of costus, scr. xviij; of asarabacca, scr. xviij; of honey, q. s.
The cough medicine from storax. Of amomum, of cassia, of each, oz. ij; of storax, of spikenard, of each, oz. iss; of saffron, of white pepper, of each oz. j; of honey, sext. j; give a spoonful.
The medicine of Philoxenus for empyema and chronic defluxions. Of turpentine, dr. xxviij; of nard, dr. xvj; of the oil of myrrh, dr. vj; of cardamom, of the bulbi, dr. vj; of saffron, dr. xij; of galbanum, dr. xvj; bitter almonds, lxxx; of honey, a hemina. It is given in water to drink to the size of an Egyptian bean.
The much-used antidote of Esdra; it is very desiccative. Of amomum, scr. vj; of saffron, scr. xviij; of the seed of carrot, scr. iss; of the seed of fennel, scr. iij; of cassia, scr. iss; of schœnanth, scr. iiiss; of cinnamon, scr. iij; of the juice of hypocistis, scr. ivss; of sulphur, scr. v; of poppy-seeds, scr. v; of pellitory, scr. iij; of stone-parsley, scr. iss; of Illyrian iris, scr. vijss; of the seeds of henbane, gr. xiijss; of spikenard, scr. vijss; of the seeds of rue, scr. iss; of dill, scr. iij; of cardamom, scr. iij; of dried roses, scr. ivss; of the flower of nerium (it is, as it were, the flower-cup from which the rose of the rose-bay emerges), and of the rose of it, of each, scr. iij; of Pontic rhubarb, scr. vj; of gentian, scr. vj; of hedychroum, scr. iss; of tragacanth, scr. xv; of buckthorn, scr. vj; of the leaves of citron, scr. vj; of the seed of basil, scr. iss; of anise, scr. iij; of euphorbium, scr. iij; of Indian leaf, scr. ij; of Celtic nard, scr. vj; of spignel, scr. iij; of costus, of myrrh, of each, scr. vj; of bdellium, scr. xvj; of the juice of southernwood, scr. xiij; of Syriac sumach, scr. xxvss; of asarabacca, of the belly of a cormorant, of the jasper-stone, of each, scr. iij; of pepper, scr. xv; of castor, scr. iss; of Cimolian earth, scr. vj; of sison (bishop’s weed?), scr. ix; of storax, scr. ix; of opobalsam, scr. xij; of the herb seseli, scr. iss; of honey, oz. xxviij; of wine, q. s.
The medicine from the flesh of quinces. Three pounds of clean quinces are boiled in three sextarii of old wine, then pounded, and there is added to them, of pepper, of anise, of lovage, of each, when triturated, oz. j. Some also add, of ginger, oz. ss; and others, instead of the wine, use vinegar.
The medicine from the juice of quinces of approved efficacy for anorexia and dyspepsia. Of the juice of ripe quinces, sext. ij; of fine honey, sext. ij; of vinegar, sext. j; of ginger, oz. iij; of white pepper, oz. ij: boil to a proper consistence. Galen prepares it for those affected with cold. But, he says, when bile prevails, prepare it without the pepper and ginger.
The preparation of a tablet from quinces. Six pounds of clean quinces are boiled in wine until they become soft. Then being strained and triturated, some add, of honey, lb. viij, and boil at a slow fire, stirring with a piece of reed until the whole will not stain the hand; and then they add the following things bruised: of pepper, oz. iij; of anise, oz. iij; of stone-parsley, oz. j. Some also add of ginger, oz. j, and of mastich, oz. j. When mixed, they are formed into cakes of half an ounce each, and are composed along with bay-leaves.
Another medicine from quinces, having the pieces bruised, but entire. Of clean quinces cut into pieces, lb. viij are boiled in sext. viij of wine moderately, so that they may not be dissolved. Then there are mixed with them of despumated honey, lb. viij; of pepper, oz. viij; of stone-parsley, of anise, of each, oz. iij; of ginger, oz. v; of spikenard, oz. iss; of cloves, oz. j. When all these things are pounded and moderately boiled to the consistence of broth, take them off, and having cooled it, add the pieces of quinces to the broth.
The antidote from three peppers. Of common, of white, and of long pepper, of each, dr. vij; of ginger, of anise, of thyme-tops, dr. ij; of honey, q. s.
Another, of Oribasius. Of white pepper, oz. ij; of black and of long pepper, of spikenard, of cinnamon, of bishop’s weed, of walnut, of hyssop, of seseli, of carrot, of stone-parsley, of each, oz. j; of ginger, dr. iv; of honey, lb. iij.
Another. Of common pepper, oz. iij; of white pepper, oz. j; of long, oz. j; of stone-parsley, of cinnamon (or double the quantity of cassia), of ginger, of each, oz. j; of honey, oz. xxj, or q. s.; and have also mixed of the corymbi of thyme, oz. j.
The diospolites. Of cumin, which has been macerated in water and toasted, oz. j; of pepper, of ginger, of each, oz. ij; of green rue, oz. iss; of natron, dr. iiss. Mix with honey.
The medicine from calamint. Of stone-parsley, of penny-royal, of seseli, of calamint, of each, oz. iij; of parsley-seed, oz. j; of the corymbi of thyme, oz. j; of lovage, oz. iv; of pepper, dr. xij; of honey, q. s.
The medicine from citron, for those of slow digestion. Of vinegar, heminæ iij; of the flesh of citron, lb. j; of hyssop, of rue, of origany, of each, a fasciculus; having been allowed to macerate for a night and a day in the vinegar, they are to be boiled to a third, and being expressed, are to be thrown away. But with the vinegar is mixed of honey, sext. j; and then it is to be boiled to the consistence of honey. When it acquires consistence, there is to be added to it, of asarabacca, of spignel, of white pepper, of each, oz. ij. The dose is a spoonful in the morning and at bedtime.
The picra of Galen. Of aloes, dr. c; of xylobalsam, of mastich, of saffron, of spikenard, of asarabacca, of cinnamon, of each, dr. vj; some add also, of schœnanth and of cassia, of each, dr. vj. Give dr. j in hydromel.
The picra from oxymel for stomach complaints, colics, affections of the uterus, and dropsy. Of aloes, oz. iv; of Indian leaf, oz. ij; of costus, of cassia, of amomum, of iris, of each, dr. j; of the bark of the root of fennel, lb. j; of mastich, of Celtic nard, of ginger, of each, dr. j; of pepper, dr. j; of spignel, dr. j; of vinegar, sext. iss; of honey, sext. iss. The fennel being first boiled in the vinegar is thrown away, then the honey is added, and after boiling to the consistence of honey, the other things are sprinkled in powder.
An excellent composition from the liver of a wolf. Of gentian, of ground-pine, of stone-parsley, of horehound, of the gall of a bear, of mustard, of ceterach, of the root of panax, of rubrica, of madder, of cabbage-seed, of long birthwort, of white pepper, of spikenard, of costus, of the seed of rocket, of the seed of eryngo, of poley, of viper’s bugloss, of hemp-agrimony, of juniper-berries, of the liver of a wolf, of elecampane, equal parts. Mix with well-boiled honey. The dose is the size of a filbert, with boiled wine and honey.
The antidote Theodoretus with anacardia. Of anacardia, oz. iss; of saffron, of cassia, of Indian leaf, of spikenard, of cloves, of spignel, of agaric, of schœnanth, of Pontic rhubarb, of dodder of thyme, of each, dr. iv; of sweet-flag, of pepper, of each, oz. iss; of aloes, oz. iij; of saxifrage, of mastich, of Illyrian iris, of each, oz. iss; of nutben, oz. j; of honey, lb. vj, or q. s.
The Theodoretus without anacardia. Of aloes, dr. lx; of agaric, dr. xxiv; of saffron, of cassia, of Pontic rhubarb, of sweet-flag, of cinnamon, of mastich, of each, dr. x; of costus, of the seed of rue, of white pepper, of each, dr. viij; of spikenard, dr. iij; of xylobalsam, of asarabacca, of germander, of spignel, of each, dr. iv; of honey, q. s. Some here add two anacardia. The dose is dr. ij, with honeyed water.
The cyphoides for hepatic affections and complaints in the chest. Of the flesh of dried grape, dr. xxv; of saffron, dr. j; of calamus, dr. ij; of bdellium, dr. iiss; of cassia, dr. iss; of cinnamon, three oboli; of nard, three oboli; of sweet rush, dr. ij; of myrrh, dr. iv; of turpentine, dr. iv; of the scrapings of aspalathus, twelve oboli; of honey, dr. xvj; of wine, q. s.
Another cyphoides, of Alexander. Of saffron, of cinnamon, of bdellium, of each, dr. iv; of myrrh, of calamus, of each, dr. ij; of bitumen, of schœnanth, of each, dr. iij; of cassia, of nard, of each, dr. j; of turpentine, dr. xvj; of the flesh of dried grapes, dr. clx; of honey, hemin. iss; of Chian wine, q. s.
An hepatic medicine from cacanus. Of cacanus, oz. j; of costus, oz. j; of Indian leaf, scr. viij; of white pepper, scr. vj; of spikenard, scr. vj; of honey, q. s. Give a spoonful with hippocras.
The Zopyrius. Of myrrh, dr. v; of saffron, of cassia, of each, dr. iv; of cinnamon, dr. iij; of spikenard, dr. ij; of schœnanth, dr. ij; of white pepper, dr. iss; of frankincense, dr. j; of costus, dr. j; of honey, q. s.
The Pæonian antidote. Of the styrax calamite, dr. vj; of frankincense, of amomum, of saffron, of each, oz. iss; of spikenard, dr. vj; of Indian leaf, dr. ij; of white pepper, dr. vj; and of common, dr. viij; of myrrh, oz. j; of costus, oz. j; of honey, q. s.
The hepatic pills, of Dositheus. Of aloes, oz. j; of spikenard, of Indian leaf, of costus, scr. ij; of agaric, scr. viij; of mastich, scr. xiij; of dodder of thyme, dr. iv; of Pontic rhubarb, scr. j.
The splenic oxymel. Of the bark of the root of capers, of scolopendrium, of spikenard, of asarabacca, of iris, of schœnanth, of the flower of cyperus, of anise, of cumin, of fennel, of sweetflag, of the fruit of heath, of each, oz. j; of the leaves of tamarisk, of the leaves of willow, of the root of parsley, of the frankincense tree, of squills, of each, oz. ij; of vinegar, sextar. iij; of honey, sext. iij; of ammoniac perfume, oz. iij. Prepare like that from squills. Give two spoonfuls.
An oxymel for calculous complaints. Of saxifrage, of bettony, of couch-grass, of maiden-hair, of spikenard, of carpesium, of asarabacca, of eryngo, of each, oz. j; of Macedonian stone-parsley, of the seed of rue, of each, oz. ss; of green fennel, of iris, of baked squills, of knee-holly (chamædaphne), of each, oz. ij; of the bark of the root of capers, oz. iij; of water-parsnip, oz. ij; of water, of vinegar, of honey, of each, sext. ij.
The lithontriptic posca. Of pennyroyal, of mastich, of parsley-seed, of dried mint, of each, oz. j; of common salt toasted, lb. j; of coriander-seed, of spikenard, of anise, of bishop’s weed, of each, scr. vj; of Indian leaf, scr. iv; of white pepper, oz. ss, (or of common oz. j); of the seed of gromwell, oz. vj; of bettony, oz. vj; of fine vinegar, sext. v. When all are pounded, sifted, and triturated very fine, let them be mixed with vinegar for three days, and exposed in the sun for forty days. At the time of using, having made a decoction of black chick-peas, and of the root of asparagus, and of maiden-hair, and of parsley, add, for the sake of temperament, of vinegar hemin. ij, and let the patient drink it in the hot bath. Some give scr. xij of the afore-mentioned things, in powder with oxycrate mixed with the decoction of the afore-mentioned herbs; and the medicine is no less efficacious.
A lithontriptic hippocras. Of white pepper, of saxifrage, of spikenard, of gromwell, of bettony, of each, oz. j; of stone-parsley, of Indian leaf, of each, oz. iss; of the seed of wild rue, oz. ss; of honey, sext. j; of Ascolonitic wine, sext. xvj.
The medicine from the blood of the buck-goat. When the grape begins to ripen, take the blood of a full-grown buck-goat, and having dried it in the sun, give to persons affected with calculi two spoonfuls of it with Cretan must. Some also mix, of amomum, of Indian leaf, of each, oz. iij; and others of myrrh, scr. iv.
The nephritic composition from cicadæ. Of gromwell, of the garfish burned, of seseli, of each, oz. j; of bishop’s weed, of the seed of the garden cucumber, of common saxifrage, of grapes without their stones, of the seed of marsh-mallows, of the white fasil, of lyncurium, of each, oz. ss; of spikenard, of valerian, of spignel, of the stones from sponges, of each, dr. j; of maidenhair, of the seed within the Christ’s thorn, of water-parsnip, of the root of brambles, of couch-grass, of polypody, of each, dr. iij; of goat’s blood dried, as described, scr. vj; of dried cicadæ, without the head, wings, and feet, oz. iv; of white pepper, dr. vj; of boiled honey, q. s. The dose is the size of a filbert in hippocras, or the decoction of caltrops, or of saxifrage, or of sinon, or of the root of asparagus, or of couch-grass, or of cinquefoil, or of the root of fullers-herb.
The antidote from gromwell. Of gromwell, of betony, of saxifrage, of stone-parsley, of white pepper, equal parts. Mix with honey.
The antidote from the seed of leeks. Of white and of black pepper, of Cretan carrot, of the seed of the garden cucumber, of the seed of fennel, of the seed of leeks, of Macedonian stone-parsley, of pellitory, of ginger, of the Indian leaf, of each, oz. j; of honey, q. s.
The antidote from tecolithos, or lapis Judaicus. Of spikenard, of hyssop, of lapis Judaicus, of each, scr. viij; of pepper, scr. xij; of ginger, of stone-parsley, of costus, of saxifrage, of each, scr. vj; of cassia, of parsley-seed, of each, scr. iij; of cyperus, scr. vj; of the scrapings of ivory, scr. iv; of the wood of cardamom, scr. vj; of gromwell, scr. iv; of honey, q. s.
The antidote from the seed of the wild mallow. Of the seed of the garden cucumber, dr. xij; of the seed of henbane, dr. vj; of the seed of hemlock, dr. iij (but some use vj); of opium, of fennel, of the seed of the wild mallow, of saffron, of each, dr. iij; of parsley-seed, dr. vj; of cassia, dr. iv; almonds, x; walnuts, x; filberts, x; of asarabacca, dr. iv; mix with Cretan must, and give three oboli, if the patient be free from fever, with rob. But some mix it with honey.
A nephritic medicine from dessert-fruits, for ulceration of the bladder and kidneys. Of the white grape, deprived of its stones, of fresh pine-nuts, of each, oz. ij; of the seed of cucumber, stripped of its bark; of myrtles deprived of their bones; of bitter almonds, of fatty dates, of parsley-seed, of poppy-seed, of saffron, of each, dr. j; of myrrh, oz. ij. Give a drachm of it in must to the patient, fasting.
The satyriac antidote. Of ginger, of the superior satyrion (herb dogs-tooth?), of each, dr. viij, of the tail of a scink, of spignel, of asarabacca, of stone-parsley, of cardamom, of seseli, of each, dr. iv; of the seed of rocket, of cinnamon, of each, dr. iij; of all-good (horminum), of white pepper, of the seed of bastard saffron, of each, dr. ij; of the schœnanth, of spikenard, of each, dr. j, of goat’s blood, a mystrum (spoonful). A drachm is given with wine, but to those who are weaker, with milk.
Pills from xylomacer for dysenteries. Of xylomacer, of opium, of Pontic rhubarb, of each, scr. vj; of gall, of myrrh, of each, oz. j; mix with palm wine.
Remedies for the gout. The antidote from corallium. Of rheum barbarum, of pæony, of troglodytic myrrh, of spikenard, of each, oz. ij; of Indian leaf, oz. j; of cloves, gr. xv, of the pimpernel having the purple flower which they call corallium, oz. ss; of long birthworth, oz. iv, and of round, oz. vj. One scruple is to be given as a dose every day to the patient, when digestion is accomplished. We must begin at the autumnal equinox, which is about the 24th of the month of September; and it is to be taken regularly for fifty days, and then interrupted for fifteen days; and this is to be done until the whole 365 days be completed. It is to be given up during the whole of the dog-days, that is, from the 24th of June to the end of August. The patient must abstain from venery, from flesh, particularly that of swine, and from pickle, sauce, beet, carrot, mint, and from boiled lettuces and pompions; from fishes, as the mullet, gomphi (gobii?), mollusca, and the testacea; from all the legumes, and in short from all things which furnish a thick chyme, and from black wine, and from much wine of any kind. He is to bathe every day, and take exercise either on foot or on horseback, or in a vehicle. Those who are of a drier habit have not been injured by a less restricted diet.
The podagric antidote of Agapetus. Of Indian leaf, of rheum barbarum, of saffron, of spikenard, of troglodytic myrrh, of costus, of germander, of each, oz. ij; of hepatic aloes, oz. v; of St. John’s wort, of pæony, of each, oz. iij; of long birthwort, of valerian, of spignel, of vervain mallow, of pimpernel, of each, oz. iv. The mode of using it is the same as that of corallium.
The podagric remedy, called atactos. Of Indian leaf, of spignel, of vervain mallow, of the pimpernel having the blue flower, of madder, of mastich, of saffron, of cassia, of hepatic aloes, of gentian, of germander, of each, oz. j; of cloves, of white and of black pepper, of each, oz. ss; of spikenard, of myrrh, of rheum barbarum, of the root of pæony, of the long birthwort, and of the round, of each, oz. ij. To be used in like manner.
The podagric antidote of Proclus, answering also with ischiatic disease. Of germander, oz. ix; of centaury, oz. viij; of birthwort, oz. vij; of gentian, oz. vj; of St. John’s wort, oz. v; of Macedonian stone-parsley, oz. iv; of spignel, oz. iij; of agaric, oz. ij; of valerian, oz. j; of Attic honey, two heminæ.
The composition from seven ingredients for the same purposes. Of St. John’s wort, of long birthwort, of each, oz. j; of centaury, of ground pine, of agaric, of each, oz. iij; of germander, oz. vj; of gentian, oz. v. Some add likewise, of stone-parsley, oz. j; of honey, dr. v. The dose is dr. j.
Commentary. Celsus thus defines the nature of antidotes: “Antidota raro, sed præcipue interdum necessaria sunt, quia gravisismis casibus opitulantur. Ea recte quidem dantur collisis corporibus vel per ictus, vel ubi ex alto deciderunt, vel in viscerum, laterum, faucium, interiorumque partium doloribus; maxime autem desideranda sunt adversus venena, vel per morsus, vel per cibos, aut potiones nostris corporibus inserta.” He gives prescriptions for three antidotes. They consist principally of stimulant and aromatic medicines, mixed with honey and wine. (v, 23.)
Most of the antidotes treated of in this chapter are copied from Galen’s work ‘De Antidotis,’ but our author, in many instances, has used the liberty to introduce various alterations, either with the view of simplifying or improving upon the formulæ of Galen. Mesue also treats fully of antidotes in his work, ‘De Electariis,’ wherein he substitutes a considerable number of Arabic articles for those used by the Greeks. Serapion describes these compositions with extreme prolixity. (Tract. vii.) But what shall we say of Myrepsus, who gives prescriptions for 511 antidotes? Of these, and such like multifarious compositions, it would be idle to attempt any general analysis, and therefore we shall pass by all the articles treated of in this chapter unnoticed, with the exception of the Theriac, which was so celebrated in the records of ancient medicine, that we think ourselves called upon to give some further account of it. Galen devotes two distinct treatises to the consideration of the celebrated theriac from vipers, besides giving a general description of it in his work on antidotes. Our author’s account of it is merely an abridgment of his. Galen mentions that Mithridates, king of Pontus, had, by repeated experiments upon condemned malefactors, acquired a most thorough knowledge of the proper antidotes for almost every venomous reptile and poisonous substance, and hence he constructed the composition bearing his name, which was long esteemed as a general antidote to deleterious substances. From it Andromachus, the chief physician to the emperor Nero, formed his famous theriac, having added the flesh of vipers, and otherwise altered some of the ingredients in the theriac of Mithridates. The prescription for it was translated into verse by Damocrates, and the poem, consisting of 174 lines, is preserved in Galen’s work, ‘De Antidotis.’ As stated by Galen, it was composed of inspissated juices, liquid juices, barks, roots, flowers, seeds, and fleshes. Of the vegetable substances which entered into the composition of it, it is difficult to remark any one general character, although one can have no difficulty in perceiving that by far the greater number of them are hot, volatile stimulants, which, agreeably to the ancient views of practice, as explained by us in the [Fifth Book], were supposed to counteract the frigidity of poisons. It was, no doubt, with the same intention that Andromachus added the flesh of vipers, from which, as a modern author, Moses Charras, remarks, a volatile salt and oil are procured. In preparing the vipers, Galen directs us to cut off the head and tail to the extent of four fingers’ breadth, and then to take out their entrails and fat, and boil them until the backbone be separated from the flesh, when the latter is to be taken out and formed into trochisks, with crumb of bread. We need not occupy time with detailing all the other steps in the formation of this multifarious composition, as our author’s account is sufficiently ample and accurate. Galen expresses great confidence in it, especially as an antidote to poisons, and a remedy for inveterate diseases of the skin, such as leprosy and elephantiasis. It derives its name, he says, either from its being used as a remedy for the stings of venomous animals (θήρια), or because the flesh of such a reptile, namely, the viper, entered into the composition of it.
The Greek authorities subsequent to Galen repeat his directions for forming this celebrated medicine, and any alterations which they make in it are not very important. The Rheum barbarum instead of the Rhâ Ponticum appears in the prescription given by Myrepsus. Like his predecessors, he praises the theriac not only as an antidote to poisons, but as a preservative from pestilential diseases. Actuarius, who describes it very accurately, pronounces it to be the best of all the antidotes.
Averrhoes’s treatise on the theriac is interesting and worth consulting, although his views are upon the whole much in accordance with those of Galen. He seems to have referred its action as a medicine to its power in rousing the vital heat of the system; and hence he very properly forbids it to be administered in all cases of an inflammatory and bilious nature. He therefore condemns the use of it in pleurisy unless when the pain is dull and chronic. He says, it ought not to be given in cases of difficult parturition, unless when it is wished to rouse the expulsive faculty, or when the fœtus is dead. According to his account, the composition has not arrived at perfection, when it is four years old, and it retains its powers until after forty years.
Haly Abbas sums up the medicinal properties of the theriac with stating that it dries the natural humidity, strengthens the viscera, cleanses the organs of food and respiration, and expels superfluities from the brain. Hence he pronounces it to be a remedy for all the diseases which attack the human body. (Pract. x, 4.)
Serapion describes the following methods of trying whether the theriac be good: 1st. Give of it to the amount of a drachm to a person who has taken a powerful emetic or cathartic, such as white hellebore or scammony, and if it counteract the effect of the medicine that has been taken, we know that it is genuine. 2d. As Galen directs, having got a wild cock, allow it to be stung by a venomous reptile, and then give it a proper dose of the theriac. If the fowl escape unhurt we are sure that the medicine is good; but if he die we know that it is not to be depended upon. 3d. Give a poisonous substance, such as opium, to a cock or a dog, and then administer the theriac, the powers of which may be judged of from the result.
Moses Charras, who published ‘The Royal Pharmacopœia’ about the end of the seventeenth century, thus enumerates the medicinal uses of the theriac of Andromachus: “Treacle being composed of a great quantity of hot medicaments, ought to be very much esteemed for the cure of cold diseases, and of all those where the natural heat is feeble and languishing, especially, among the rest, of palsies, epilepsies, convulsions, and all cold diseases of the head. It is proper against all weaknesses and want of retention in the stomach and intestines; against the diarrhœa, dysentery, lientery, morbus cholera, and all sort of colics; against agues, and particularly the quartan; against the worms; against all sorts of poison, the pestilence, smallpox, the measles, and all epidemic diseases; against the biting of mad dogs and all sorts of venomous animals; against want of sleep, and griping pains in children; against hysteric passions, the jaundice, and an infinite sort of other diseases.” (P. i, c. 20.)
This famous medicine was expelled from the ‘British Pharmacopœia’ about the middle of the last century. When its rejection was proposed by Dr. Heberden, the College divided upon the question, and there were found to be 13 votes for retaining, and 14 for rejecting it. Its medicinal virtues had been previously questioned by Capivaccius, Trincavallius, and Julius Alexandrinus. It is still retained, however, in the ‘Codex Medicamentarius’ of Paris; and, we understand, is much used by the Greek physicians in Constantinople. A formula for a theriac is contained in the Greek Pharmacopœia of the present day. Although it still retains the name of “Theriaca Andromachi,” it consists of but a very small number of ingredients in comparison with the original preparation. Dr. Mead says of it, “The physicians in Italy and France very commonly prescribe the broth and jelly of viper’s flesh to invigorate and purify the mass of blood exhausted with diseases or tainted with some vicious and obstinate ferment.” (On Poisons.) Upon the virtues of viper’s flesh, Duemerbroeck expresses himself in the following terms: “Carnes viperinas ac serpentinas adversus multa venena eximiam antidotalem vim obtinere adeo notum est ut absolutè negari non possit, idque non tantum liquet ex Galeni testimoniis verum etiam ex quotidianâ experientiâ. Sic Hartmannus scribit se propriis oculis vidisse, a quodam experto medico tribus diebus continuis intra corpus gravissima quædam venena assumpta eademque paulo post sine ullâ noxâ, ab exhibito pulvere cum astantium admiratione iterum expulsa fuisse.” (De Peste, iii, 5.)