SECT. XVI.—ON COLLYRIA AND AGGLUTINATIVE APPLICATIONS.
The materials from which ophthalmic medicines are composed are various. For inspissated and liquid, seeds, fruits, the parts of herbs, and metals are ingredients in them. Of these, some sooth acrimonies, and are, as it were, obstruents, such as pompholyx, spodium, starch, lead, Samian aster, calamine, all washed substances, and the white of an egg. These are to be used after evacuation of the head, for if there should be plethora of it, there will be danger of the coats of the eyes being ruptured by distension. The opposite class of collyria being of an acrid nature, are deobstruents and evacuants of the humours permanently lodged there; such as the Cyrenaic and Median juices, sagapen, euphorbium, and the like. Some are detergents of foul ulcers, such as the squama æris, copper, chalcitis, misy, sori, the flowers of copper, and antimony burnt. Allied to these are those called abstergents, such as arsenic, sandarach, the flower of Asian stone. Some are astringent, and of these such as are moderately astringent are of extensive use for ophthalmies, ulcers, and defluxions, as the leaves, fruit, and flowers of roses, spikenard, Indian leaf, saffron, glaucium, and hypocistis. Those possessed of a stronger astringency are mixed with those remedies which are used for sharpening the sight, such as omphacium, acacia, the flowers of the wild and of the cultivated pomegranate, and galls. Some are concoctive and discutient, such as myrrh, saffron, castor, rosemary, and the juice of fenugreek. Of compound ophthalmic medicines, some are simply called plasta, some xerocollyria, and some hygrocollyria. The first class admit of all the materials formerly mentioned, and agree with all states. They are to be prepared most commonly in spring, for in summer their strength is apt to evaporate, and in winter the articles being constricted do not mix properly. They are to be rubbed with the addition of a fluid, but not in great quantity that the metallic parts may not subside, nor the aromatic float on the surface, but in small quantities, so that it may be rubbed until it is like the sordes of baths. Rain-water should be used, because it is finer and moderately astringent. But if not, those things are to be levigated and triturated with wine or some juice; the metallic substances for a longer time, and the juicy substances for a shorter. At last, after sufficient trituration, we must add the gum, and having formed them, lay them up in copper vessels especially, or in glass. Those prepared from juices are to be used immediately, but the metallic improve by keeping. Of the xerocollyria, some melt down, and absterge callus, sycosis, pterygium, and scabious affections, being composed of chalcitis, verdigris, and misy. Some occasion a discharge of tears, agreeing with obstructions and dimness of sight, and are composed of these things, pepper and spikenard. Some are prophylactics for preventing influxes, such as those from Phrygian stone, sarcocolla, glaucium, aloes, calamine, antimony, and saffron. All these medicines are to be applied to the eyes in a state of the finest powder. But the hygrocollyria are prepared from Attic honey, opobalsam, oil of the most subtile kind from age, the juice of fennel, the galls of different animals, the Cyrenaic juice, and many other things. Those things which are attenuant, calefacient, and purgative are useful for dimness of sight, and incipient suffusions. These and all acrid things are to be used when the head is free from plethora, and when the atmosphere is serene and pure, and the wind is northerly, and not very hot nor very cold. Those preparations called agglutinants are made from such things as are obstruent, agglutinative, constringent, refrigerant, styptic, or desiccative, such as pollen, manna, Samian earth, myrrh, shells, acacia, opium, with the white of an egg. They are glued to the forehead when the humour is not under the scalp, but external to it.
The collyrium monemeron for incipient and old ophthalmies. Of acacia, dr. xxxvj; of gum, dr. xxxij; of calamine, dr. xxiv; of burnt and washed copper, dr. viij; of opium, dr. j. Triturate in austere wine. It is discutient and desiccative.
The collyrium chiacum. Of sinopic vermilion, of the immature gall, of saffron, of the flower of fresh roses deprived of their nails (which we call the pouch), of gum, of each, oz. iv; of opium, oz. j. Triturate with Aminæan, Falernian, or Chian austere wine. But the wine must not contain salt water.
The collyrian cygnarium. Of calamine, burnt and washed, oz. vj; of washed ceruse, oz. iv; of pompholyx, oz. iv; of starch, oz. ij; of tragacanth, of roasted opium, of gum, of each, oz. ij. Triturate with rain-water.
The pale-coloured cygnus. Of calamine, burnt and washed, oz. ij; of terra aster, oz. ij; of ceruse, oz. iv; of pompholyx, oz. viij; of starch, oz. ij; of opium, oz. ij; of acacia, of tragacanth, of each, oz. j; of gum, oz. iv. Triturate with rain-water.
The white cygnus. Of calamine, oz. xv; of ceruse, oz. xvij; of opium, dr. viij; of frankincense, dr. vij; of starch, oz. vij; of gum, oz. xiij. Triturate with rain-water.
The collyrium pelarion for ulcers. Of calamine, of ceruse, of each, dr. xxiv; of acacia, of opium, of each, dr. xviij; of gum, of tragacanth, of starch, of each, dr. ix; of myrrh, dr. iij; of copper, of saffron, of each, dr. iss. Triturate with water.
The brown collyrium, for hypopium and great affections. Of tender calamine, dr. xxiv; of ceruse, dr. xvj; of scraped verdigris, dr. xij; of antimony, dr. viij; of fissile alum, dr. iij; of burnt chalcitis, dr. iij; of Indian nard, dr. iv; of the oil of unripe olives, dr. ij; of copper, dr. ij; of squama æris, dr. viij; of the fruit of heath, dr. xiij; of the juice of poppy, dr. xxiv; of saffron, dr. iv; of castor, dr. iij; of myrrh, dr. vj; of Indian buckthorn, of acacia, of gum, of each, dr. iv; of fresh roses, dr. iiss. Triturate with Falernian, Surentine, Aminæan, or Chian austere wine. It is rubbed in three times a day, in a watery state, being diluted with the juice of fenugreek, then the white of an egg or milk, and at last, with water, thicker.
The collyrium severianum. Of calamine, oz. vj; of ceruse, oz. xij; of tragacanth, oz. iij. Triturate with the juice of fenugreek. Having burnt the calamine, dissolve it in milk and then wash.
The collyrium from decoctions. Of calamine, oz. xvj; of ceruse, oz. viij; of starch, of opium, of tragacanth, of acacia, of each, oz. ij; of gum, oz. vj. Triturate with the decoction of dried roses, of melilots, of poppy, of poppy-heads, of liquorice, in equal parts.
The repellent collyrium, from hydria or water vessels. Of the sand found in copper vessels used for heating water, lb. iij; of calamine burnt and washed, lb. j; of washed ceruse, of washed pompholyx, of washed terra aster, of each, oz. vj; of frankincense, oz. j; of myrrh, oz. j; of the juice of linseed, of fleawort, of ptisan, of fenugreek, of each, lb. j; of tragacanth, oz. vj; of gum, lb. j.
The collyrium of Nilamon. Of calamine, oz. viij; of pompholyx, oz. iv: of ceruse, lb. j; of tragacanth, of gum, of opium, of each, oz. iv. Rain-water.
The collyrium spodiacon, for inflammations, defluxions, and chemoses. Of frankincense, of antimony, of each, dr. c; of calamine, of ceruse, of each, dr. xxiv; of Samian earth, of the juice of poppy, of each, dr. iij; of gum, dr. xv. Triturate with the juice of fresh olive leaves. Prepare the juice thus: having pounded in a mortar the more tender leaves of olive, washed, add a moderate quantity of water, and filtrate through a piece of linen rag.
The tender collyrium from olive leaves. Of frankincense, dr. iv; of antimony, dr. xv; of calamine, dr. xxviij; of ceruse, dr. xlix; of Samian earth, dr. xviij; of opium, dr. vj; of gum, dr. j; of lead, burnt and washed, dr. viij. Mix with the juice of green olive leaves.
The yellow collyrium from green olive leaves. Of burnt copper, dr. xij; of sandyx, oz. xxiv; of olive leaves, oz. ij; of opium, oz. ij; of gum, oz. x. Mix with palm wine, or Aminæan.
The Claudiac collyrium from myrrh. Of glaucium, of sarcocolla, of each, dr. xlviij; of saffron, dr. xxiv; of opium, of myrrh, of bloodstone, of each, dr. vi; of tragacanth, dr. xlviij; of gum, dr. xvj. Mix with Italian wine. To be used with an egg.
Another collyrium from myrrh, for fistula lachrymalis. Of calamine washed, of bloodstone washed, of each, dr. xxviij; of myrrh, of Cyprian spodium, of each, dr. xxiv; of opium, dr. viij; of saffron, dr. iv (but some use dr. viij); of white pepper, grs. xxx; of gum, dr. xvj. Mix with Italian wine. To be used with an egg, and in recent cases diluted with water.
The stacticon of Prosechius. Of calamine, of gum, of each, dr. xx; of antimony, of copperas, of each, dr. viij; of opium, dr. xiv; of scraped verdigris, dr. x; of white pepper, dr. vj; of saffron, dr. viij; of raw misy, dr. viij; of opobalsam, dr. iv. Water.
The hygidium of Ammonius. Of calamine, of copper, of each, dr. xvj; of ceruse, of castor, of aloes, of saffron, of each, dr. iv; of squama (æris?), dr. v; of the flower of roses, of burnt lead, of each, dr. viij; of buckthorn, dr. iij; of the stone schistos, dr. iv; of opium, dr. x; of acacia, dr. xj; of gum, dr. xlviij. Water.
The collyrium Olympus, or Olympiacum. Of acacia, of spikenard, of frankincence, of each, dr. viij; of copper, burnt and washed, of antimony, burnt and washed, of ceruse, burnt and washed, of calamine, of each, dr. xij; of myrrh, of roasted opium, of each, dr. iv; of saffron, dr. v; of scraped verdigris, dr. iij; of the stone schistos, of the red squama, of Indian buckthorn, of the oil of unripe grapes, of each, dr. j; of castor, of the flower of roses, of each, dr. ij; of palm-nuts, dr. iv; in like manner the bones of burnt palms, to the number of v; of gum, oz. v. Rain-water. Let there be soaked in water for three nights and days, of the aromatic reed, of the seed of henbane, of dried roses, of each, dr. iv; of Indian leaf, dr. j.
The collyrium of nard. Of calamine, of saffron, of gum, of each, dr. xxxvj; of burnt copper, dr. xviij; of antimony, of acacia, of each, dr. xxx; of Syriac nard, dr. xij; of opium, of myrrh, of each, dr. xvj. With water.
The small Theodotian collyrium. Of antimony, of acacia, of each, dr. xx; of burnt copper, dr. viij; of ceruse, dr. iv; of myrrh, dr. iv; of verdigris, dr. ij; of aloes, of meconium, of buckthorn, of each, dr. j. Rain-water.
The collyrium rhinarion. Of bloodstone, of the stone schistos, of each, dr. xvj; of burnt copper, of calamine, of verdigris, of each, dr. viij; of opium, dr. v; of chalcitis, dr. ij; of gum, dr. viij. In wine.
The collyrium xyster. Of burnt pumice-stone, of burnt misy, of burnt shells, of each, oz. vj; of calamine, of opium, of burnt chalcitis, of saffron, of hepatic aloes, of castor, of Indian leaf, of each, dr. ij; of antimony, of acacia, of each, oz. j; of burnt copper, oz. iv; of troglodytic myrrh, dr. iv; of spikenard, dr. j; of ceruse, dr. viij; of gum, dr. iv. Rain-water. Some also mix wine.
The hecatomb collyrium for thick cicatrices. Of calamine, burnt and washed, of copper, burnt and washed, of each, dr. viij; of antimony burnt, of the yellow acacia, of gum, of each, dr. xv; of aloes, of galls, of ærugo vermiculata, of castor, of buckthorn, of spikenard, of saffron, of opium, of myrrh, of ceruse, of the shavings of ebony, of chalcitis, of each, dr. j; of roses, dr. lx. Rain-water.
The collyrium from horn, of Galen. Of burnt lead, of burnt hartshorn, of each, oz. ij; of ceruse, of squama æris, of starch, of frankincense, of cuttle-fish, of burnt shell, of verdigris, of myrrh, of gum, of each, oz. j. Rain-water.
The collyrium from frankincense. Of frankincense, oz. vj; of calamine, of pompholyx, of terra aster, of starch, of gum, of each, oz. iij; of ceruse, oz. vj; of squama æris, oz. iv; of tragacanth, oz. iij; of opium, oz. vj. Rain-water.
The Libanian collyrium. Of washed calamine, of starch, of each, dr. xij; of ceruse, dr. xij; of spodium, of pompholyx, of terra aster, of lead, burnt and washed, of tragacanth, of each, dr. viij; of opium, dr. xij; of gum, dr. iv. Rain-water and the whites of twenty eggs. Some add also of myrrh, dr. iv.
The collyrium called the aster of Magnus. Of pompholyx, of calamine, of ceruse, of each, dr. xvj; of lead, dr. viij; of starch, dr. xviij; of frankincense, dr. x; of terra aster, dr. xij; of myrrh, dr. ij; of tragacanth, of gum, of each, dr. viij. Water.
The collyrium Uranium. Of terra aster, washed, oz. iij; of spodium, washed, oz. j; of gum, oz. iv; of antimony, burnt and washed, oz. ij; of squama æris, washed, oz. j; of opium, dr. vj; of calamine, burnt and washed, dr. ij. Rain-water. It is an incarnant and repellent.
The collyrium from the juice of fenugreek. Of calamine, of tragacanth, of each, oz. viij; of ceruse, oz. xxx; of starch, oz. xxx; of opium, oz. j. Triturate with the juice of fenugreek.
The collyrium of Cleon. Of pompholyx, of lead, of each, oz. v; of saffron, oz. iss; of the squama stomomatis, oz. j; of gum, oz. ij. Rain-water. Inject diluted.
The collyrium containing lxxii ounces of roses. Of green roses, oz. lxxii, of calamine, burnt and washed, dr. xxiv; of scraped verdigris, dr. ij; of spikenard, dr. j; of squama æris, washed, dr. ij; of antimony, burnt and washed, of opium, of myrrh, of each, dr. iij; of saffron, dr. viij; of starch, dr. ij; of gum, dr. xxiv. Rain-water.
The white collyrium from roses. Of calamine, burnt and washed, of ceruse, washed, of each, lb. j; of starch, of opium, of tragacanth, of each, oz. iij; of aloes, oz. iss; of gum, oz. iij; of saffron, oz. iss; of roses without their nails, oz. vj. Water.
The collyrium from aloes. Of calamine, of ceruse, of aloes, of each, oz. x; of green roses, oz. vj; of starch, oz. iij; of opium, oz. j; of tragacanth, oz. ij; of gum, oz. iij. Rain-water.
The saffron collyrium from roses. Of spikenard, of dried roses, of aloes, of each, dr. ij; of the white henbane, dr. iss; of saffron, dr. ivss; of glaucium, oz. vj; of sarcocolla, oz. vj; of opium, dr. ij; of tragacanth, oz. j. Rain-water.
The collyrium from roses, of Nilus. Of tender roses, dr. iv; of saffron, dr. ij; of poppy, obol. j; of gum, dr. iv. Rain-water.
The collyrium lynceus for sharpening the sight. Of calamine, of burnt copper, of ammoniac perfume, of each, dr. xij; of myrrh, of bloodstone, of Thebaic opium, of each, dr. vj; of hepatic aloes, of the gall of bulls, of galbanum, of sagapen, of each, dr. iv; of scraped verdigris, of opoponax, of sal ammoniac, of each, dr. j; of gum, dr. vj. Rain-water.
The collyrium Proteus, for the same purposes, and it also attenuates cicatrices. Of calamine, of ceruse, of crude chalcitis, of each, dr. xl; of pepper, dr. iss; of Cyrenaic juice, dr. viij; of saffron, dr. xij; of Thebaic opium, dr. x; of sagapen, dr. xij; of Ethiopian olive, dr. xij; of arsenic, of fissile alum, of each, dr. viij; of myrrh, dr. xij; of ammoniac perfume, dr. xx; of opoponax, dr. xvj; of opobalsam, dr. x; of gum, dr. xx. In rain-water.
The collyrium from the juice of fennel. Of calamine, dr. xvij; of Indian ink, dr. xvj; of long pepper, dr. xiij, and of white, dr. xij; of Cyrenaic juice, dr. viij; of opobalsam, dr. vj; of spikenard, dr. vj; of sagapen, of opoponax, of each, dr. v; of opium, dr. iv; of euphorbium, dr. j; of gum, dr. j. Triturate with the juice of fennel.
The collyrium from opobalsam. Of calamine, of ceruse, of each, dr. viij; of the oil of unripe olives, dr. iv; of white pepper, dr. xvj; of opium, dr. iv; of opobalsam, of gum, of each, dr. xvj. Rain-water.
The collyrium called thalasseros. Of calamine, oz. viij; of verdigris, oz. ij; of Indian ink, oz. viij; of white pepper, oz. iv; of Median juice (assafœtida?) oz. j; of opobalsam, oz. ij; of gum, oz. vj. Water.
The collyrium harmation. Of ammoniac perfume, of burnt copper, of the bark of frankincense, of each. dr. iv; of verdigris, dr. j; of gum, dr. iv. Rain-water.
The collyrium malabathrinum, called also isotheon. Of calamine, dr. xvj; of copper, burnt and washed, dr. xiv; of opium, of Indian buckthorn, of Indian leaf, of Indian nard, of saffron, of aloes, of each, dr. ij; of ceruse, dr. viij; of castor, dr. ij; of myrrh, dr. iv; of acacia, of antimony, of each, dr. xl. With water. To be used with an egg.
The thicker collyrium from wine. Of calamine, of the lapis hæmatitis, and schistos, of each, dr. xl; of burnt copper, dr. xxx; of chalcitis, dr. xxxij; of the seed of poppy, dr. xiij. Having boiled the poppies in water, and strained the juice, add and triturate with palm wine or Aminæan.
Another from wine. Of burnt copper, of the calamine called placitis, of each oz. ix; of bloodstone, washed, oz. vj; of saffron, of myrrh, of aloes, of ammoniac perfume, of each, oz. iij; of Indian buckthorn, of spikenard, of each, oz. j; of white pepper, gr. cl; of the yellow acacia, oz. ix; of gum, oz. iij. Triturate with Falernian or Aminæan wine.
The collyrium from two stones for asperities. Of lapis hæmatitis and schistos, of cassia, of each, dr. xviij; of copper, of calamine, of opium, of scraped verdigris, of each, dr. ix; of gum, dr. ix; of burnt chalcitis, dr. vj. Water.
Xerocollyria. The prophylactic of Galen. Of Asian stone cut into small pieces and burnt in a pot, until it become red-hot and extinguished in butter not old, and then again burnt and extinguished in Falernian wine; and a third time burnt and extinguished in honey, and dried, lb. j; of burnt copper, of white pepper, of Indian leaf, of each, oz. j; of antimony, oz. iss: and when all the things are levigated, and you wish to lay up the medicine, add of the juice of balsam, not thick (for this prevents the preparation from getting dry) but of the most transparent, oz. j. Apply it to the eyelids only, not allowing the pencil to touch the coats, but so that it may only reach the eyelids when opened. They are to be anointed, not once, but often before food and after it, and more especially if a sense of ophthalmy be present. It preserves in a wonderful manner, before every other medicine.
The dry collyrium from saffron. Of sarcocolla, dr. viij; of saffron, dr. iv; of glaucium, dr. iv. Anoint often in the day. Some also add aloes.
Another dry collyrium for xerophthalmy, sycosis, mortifications, and hypersarcoma. Of calamine, dr. x; of chalcitis, dr. xx; of pepper, gr. xv; of Celtic nard, dr. j; triturate the calamine and chalcitis with wine, and when dried add the other things and reduce to a fine powder.
The liquid collyrium from wild carrot. Of the juice of wild carrot, of germander, of cresses, and sometimes of othonna, equal parts. The othonna is the great celandine.
Another, for sycosis, encanthis, and sarcoma. Of roasted misy, dr. vj; of copperas, dr. iv; of Attic honey, sext. j.
The liquid collyrium panchrestus of Erasistratus, having wonderful efficacy, in complaints of the eyes, tonsils, pudenda, and suppurated ears. Of copper, dr. vj; of roasted misy, of myrrh, of each, dr. iij; of saffron, dr. iss; of pepper, dr. j; of Chian wine, and of Cretan must, of each, hemin. iss. Having triturated all the things in the wine until dry, pour in the must and boil to the consistence of honey.
Agglutinants for defluxions of the eyes. Of Samian earth, of manna, of frankincense, of myrrh, equal parts. Adding to it the white of an egg, apply to the forehead spread upon linen.
Another.—Of the seed of henbane, dr. j; of opium, dr. j; of myrrh, dr. ij; of saffron, dr. j; of pollen, dr. iv; the yelks of two roasted eggs. Mix with the white of an egg.
Commentary. Gorræus derives the word collyrium from κολοβὴ ὀυρὰ, i. e. cauda trunca, being expressive of their conical shape. (Defin. Med.) Blancard prefers the derivation from κωλύω and ῥοῦς. (Lexicon Medicum.)
Oribasius states that collyria were applied—to the eye, to the uterus, and to fistulous ulcers. (Med. Coll. x, 23.) It is obvious, therefore, that the ancients used the word in a more general signification than the moderns do. Le Clerc gives the following description of the ancient collyria: “Les uns, qui étoient composés de matières sèches, eurent le nom de ξηροκολλούρια, collyres secs. Les autres, où il n’entroit que des matières liquides, s’appellèrent ὑγροκολλούρια, collyres humides ou liquides. Les ingrediens des premières, qui étoient les mêmes que ceux des collyres entières, étoient des poudres métalliques, de ceruse, de pompholyx, d’antimoine brulé, de vert-de-gris, de chalcitis, de cadmia, et autres semblables. Il y entroit aussi des poudres tirées des plantes, quelques sucs d’herbes, et quelques gommes, comme du saffran, des roses, du suc de chelidoine, et de fenouil, de l’aloes, de la myrrh, de l’opium. On mêloit tous ces ingrédiens et on en formoit des masses que l’on faisait sécher, et dont on faisait de la poudre lorsqu’on vouloit s’en servir. Les collyres liquides étoient seulement composés de matières liquides. On prenoit, par exemple, du miel d’Attique, qui étoit estimé le meilleur, de l’opobalsamum, avec du fiel de vipre, de perdrix, ou de quelque autre animal, et du suc de fenouil. On faisait de cela un mélange, dont on laissoit tomber quelques gouttes dans les yeux de ceux qui avoient la vue foible, ou quelque suffusion commençant.” (Hist. de la Méd. iii, ii, 1.)
The Ophthalmic Collyria are treated of with extraordinary accuracy and minuteness of detail in books iv and v of Galen’s work ‘De comp. med. sec. locos.’ Notwithstanding the success with which the surgery of the eye has been cultivated of late, we are confident that the oculists of the present day might derive still further improvement from an attentive study of these books. It is to be remarked that several of his collyria, as well as those of Celsus, contain opium, so that the use of the vinum opii in modern practice is not an original invention. Many of them contain very powerful escharotics, such as copper and arsenic, which indicates a great degree of boldness in ancient practice. Why is arsenic never used now for the cure of complaints of the eye? Our author’s account of them, which is mostly taken from Galen, is very accurate and deserving of consideration.
All the collyria of Celsus are ocular remedies. As he states, they consist principally of soothing and refreshing medicines variously mixed.
Scribonius Largus describes fully the composition of collyria, which he divides into the soothing and the acrid. The former consist of saffron, gum, tragacanth, calamine, antimony, opium and the like. The latter contain such ingredients as these, burnt copper, verdigris, chalcitis, misy, alum, ammoniac, and galls.
Myrepsus gives prescriptions for 87 ocular collyria, of every possible variety of character.
For the Arabian collyria, see particularly Serapion. (De Antidot. vii, 34.) Camphor is an ingredient in many of them.