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.