Λιγνὺς,
Fuligo, the Soot arising from certain kinds of substances when they are burnt, such as frankincense, myrrh, turpentine, storax, liquid pitch, and cedar, is desiccative, terrene, and attenuate: but there are varieties of it agreeably to the material that is burnt. It is used for ophthalmic remedies and those for adorning the eyebrows. That which is most used is the soot from frankincense, as being the mildest; and again, that from the pine, wild pine and pitch tree, as being the strongest. It is applied, therefore, for baldness of the eyebrows, and for watery and ulcerated canthi of the eyelids, and weeping eyes.
Commentary. Little need be said under this head. Pliny recommends it along with vinegar as an application to erysipelas. Galen recommends it in the same cases as our author. He defines the soot to be the remains of the fire which consumed the materiel. Serapion’s account of it is entirely taken from Galen. Dioscorides (i, 84) and Oribasius (Med. Collect. xi) describe more minutely than any of the others the process for preparing the Fuligo Thuris. It was used principally in ulcers of the eyes. The soot of storax and myrrh, as Serapion says, is prepared agreeably to the same process as that of frankincense.
Λιγυστικὸν,
Ligusticum, Lovage; the root and seed of it are heating to such a degree as to promote menstruation. It is also very carminative.
Commentary. We have always thought that the Ligusticum Levisticum had been introduced into this country by the Romans, in order to supply them with an article frequently used by them at home, as a condiment. See the works of Apicius (pluries.) Dioscorides describes it minutely, and recommends it in a great variety of complaints, as an emmenagogue and diuretic, to promote digestion and dispel flatulence. He also mentions that it was often used as a condiment in place of pepper. (iii, 51.) Galen and the other Greek authorities treat of it very succinctly. The Arabians ascribe to it anthelminthic and alexipharmic powers. See in particular Avicenna (ii, 2, 377); Rhases (Cont. l. ult. iii, 17.) It is not met with in the works of Celsus, nor, as far as we can discover, in those of Hippocrates. Lovage held a place in the Materia Medica with all its ancient characters down to a late date. See the works of Parkinson, Gerard, Culpeper, Rutty, and Quincy. It holds a place in the modern Greek Pharmacopœia (97.)
Λιθάργυρος,
Spuma Argenti, Litharge, is of the middle order among metallic substances; we therefore often use it as the vehicle for other remedial powers. It is moderately desiccative, detergent, and astringent; hence it is used for excoriations of the thighs from friction.