The Memphites contains bitumen and ethereal oil. It is the retinasphaltum of Mr. Hatchett, or retinite of Jameson. (Mineral, iii, 478.) According to Dioscorides, when rubbed smoothly upon places about to be burnt or cut, it renders them insensible without danger. (v, 157.)
The Selenites consists principally of a compact lamellated gypsum. According to Eustathius, it is the same as the Lychnitis, which Dionysius the geographer describes as resembling fire in lustre. (Orbis. Descrip. 328.) It is soft, pellucid, and colourless. Dioscorides describes it minutely, and mentions of it that it was given as a draught to epileptics, and used as a phylactery by women. He adds, that it was also appended to trees in order to make them keep their fruit. (v, 158.) Rhases, under the head of “lapis lunaris,” copies this chapter of Dioscorides. (Cont. l. ult. i, 405.)
The Lapis Specularis was the same as the Moscovy talc. It was much used by the ancients for windows in place of glass. It is a variety of selenite, or sparry gypsum. See Kidd and Jameson. We have treated of it under the head of Gypsum in the [Fifth Book].
The Smaragdus of the ancients is unquestionably referable to our emerald, but there is every reason to believe, also comprehended coloured crystals and certain stones of the jasper kind. It does not occur in the works of Dioscorides or Galen; and, as far as we know, Aëtius is the first medical author who describes it. He says of it, that when roasted and levigated with Attic honey, it cures dimness of vision; that it is most useful in elephantiasis, both externally and internally; and that as an amulet it restrains bleeding. (ii, 39.) We are not aware that any other ancient authority, whether Greek, Roman, or Arabian, has noticed it.
We will treat of the Bezoar-stone and Gall-stone of the bull in the [Appendix] to this section.
Λιθόσπερμον (called also λειόσπορμον ἢ ἡράκλειον),
Lithospermon, Gromwel, is the seed of the herb called Aegonychus, of a stony hardness, and white, which, when drunk with white wine, proves lithontriptic and diuretic.
Commentary. Without doubt it is the Lithospermum officinale, or Gromwel. Pliny expresses himself respecting it in the following terms: “Nec quidquam inter herbas majore quidem miraculo aspexi. Tantus est decor, velut aurificum arte alternis inter folia candicantibus margaritis: tam exquisita difficultas lapidis ex herba nascentis.” (H. N. xxvii, 74.) Dioscorides describes it minutely, and, like our author, calls it lithontriptic and diuretic. (iii, 148.) Serapion and Avicenna give it the same characters, which it maintained in modern times, as long as it held a place in the Dispensatory. See the works of Parkinson, Culpeper, and Quincy.
Λινόσπερμον,
Lini Semen, Linseed, is heating in the first order, and holds the middle rank of diluents and desiccants. When eaten, it is flatulent, even although roasted.