Λύκοψις,
Lycopsis, Hound’s-tongue; having an astringent root, Dioscorides says, that when applied with polenta in a cataplasm, it agrees with erysipelas, and that if rubbed in with oil it is sudorific.
Commentary. It is either the Echium Italicum, L., or the Lycopsis echioides, L., probably the former. Our author, as he acknowledges, borrows from Dioscorides. Galen, Aëtius, and Oribasius, as well as Hippocrates and Celsus, do not treat of it at all. If the Arabians notice it, they do so under the head of Anchusa.
Λύκιον,
Lycium, Buckthorn, is composed of heterogeneous powers, one part of its ingredients being heating, attenuate, and discutient, and the other, or terrene part, being cooling and gently astringent; so that it is desiccative in the second degree, and calefacient and refrigerant in an intermediate degree. They use it, therefore, as a detergent in obstructions of the pupil, and as an astringent in cæliac and dysenteric cases and ill-conditioned ulcers; and in inflammations as a discutient. The Indian is the best.
Commentary. Dioscorides gives a sufficiently distinct description of the tree which produces the lycium, so as to leave no doubt that he points to the Rhamnus infectorius. The Lycium Indicum of the same author, is now satisfactorily determined to be the product of the Berberis Lycium. See Royle (Antiq. of Hind. Med. 32), and ‘Linn. Transact.’ (xvii, 83); also Pereira (Materia Medica, 1152.) Dioscorides recommends the former of these as an astringent for the cure of various complaints, such as obscurities of the cornea, psoriasis, and pruritus of the eyelids, purulent ears and tonsils, ulcers of the gums, chapped lips, fissure of the anus; in cæliac and dysenteric affections, both in draughts and clysters; in hæmoptysis and coughs; in female fluxes, hydrophobia, and so forth. The Indian, he states, cures inflammation of the spleen and jaundice, prevents menstruation, purges water, and is a counter-agent to deadly poisons. (i, 132.) Galen’s account of it being nearly the same as our author’s, we need not expound at any length. He holds that the Indian species is far stronger than the other. (De Simpl. ix.) Oribasius and Aëtius in like manner follow Galen. Celsus recommends lycium strongly in ulceration of the throat. (iv, 4, 3.) As far as we have been able to discover, it does not occur in the works of Hippocrates. The Arabians treat fully of this article. See Rhases (Cont. l. ult. i, 429); Avicenna (ii, 2, 390); Serapion (c. 7); Averrhoes (v, 42.) We do not find that they supply any new views regarding its medicinal virtues. In the modern Greek Pharmacopœia the extract of catechu is set down as being the Lycium Indicum. We agree, however, with the authorities quoted above regarding it.
Λυσιμάχιον,
Lysimachium, Moneywort; its prevailing power is astringency; hence it agglutinates wounds, and is styptic, both itself and its juice. It also relieves dysentery when drunk and injected.
Commentary. The L. of Dioscorides and our author is most probably the Yellow Loose-strife of our English herbalists, namely, Lysimachia vulgaris, L. Our author abridges Dioscorides, who recommends it as an astringent in various cases, such as hæmoptysis, dysentery, fluor albus, hemorrhage from the nose, and as a vulnerary and styptic herb. (iv, 3.) Galen and Aëtius treat of it in nearly the same words as our author. We have not been able to find it in the works of the Arabians, except Ebn Baithar, and yet we do not assert that it may not be treated of under some name which we have not been able to interpret. Ebn Baithar merely quotes Dioscorides and Galen. The lysimachia, although not now included in our Dispensatories, still holds a place in the shops of the apothecaries, with the character of being astringent. See Gray’s Supplement, &c. (48.)