Commentary. Dioscorides says of the Onyx, that it is the operculum of a shell-fish, like that of the Purpura, being found in India in the lakes that produce nard; and that it acquires an aromatic smell from the shell-fishes feeding on the nard; it is gathered, he adds, when the lakes are dried up by the drought; the kind brought from the Red Sea is different, being whitish and fatty; the Babylonian is black and smaller, but both form a fragrant fumigation, resembling castor somewhat in smell. He concludes with stating, regarding their medicinal properties, that both rouse persons in hysterical convulsions, and also in epileptical, when applied in fumigations; that taken internally, they soften the belly; and that the shell-fish itself, when burnt, has the same powers as the purpura and murex. (ii, 10.) Avicenna gives a very accurate account of this article under the name of Blacte Byzantie; but except that he does not attribute the fragrancy of the shell to the nard it feeds on, his description is nowise dissimilar to that by Dioscorides. The medicinal virtues which he assigns to it are exactly the same. (ii, 2, 78.) Serapion gives a literal translation of the chapter of Dioscorides on the onyx. (De Simpl. 443.) One of Rhases’s authorities says of the Blactiæ Byzantiæ, that they are of a hot and dry temperament, being possessed of astringency and subtilty of parts, and that they are stomachic, hepatic, emmenagogue, and cordial. (Cont. l. ult. i, 127.) From the above account of this article, it will readily be seen that it is the cover of the Strombus lentiginosus.
Ὄνωνις,
Ononis, Restharrow, has a root which is desiccative in about the third degree, but the bark of it is detergent and incisive; and hence it is lithontriptic.
Commentary. See [Ἄνωνις].
Ὄξος,
Acetum, Vinegar, is possessed of mixed powers, namely, cold and hot, both arising from tenuity of parts; but the cold prevails over the hot. It is a desiccant of the third rank.
Commentary. It is also called γλυκάδιον, as the Scholiast on Nicander says, per euphemismum, from γλύκυς, sweet. But we are rather inclined to think that it is the diminutive of γλεῦκος, must, vinegar being the juice of the grape which has lost its strength. Hence Pliny calls it “vitium vini.” All the ancient authorities maintained that vinegar is at the same time refrigerant and discutient. Galen discusses the question regarding the nature of it at great length and with much ingenuity. (De Med. Simpl. i.) He, Pliny, and Celsus mention the fact that an effervescence is produced when it is poured on earth, meaning, no doubt, certain carbonates. Pliny and Celsus commend it in the strongest terms as an antidote to the sting of the asp. Serapion and the other Arabians copy Galen’s account of it. Symeon Seth gives an interesting abstract of the ancient opinions on this subject. Dioscorides and Avicenna recommend it as an application to ecchymosis of the face; but the latter remarks, if too long continued it renders the part yellow and weakens the sight. (ii, 2, 74.) See also Rhases (Cont. l. ult. i, 18.) These two Arabian authorities say of it, that it congeals the womb; but that a clyster of hot vinegar and salt proves soothing in the spreading ulcers of the intestines. Both the Greek and Arabian authorities commend it as an antidote in cases of poisoning with opium and cicuta. They also recommend an embrocation with vinegar and olive oil or rose oil to the head in affections of it. Dioscorides recommends vinegar for chronic coughs and orthopnœa, and also for defluxions of the throat and quinseys. (v, 21.) The Greek and Arabian authorities further agree in recommending it in erysipelas, herpes, and whitlow.
Ὀξυάκανθος,
Oxyacantha, Evergreen Thorn; the tree is like the wild pear in appearance and powers, having also some tenuity of parts. The fruit of it resembles myrtles.
Commentary. Matthiolus, Dodonæus, and Sprengel agree in referring it to the Mespilus Pyracantha, or Evergreen Thorn. The commentators on Mesue make it to be the Berberis, i. e. the Berberry. See the [Appendix] to this section. Dioscorides, after giving a botanical description of it, says, with regard to its medicinal powers, that when pulverised and applied in a cataplasm it extracts thorns and prickles, and that its root is said to possess the power of occasioning abortions, when the abdomen is gently stroked or rubbed with it. (i, 122.) Galen says of it, that its root is attenuant and incisive, resembling that of myrtles; and that whether eaten or drunk it restrains all fluxes. (De Simpl. viii.) Although the similarity of names might lead us to suppose that this must be the Spina acuta of the Arabians, this does not appear to be at all the case. Sec Avicenna (ii, 2, 11.)