Commentary. Our author manifestly copies from Galen; and whoever will carefully compare his account of it with Dioscorides’s chapter on Rhâ, cannot fail to come to the conclusion that both apply to the same substance, namely, the Rheum Rhaponticum. We therefore shall confine our attention in this place to it, reserving to the [Appendix] what we have got to say on the knowledge possessed by the ancients of the purgative rhubarb. Dioscorides says of it, that its prevailing power is astringency, with a certain degree of heat; and he recommends it to be taken in a draught for flatulence of the stomach, atony, all kinds of pain, spasms, diseases of the spleen, liver, and kidneys, tormina, affections of the chest and bladder, distension of the hypochondria, diseases of the uterus, sciatica, hæmoptysis, asthma, hiccough, dysentery, cæliac affections, intermittents, and the bites of venomous animals; also for lividity and leprosy when rubbed in with vinegar, and for discussing all chronic inflammations in a fomentation. (iii, 2.) Galen’s account of it, as already stated, is exactly the same as our author’s. Oribasius evidently takes his description of it from Dioscorides; and Aëtius, like our author, as clearly abridges Galen. There is no mention of the Rhâ in the works either of Hippocrates or of Celsus. Pliny’s description of it (he calls it Rhacoma) is manifestly imitated from Dioscorides. (H. N. xxvii, 105.) As already stated, we shall reserve our exposition of the views of the Arabians to the [Appendix].
Ῥητίναι,
Resinæ, Resins, are all calefacient and desiccative; but the turpentine holds the first place, being discutient, emollient, and attenuating, and also detergent, whereby it cures itch; and that of larch is like to it. The resin of the pitch-tree, and still more that of the wild pine, are more acrid, but neither more discutient nor attractive. Those of the pine and fir hold an intermediate place.
Commentary. On the formation of Resins see in particular Theophrastus (H. P. ix, 2) and Pliny (H. N. xxiv, 22.) Pliny thus sums up his account of them: “Summæ species duæ; sicca et liquida. Sicca e pinu et picca; liquida e terebintho, larice, lentisco, cupresso.” The Resina sicca pini is the Pix arida of the Old London Pharmacopœia, or the Pix Abietina of the New. The Resina liquida laricis is now generally called by the name of Venice Turpentine. The Resina lentisci is well known by the name of Mastich. The Colophonian rosin, which is often mentioned in this work, is the same as the black fiddler’s rosin. The Cypress rosin does not appear to be much known now. Pliny correctly observes that all these resins act on the bowels and the urine. The mode of burning or roasting resin is described by Dioscorides. (i, 93.) He gives a very interesting account of the resinæ in general, which he represents to be emollient, calefacient, dissolvent, cleansing, suited for coughs and consumptions, in electuaries by themselves or with honey, clearing away matters from the chest; and as being diuretic, digestive, laxative of the bowels; adapted for the operation on trichiasis (see [Book VI, 8]), and for leprosy, with verdigris, copperas, and natron; for purulent ears with honey and oil, and for itching of the pudendum. They are mixed, he adds, with plasters, liniments, and acopa, and relieve pleuritic pains either when rubbed in or applied by themselves. (i, 91.) All the other authorities prescribe the resins freely, but none give so full a description of them as Dioscorides. See, however, Celsus (pluries), who appears to have been particularly fond of them. He recommends turpentine rosin with butter and honey in phthisis (iii, 22), in dyspnœa (iv, 4, 2), and in various other cases. Our author’s account of them would seem to be principally taken from Galen. The Arabians, as usual, copy from the Greeks, and supply little additional of their own. See Avicenna (ii, 2, 242); Serapion (De Simpl. 325); Averrhoes (Collig. v, 42); Rhases (Cont. l. ult. i, 580, &c.); Ebn Baithar (pluries.) All the resinæ here described occur in the modern Greek Pharmacopœia (160, 161.)
Ῥόδα,
Rosæ, Roses, are naturally composed of a watery substance, which is heating, astringent, and bitter. The flowers are still more astringent, and hence are desiccative.
Commentary. It comprehended the R. lutea, Derlech, R. arvensis, and probably other species of the Rosa, L. Dioscorides gives a careful exposition of the particular uses of Roses in medicine. He says they are cooling and astringent. In preparing the flowers for use, he directs the nails or white portions to be clipped off with a pair of scissors, and the remainder compressed and pounded in a shade in a mortar, until they form into a ball. He recommends them in diseases of the eyes, headache, affections of the ears, gums, anus, and womb, &c., also when sprinkled in powder on intertrigo, and as an ingredient in the ointments called calliblephara. (i, 130.) We need not devote time to the exposition of what the other authorities have written on this subject. See Celsus (pluries); Galen (De Simpl. viii, et alibi); Avicenna (ii, 2, 568); Rhases (Cont. l. ult. i, 585); Serapion (De Simpl. 108). The Arabians say of rose-water that it is stomachic and hepatic; and of rose-oil, that it relieves inflammation of the stomach and loss of its tone. They recommend rose-water further both in syncope and in hæmoptysis. Like the Greeks, they make it an ingredient in their collyria to the eyes and eyelids. Rhases and Avicenna give particular directions for preparing an ablution with roses to remove fetid perspiration.
Ῥοδία ῥίζα,
Rosea radix, is heating in the second degree, and is attenuating and discutient.
Commentary. The older commentators and herbalists are by no means satisfied that it was the Rhodiola Rosea, or rosewood; but the later authorities are pretty much agreed upon this point. See Sprengel (in Dioscor. iv, 45) and Lindley (Veg. Kingd. 631). Dioscorides merely recommends it along with valerian as an application to the forehead and temple in cephalalgia. The other authorities, like Paulus, are content with barely stating its general characters.