Commentary. It is called ζύγνις by Aristotle. (H. A. viii, 23), and hence it has got the name of Zygnis tridactyla. Solinus says of it, “Ictus sepium putredo sequitur.” (Polyhistor. c. 40.) Our author’s account of it is taken literally from Dioscorides. (ii, 72.) It is briefly noticed by Aëtius, but we have not found it treated of by any of the Arabian authorities on the Mat. Med. except Ebn Baithar, who merely gives an extract from Dioscorides under this head. (ii, 199.)
Σίαλον,
Saliva; that of men in a fasting state is particularly discutient and detergent; it therefore clears away the lichen of children when the parts are anointed with it. It also concocts furunculus when applied along with wheat that has been masticated in it. It removes hypopion. It is likewise most destructive to those venomous animals which prove fatal to men.
Commentary. Our author’s account of the medicinal properties of Saliva is abridged from Galen, who gives a very elaborate disquisition on the virtues of it. Pliny’s statement is fuller, but contains many superstitious notions. (H. N. xxviii, 71.) Serapion copies from Galen. (c. 447.) It was principally as an application to cutaneous eruptions and sores that the ancient physicians made use of saliva, and it would appear to be not ill adapted to that purpose. Dr. Thomson, in his work on Chemistry, has the following remarks on it: “Saliva has a great affinity for oxygen, absorbs it readily from the air, and gives it out again to other bodies; hence, in all probability, the reason that saliva is a useful application to sores of the skin. Dogs and several other animals have recourse to this remedy, and with much advantage.” (Book v, c. ii, sect. 13.) Galen contends strongly that human saliva is destructive to animals, and appeals to Nicander in confirmation of this venomous opinion. He further mentions having seen an instance of a scorpion being killed by human saliva alone. All the Arabian authorities ascribe this virtue to it. See in particular Avicenna (ii, 2, 599, 613); Rhases (Cont. l. ult. i, 602); Ebn Baithar (i, 144.) These all, in fact, do little more than copy from Galen. Redi, in opposition to all the ancient authorities, denies that human saliva is destructive to the viper. “Non nostrum inter eos tantam componere litem!”
Σιδηρίτις,
Sideritis, Ironwort, the Heraclean, called also Helxine, has been treated of. The Achillean Sideritis is like to it, but more astringent. Hence it agrees with fluxes.
Commentary. This is one of the articles in the ancient Materia Medica which has never been satisfactorily determined. See Parkinson (Theatre of Plants, pluries) and Sprengel (Ad Dioscor.) The first species of Dioscorides, namely, the Herculia, is the same as the Helxine of our author, and has been already treated of. The other two we would hesitatingly set down as the Sanguisorba officinalis and Geranium Robertianum. The reputation which the latter has enjoyed in modern times, as a vulnerary, appears to us strongly confirmatory of the opinion that it was one of the siderites of the ancients. See Hill (Mat. Med. 407) and Lewis (Mat. Med. i, 464.) So striking and important an article as the Robertianum is not likely to have escaped the observation of the Greek and Arabian Rhizotomi. Apuleius says that the Latins call it Ferraria. Dioscorides commends it as a vulnerary medicine. Galen does the same, and further praises it as an astringent application in cases of hemorrhage, dysentery, and female flux. We find difficulty in discovering traces of it in the works of the Arabians, although we incline to the belief that they have not entirely overlooked it. The burnet is still cultivated in gardens. See Loudon (Encycl. of Garden. 744.)
Σίδηρος,
Ferrum, Iron; when frequently extinguished in water it imparts a considerably desiccative power to it. When drunk, therefore, it agrees with affections of the spleen. But, if extinguished in wine, it is useful in cæliac and dysenteric affections, cholera, and resolution of the stomach.
Commentary. Our author’s account of Iron is mostly taken from Dioscorides. He says the ærugo ferri astringes, and hence it stops the female flux in pessaries, and when drunk prevents impregnation; when rubbed in along with vinegar it cures erysipelas and exanthema; it is very useful for whitlow, pterygia, asperities of the eyelids, and condylomata; it strengthens the gums, is a useful liniment in gout, and thickens the hairs in alopecia; and he concludes with what our author says of the virtues of water in which heated iron has been extinguished. (v, 93.) Pliny, in like manner, says of it: “Calefit ferro candente aqua, in multis vitiis, privatim vero dysentericis.” (H. N. xxxiv, 44.) Celsus commends chalybeate water in enlargement of the spleen. (iv, 9.) Cælius Aurelianus mentions it among the remedies for epilepsy. (Chron. i, 4.) Scribonius Largus calls it a wonderful remedy for diseases of the bladder. (Comp. 146.) The Arabians borrow their account of the ærugo ferri almost entirely from Dioscorides. See Serapion (De Simpl. 403); Avicenna (ii, 2, 247); Rhases (Cont. l. ult. 295.) They give nothing original under the present head. The στόμωμα, according to Pollux, is hard iron, that is to say, steel. The scales or rust of the edges of weapons made of steel were much used by the ancient physicians, both internally and externally, as astringents and styptics. See a full account of their medicinal properties in Pliny. (H. N. xxxiv, 66.)