Commentary. It requires some attention not to confound the Schœni with one another. The Schœnanthus, then, is decidedly the Andropogon Schœnanthus, or Lemon-grass. See Dr. Royle (Antiq. of Hindoo Med. 82) and Lindley (Veg. Kingd. 113.) The σ. ἐλεῖα is the Schœnus Holoschœnus; the ὁλοσχοῖνος, the Schœnus mariscus; and the ὀξυσχοῖνος, the Juncus acutus. The first of these is the species most celebrated as a medicine. Thus it is the schœnus of Dioscorides, who represents it as being useful in vomiting of blood, pains of the stomach, lungs, liver, and kidneys, and as being possessed of diuretic, emmenagogue, carminative, subastringent, and other powers. Its decoction, he says, is useful as a hip-bath in inflammations of the womb. (i, 16.) Galen gives a similar account of its virtues. (De Simpl. viii, and De Antidot. i.) The other Greek authorities treat of it very succinctly. Is not this the “flos junci rotundi” of Celsus? (v, 24.) According to Dierbach and, indeed, all the best authorities, it is the σ. ἔυοσμος of Hippocrates (De Mulieb. i, 111), who recommends it along with other aromatics in diseases of the uterus. The Arabians display an intimate acquaintance with the schœnanths. See Avicenna (ii, 2); Rhases (Cont. l. ult. i, 681); Serapion (De Simpl. 103); Averrhoes (Collig. v, 42); Ebn Baithar (i, 19.) The last of these gives a particularly full account of it, mostly from Arabian authorities. They all agree in representing it as being diuretic, emmenagogue, and alexipharmic, and in recommending it particularly in apostemes of the anus, and in scabies. Its oil, they say, is efficacious in removing lassitude. The schœnanth held a place in our Dispensatory as late as the times of Quincy (i, 1, 12) and Lewis (ii, 20.) Upon consulting the modern authors quoted above, it will be seen that it is still well known in the East.
Σῶρι,
Sori, resembles misy in its powers, consisting of much grosser particles.
Commentary. We feel that we must still add something to what we have said of this substance under the head of [Misy]. The following description of it, by a great modern authority, who appears to have been well acquainted with it, deserves not to be overlooked: “Rusma or Sory. A mixt mineral, blackish, hard, heavy, and of a cavernous or spongy structure, of a disagreeable smell, and nauseous, vitriolic taste; and often covered with dusty efflorescences on the surface. It is composed of vitriol, sulphur, and an earthy matter. The ancients called it sory. We have it in our Derbyshire mines, but it is not regarded. It was used as a depilatory by the Greeks, and is so by the Turks at this time. Taken inwardly it vomits instantaneously and very roughly; it contains a cupreous vitriol, and hence its emetic quality.”—Boerhaave’s Materia Medica, translated by Goade (227.) See under [Chalcitis]. Dioscorides calls it blackish, fetid, and nauseating, and possessed of caustic powers: he recommends it in toothache, as an application to vari, as an injection with wine in sciatica, &c. (v, 118.) Galen says it is not soluble like misy and chalcitis, but does not materially differ from them in medicinal powers. Celsus prescribes it along with opium, pepper, and galbanum as a stuffing to carious teeth. (vi, 9.) Avicenna, like Galen, says it is insoluble in water, and, like Dioscorides, he prescribes it in sciatica and diseases of the teeth. (ii, 2, 47.) We have stated above that Serapion describes the sory along with the other two under the general head of vitriolum, and the specific name of Zeg rubeum; and that he merely translates Dioscorides and Galen. (c. 386.) Rhases, in like manner, gives from Dioscorides and Galen a description of misy, sory, and chalcitis under the general head of vitriolum. He calls the sory, vitriolum ruffum, and, like Dioscorides, recommends it in carious teeth and in sciatica. His only Arabian authority, Bimasui, says of the vitriolum that it dries the lungs strongly, and in this way may prove fatal. (Cont l. ult. i, 747.) It is the vitriolum rubeum of Averrhoes. (Collig. v, 43.) In the most barbarous translation of Haly Abbas it is scarcely possible to extract any proper meaning from his description of the three vitriols. (Pract. ii, 48.) The lengthy account which Ebn Baithar gives of them is mostly made up of extracts from Dioscorides, Galen, and Avicenna. (ii, 510.) Some have thought the sory of Pliny different from that of the others, but, as far as we can see, without any good reason. Like Dioscorides, he recommends it in diseases of the teeth and spreading ulcers of the mouth. He says it is a thing so offensive to the stomach, that the very smell of it will sometimes excite vomiting. (H. N. xxxiv, 30.)
Τάριχοι,
Salsamenta, Pickles; their flesh is possessed of acrid and desiccative powers. They are given, therefore, to persons bitten by the viper prester, that they may eat as much as possible, and drink of wine freely, and vomit. They also are suitable to the regimen of acrid food; and are applied with advantage to persons bitten by dogs and other reptiles.
Commentary. Pickled Fish. It appears from Dioscorides and Xenocrates that the tunny (Scomber Thynnus) was accounted the best pickle, and it was accordingly most used in medical practice. Galen recommends the brine of pickled fish as an injection in dysentery, and a stimulant lotion to sores on all parts of the body. Serapion gives the same account of it as Dioscorides and Galen. Symeon Seth forbids us to eat pickles after venesection, as they are apt to occasion alphos and scabies. It seems highly probable that indigestible substances, if taken into the stomach when the veins are empty, may be rapidly absorbed, and give rise to the formation of humours, of which nature may endeavour to free the system by casting them forth by the skin.
Ταυροκόλλα,
Taurocolla (called by some Xylocolla), is a glutinous substance made from the hides of oxen, and is of considerably detergent powers. Hence, when dissolved in vinegar, it removes lichen and superficial leprosies; and it prevents burns from getting inflamed when dissolved in hot water. It is also a suitable application for wounds when triturated with oxymel.