Telephium, Orpine, is a calefacient of the first order, but a desiccant of the second. It is also detergent; and hence it is a suitable application to putrid ulcers, and cures leuce and alphos with vinegar.
Commentary. We think with Sibthorp and Sprengel, that it is not the Sedum Telephium, but the Cerinthe minor. See also Parkinson (520.) Dioscorides recommends it principally in the forms of leprosy. (ii, 217.) Galen’s characters of it agree with those of our author. It does not occur in the works either of Hippocrates or of Celsus, neither have we been able to observe any distinct traces of it in those of the Arabians, unless, which seems highly probable, it be the thelopium of Ebn Baithar, as his German translator conjectures. (ii. 164.)
Τῆλις,
Fœnum Græcum, Fenugreek, is heating in the second order, but desiccative in the first; hence it expedites the progress of all hot phlegmons; and those which are less hot, and such as are scirrhous, it cures by discussing them.
Commentary. Without doubt it is the Trigonella Fœnum Græcum. It occurs in the works of Hippocrates. (De Mulieb. i, 617.) It is, unquestionably, the “Fœnum Græcum” of Celsus, who enumerates it as an ingredient in an emollient pessary (v, 21), and in a soothing cataplasm. (ii, 33.) It is prescribed repeatedly by Aretæus, both internally and externally. Dioscorides recommends the powder of it in the form of a cataplasm to various inflammations, both internal and external; as an ingredient in a medicated bath for diseases of the female organs, and as a pessary in the same, an injection of its decoction for tenesmus and fetid discharges from the bowels, and for other purposes. (ii, 125.) Pliny gives a full account of its medicinal virtues, in which a considerable portion but not the whole is derived from Dioscorides. He says that Damon gave its seeds in a draught to promote menstruation. He also mentions its being taken in ulceration of the chest and chronic coughs. (xxiv, 120.) Galen, Aëtius, and Oribasius give its characters in nearly the same terms as our author. For the Arabians, see Avicenna (ii, 2, 246); Serapion (De Simpl.); Rhases (Cont l. ult. i, 294); Averrhoes (Collig. v, 42); Ebn Baithar (i, 333.) Though these authors, and especially Avicenna, treat at great length of this article, it does not appear that they applied it in many more cases than as they had been taught by the Greeks. They recommend it, however, with oil of roses, as an application to burns, and as an ingredient in collyria. They say the oil of it cures fetor of the breath and the perspiration, and of the alvine discharges. They all commend it as being diuretic, emmenagogue, and promoting impregnation. They further represent it as being an excellent expectorant in diseases of the chest. Upon reference to Quincy (i, 4, 219), it will be seen that in his time the fenugreek still maintained the characters assigned to it by the ancient authorities. It has now disappeared from our Dispensatory, but is still retained in the Greek Pharmacopœia. (Athens, 1837.)
Τιθύμαλλοι,
Tithymalli, Spurges; all the species of it are of the fourth order of calefacients, with acrimony and strong bitterness; but the root being weaker, when boiled with vinegar, allays the pains of carious teeth. The juices being stronger are applied to the hollow of teeth; but if they touch the rest of the body they burn it; and therefore they remove the hairs if rubbed in for a short time. They also remove myrmecia, acrochordones, and the like, and clear away affections of the skin, and cure ill-conditioned and phagedænic ulcers. There being seven species of this plant, the strongest are the Characias (Wood Spurge), and the Myrsinitis (Myrtle-leaved Spurge), and that growing upon rocks, Arboreus (Tree Spurge); but next in order are, that species which resembles Pettymullein (Broad-leaved Spurge), and the Cyparissias (Cypress Spurge), and then the Maritimus (Sea Spurge), and the Helioscopius (Sun Spurge or Wartwort.)
Commentary. That the Tithymalli of the ancients are all referable to the genus Euphorbia or Spurge, cannot admit of any doubt. Dioscorides, Pliny, Apuleius, and, in a word, most of the ancient authorities, like our Paulus, describe seven medicinal species, to which we may venture to give the following names in the botanical nomenclature of the present time. 1. Euphorbia characias. 2. E. myrsinites. 3. E. paralias. 4. E. helioscopia. 5. E. cyparissias. 6. E. dendroides. 7. E. platyphyllos. See Sprengel (Ad Dioscor.); Lindley (Veg. Kingd. 277); German Translation of Ebn Baithar (ii, 525); Miller (Gard. Dict.) Besides these, the medical authors treat of several other species of spurge by particular names, as lathyris, peplis, thymelæa, &c. The tithymallus was called “lactuca marina” by the Romans (Celsus v, 7), and also “lactaria” and “lactuca caprina.” See Pliny, who gives a full account of the spurges. (H. N. xxvi, 39, 46.) These plants are treated of at so great a length by Dioscorides and the other authorities, that we cannot possibly find space for an exposition of their particular views. All, however, agree in giving them nearly the same characters as our author, who, in the present instance, is indebted in part to Dioscorides, and in part to Galen. Several of them are noticed by Hippocrates. For the Arabians, see Serapion (De Simpl. 360); Avicenna (ii, 2, 421); Rhases (Cont. l. ult. i, 718); Averrhoes (Collig. v, 42); Ebn Baithar (l. c.) They recommend them in the same cases as the Greeks, without supplying any new views of much importance. They prescribe a few drops of the juice of spurge poured upon a fig as a phlegmagogue. They further recommend them in malignant ulcers and those attended with caries of the bones. And here, by the way, we may be allowed to mention that a modern authority confirms what the ancients say of the efficacy of the spurges in this case. Sec Hildanus (x, c. ii, 2.) In the present age, we have discarded such purgatives as the spurges, whether wisely or not we will not take upon ourselves to say.
Τίτανος,
Calx, Lime; the Calx viva (Quicklime) burns strongly so as to form eschars; when slacked, it forms eschars at first, but not so after some days. It contracts, however, and wastes the flesh. When washed it loses it pungency, if this is often done with water; but if in sea-water, it becomes decidedly detergent.