See Serapion (De Simpl. 44); Rhases (Contin. l. ult. i, 442); Avicenna (ii, 2, 471.) It appears to be undoubtedly the Prunus Mahaleb, that is to say, the Cerasus Mahaleb of Miller, Angl., “rock,” or “perfumed” cherry. Serapion applies to it what Dioscorides and Galen had written on the phillyrea; after which he gives the opinions of several Arabian authorities who recommend it as a medicine to expel the superfluities of the system and intestinal worms, and as being useful in gout, and as a lithontriptic. One of them, Isaac ebn Amram, describes the varieties of it very circumstantially. Avicenna and Rhases give a similar account of it.
Jesemin and Zambach.
See Serapion (De Simpl. 176); Rhases (Contin. xxii, 838; l. ult. i, 369); Avicenna (ii, 2, 611); and Ebn Baithar (591.)
Serapion describes them under the same head, the one as having a white flower, and the other a yellow, of which the latter is the weaker in its powers. It is got, he says, from Babylonia, where there is another species which has a sky-blue colour. His authorities recommend it principally in phlegmatic complaints, and more particularly in those of old persons, and as an application in impetigo and other cutaneous diseases of a like nature. He says it induces headache when administered to persons of a hot temperament. Avicenna gives a very similar account of these two plants, and neither Rhases nor Ebn Baithar supplies any additional information regarding them; the latter, however, gives a very interesting account of them. He says of the yellow species that it was used for dyeing the hair. Like the others, he speaks favorably of it, and especially of its oil in complaints of a cold nature. The latter species, in all probability, was the jasminum sambac, still well known in the East as a perfume. See Lindley (Veg. Kingd. 651); Gray (Suppl. to Pharmacop. 59); and Sprengel (R. H. H. i, 242.) Whether the other be the humile or officinale, we are unable to determine.
Secacul.
See Serapion (De Simpl. 89) and Avicenna (ii, 2, 663.) From the description which they give of it, there can be no doubt, we think, that it is the pastinaca secacul, Russel; that is to say, the Tordilium orientale, secacul dictum of Miller. (Gard. Dictionary.) They agree in saying that it is decidedly aphrodisiac, more especially when preserved with honey. Avicenna concludes his notice of it with stating that buzeiden is used instead of it. In another part of his work he gives very sensible directions for preparing secacul conditum, that is to say, “preserved secacul.” (v, 1, 8.) Although, as we have stated above, we think there is little or no doubt that the secacul was a species of tordylium, it is proper to acknowledge that the learned commentators on Mesue are much divided in opinion respecting it. (De Electariis, i, 95.)
Buzeiden.
See Serapion (De Simpl. 260); Avicenna (ii, 2, 95); and Ebn Baithar (ii, 183.) Avicenna describes it as being an Indian medicine possessing virtues resembling those of beer. He says it is hot in the second degree, and dry in the first; is attenuant, proves serviceable in pains of the joints and in gout; is aphrodisiacal and alexipharmic. (ii, 295.) Serapion calls it a species of satyrion (orchis?). He calls it an Indian medicine, little used in his country. He says it resembles hermodactyls in the cure of arthritic diseases or of gout, and that it engenders semen, but hurts the testicles. Its bad effects are best corrected by mustard; its dose two drachms. Ebn Baithar, in this instance, supplies no additional information. After what we have stated of it, we need have no hesitation in agreeing with Sprengel that it is the orchis morio, or at all events some species of that genus. As Serapion does not quote any Greek authorities under this head, it may be inferred that he held it to be distinct from the orchis of Dioscorides and his followers. Several species of this genus are still used in India as medicines. The famous salep is procured principally from the O. mascula. See Royle, Lindley, and Pereira.
Mial, or Storax humida.
The liquid Storax is described distinctly by Avicenna, who states that one species of it exudes from the tree and the other is got by boiling; that the former is of a lighter colour and is highly valuable, whereas the other is darker and is less esteemed. Some, he says, held it to be beneficial in cerebral diseases, but this opinion he rejects, as it induces vertigo. See under [Storax]. He quotes only from Arabian authorities. (ii, 2, 423, 615.) Both kinds of storax are treated of largely by Serapion. (De Simpl. 46), and are noticed by Rhases. (Contin. l. ult. i, 687.)