The lebleb, noticed above, there is every reason to suppose, was the dolichos lebleb. It is also treated of by Avicenna as well as Serapion. They represent it as containing saltish juices which purge adust bile. It is a well-known article in Hindoo Medicine. See Wise (Book of Hindoo Medicine, 104.)
Abrong, or Abrugi.
Serapion describes it as a round grain, spotted with black and white, which is brought from Seni (China?), having a bitter taste, hot and dry in the second degree, a laxative of the bowels, and vermifuge. (De Simpl. 153.) According to Dodonæus and Parkinson, it is the pea which the latter describes and represents under the name of pisum cordatum vesicarium. See Theatre of Plants (1378.)
Ribes.
This has been supposed the ribes or raspberry, but it is now well ascertained that it is a species of Rheum, namely the Rheum Ribes. See Sprengel (R. H. H. i, 257.) Serapion gives a full account of it; he represents it to be a cold, astringent plant, and recommends it in various complaints, such as cholera, smallpox, measles, and in hemorrhoids. (De Simpl. 241.) Avicenna briefly recommends it in nearly the same complaints. (ii, 2, 581.) See also Rhases (Cont. l. ult. i, 582.) Ebn Baithar gives a full and very interesting description of it. He says it grows in alpine localities in Syria, and in the northern countries, but not in Spain; that it has large, broad, round leaves, and tender reddish spots. He calls it bitter and astringent, and recommends it in palpitation of the heart, vomiting, and marasmus. He also praises it in hemorrhoids, and the red flux (menorrhagia) of women; and further commends it in measles, smallpox, and plague. Dr. Royle says (M. M. 521) that the Rheum Ribes is “the Riwas of Serapion, who mentions it as making a good sherbet.” Does he allude to the chapter on the Ribes quoted above?
Aurantium.
When we stated in another place ([Vol. I, 134]) that no ancient author had noticed the orange, we were unacquainted with the works of Ebn Baithar, and of D’Hanvantare, the author of the Susruta. In the latter work the orange is enumerated with acid fruits, of a somewhat indigestible nature. (140 et alibi.) Ebn Baithar says of the orange that it produces an oil which is useful in flatulence and pains of the joints. The rind of the fruit, he says, is carminative and anthelminthic, an antidote to poisons, and removes spots from clothes. The Hindoos have been long familiar with the Citrus aurantium. See the Susruta and Wise’s Hindoo Medicine (p. 191.)
Limon.
We are now inclined to think that we were mistaken in stating ([Vol. I. 137]) that the lemon was mentioned by Avicenna (ii, 2, 433.) His description is probably to be referred to the Statice limonium. However, beyond all doubt, the Citrus medica Limon is fully described by Ebn Baithar. He says the rind is bitter, acid, astringent, and aromatic, excites the appetite, improves digestion, renders the breath fragrant, is cordial, and an antidote to poisons. He recommends it particularly in fevers, exanthemata, palpitation of the heart, vomiting, &c. It appears also to be noticed several times in the Susruta. (See p. 142 et alibi.) Lemons are likewise noticed by the Persian writers on the Materia Medica by the names of Leemoo and Neemboo. See Royle (Mat. Med. 297.) They have been long known to the Hindoos. See Wise (Hindoo Med.)