Emblica, belliricæ, chebulæ, colocynthis, amara,
Hermodactylus, euphorbium, opoponax, sagapenum.
On Hydragogues. The hydragogue properties of the elder-tree are commended by Boerhaave and Sydenham. See [the section on Dropsy in the Third Book].
There is some difficulty in determining what the cneoros was. We are inclined to think that it was the cassia fistula, the medicinal characters of which, as stated by Mesue among the Arabian, and Prosper Alpinus among the modern, authorities, correspond with the account of cneoros given by our author.
Gum ammoniac is an ingredient of the purgative salt, a receipt for which is given by Apicius. It also enters into the sales purgatorii of Myrepsus. (ii, 9 and 10.) See [the commentary on the next Section].
Prosper Alpinus says of the coccum gnidium, or fruit of the thymelæa, that in doses of fifteen grains it is a strong purgative, and evacuates principally serous humours in dropsy. He reckons the squama æris among the drastic purgatives.
Serapion’s account of the hydragogues is nearly the same as our author’s. The following is Margravius’s list of them:
Esula, gratiola, atque ireos succus, mechoaca,
Post ebuli semen, et succus, cortexcque elaterium,
Soldanella virens, et gummi gutta, jalappa.