Commentary. Dioscorides treats much more fully of the medicinal powers of raisins than Galen and our author, recommending them in affections of the windpipe, chest, kidneys, and bladder; for dysentery when eaten with their stones by themselves, or when fried along with millet flour, barley-meal, and eggs; in masticatories with pepper; in inflammation of the testicles, when applied in a cataplasm with the flour of beans and cumin; for epinyctis, carbuncle, fevers, putrid and gangrenous sores about the joints, without their stones, when pounded with rue; for gout in a cataplasm with opoponax, and for the removal of loose nails. (v, 4.) Avicenna and Rhases briefly quote Dioscorides, and supply nothing additional. They hold, like the Greeks, that in particular cases raisins prove injurious to the urinary organs. Symeon Seth mentions that the Egyptians prepared a very sweet wine from raisins and honey. (De Alimentis.)
Ἀστὴρ Ἀττικὸς,
Aster atticus, Starwort, is also called bubonium, because it is believed to cure buboes, not only when applied for this purpose but even when appended as a periapt. It is possessed of mixed powers, being discutient and cooling.
Commentary. Our author’s account of the starwort, Aster amyllus, is taken from Galen, who in his turn copies from Dioscorides. In the common editions of Dioscorides there is a passage under this head (which although quoted by Serapion (§ 96), is scarcely considered genuine by Sprengel, seeing it is not alluded to by Galen or Pliny), in which the Aster atticus is recommended for ardour of the stomach, inflammations of the eyes, buboes, and quinsies. The Arabians in treating of the Aster atticus copy from Dioscorides. See in particular Avicenna (ii, 2, 357); Serapion (De Simpl. 96); Rhases (Contin. l. ult. i, 95.) It is not found in the works of Celsus. It held a place in our modern Dispensatory down to a late date. See Quincy (116.)
Ἀστράγαλος,
Astragalus, Wild Liquorice, is a small shrub, having astringent roots, and is desiccative in no contemptible degree. It promotes the cicatrization of old ulcers, and when drunk with wine stops the discharges of the bowels. It is mostly produced in Phæneum of Arcadia.
Commentary. That the astragalus belongs to the vetch tribe can admit of no doubt, but the particular genus and species have never been determined. All the authorities, both ancient and modern, recommend it as an astringent both externally and internally. We cannot find it in the works either of Hippocrates or Celsus. Our author manifestly borrows from Dioscorides. (iv, 62.) The Arabians do not appear to treat of it.
Ἄσφαλτος,
Bitumen; it is desiccant and calefacient in the second degree: it is therefore agglutinative of fresh wounds.
Commentary. The asphaltus, or Bitumen judaicum, held a place in the Materia Medica from the days of Hippocrates down to a very recent period. It got the name of Jew’s pitch, from its having been principally procured from Judæa, where it is found floating on the surface of the Dead Sea, or Lacus Asphaltites. Some commentators have been puzzled by Dioscorides representing the colour of the finest asphaltus as purplish, but it is to be borne in mind that the ancients applied this term not to a scarlet red but to any rich dark-blue colour, such as that of the sea. All the authorities, ancient and modern, represent it as being emollient, discutient, and emmenagogue. Serapion gives a very interesting account of it. (§ 177.) See also Avicenna (ii, 2, 114); Rhases (Cont. l. ult. i, 88); also Celsus (v, 6.)