Elæomeli, Honeyed Oil. In Syria, an oil thicker and sweeter than honey, flows from a certain trunk; when drunk to the amount of two cyathi with a hemina of water, it produces a discharge of crude and bilious matters from the bowels. Those who have taken it become torpid; yet one need not be alarmed, but only rouse them.
Commentary. Pliny describes it as a natural exudation from trees on the maritime coasts of Syria. He adds, it is fat, thicker than honey, thinner than resin, of a sweet taste, and is used in medicine: “Manat ex arboribus pingue, crassius melle, resina tenuius, sapore dulci, et hoc medicis.” (H. N. xxv, 7.) He states in another place that it is a nauseous purgative. (xxiii, 56.) Dioscorides gives the same account of it as our author, and describes an oil to be prepared from it. Avicenna and Rhases recommend it as an application to ulcerated scabies. It appears singular that this natural substance should have been entirely lost sight of in modern times, inasmuch that unless we adopt the conjecture of Alston, that it was some species of manna, we must admit ourselves entirely ignorant of it.
Ἐλατήριον,
Elaterium; the juice of the fruit of the wild cucumber is so called, being in the second order of calefacients. It promotes the menstrual discharge, and destroys the fœtus when applied in a pessary, by its extreme bitterness. When rubbed in with milk it evacuates by the nose. When administered in an injection, it occasions a discharge downwards of phlegm, and sometimes of blood.
Commentary. It would appear that Hippocrates applied the term to all drastic purgatives. See Eustathius, Iliad. (xviii, 564.) By Dioscorides and all subsequent authorities, it is restricted to signify the fecula of the Momordica Elaterium, or wild cucumber. It was much used by the ancient physicians in the cure of dropsy, as we have stated in the [Third Book]. Dioscorides correctly states that it evacuates bile and phlegm, both upwards and downwards. He recommends it particularly in cases attended with difficulty of breathing. As an emetic, he directs us to administer it in oil, or with the ointment of iris. As a purgative, he recommends it to be given with double the quantity of salt and some mustard, in the form of a pill, of the size of a tare. Like our author, he states that it is emmenagogue, and proves fatal to the fœtus when applied in a pessary. Galen and the other authorities on the Materia Medica give it nearly the same characters. Theophrastus states that it is the most durable of all medicines, and that the oldest is the best. (H. P. ix, 14.) It is said by Hippocrates, that if a woman or she-goat, giving suck, partake of elaterium, it will affect her young. (Epid. vi, 5.) Galen in his commentary remarks, that other purgatives have the same effect when given similarly. (Op. t. v, 218, ed. Basil.) The Arabians also show a good practical acquaintance with this substance. Thus, for example, Avicenna praises it strongly in affections of the chest attended with difficulty of breathing, and more especially in cases of dropsy. He recommends it also in the form of a clyster for the cure of diseases of the joints and sciatica, and speaks of a plaster of it for the gout. He directs a pill to be prepared from it with double the quantity of salt. He states correctly that it occasions evacuations of phlegm and blood; that it is diuretic, and emmenagogue, and kills the child in a suppository. (ii, 2, 177.) Mesue also writes of the wild cucumber and elaterium with great precision, recommending the latter internally as an emetic, a phlegmagogue, and a hydragogue, more especially in dropsy. He also recommends it in jaundice, and engorgement of the liver and spleen; and states that it is most beneficial in sciatica when administered in a clyster or applied as a plaster. He speaks highly of the efficacy of the roots of the wild cucumber when applied to the head, in a cataplasm for hemicrania, and as an errhine in the same complaint. (De Simpl. ix.) Serapion also, in treating of the wild cucumber, gives interesting extracts, both from Greek and Arabian authorities, respecting the medicinal powers of elaterium. (De Simpl. 204.) Ebn Baithar gives a most ample account of it. (ii, 276.)
Ἐλάτη,
Abies, the Fir; this tree is calefacient and desiccative, like the black poplar. Its resin will be treated of among the resins.
Commentary. Without doubt it is the Pinus Abies, L. The other authorities in general do not treat of it, except under the resinæ. It does not otherwise occur in Dioscorides, Galen, Serapion, or Avicenna.
Ἐλατίνη,
Elatine, the Toadflax; this herb is like the Helxine, and is moderately refrigerant and astringent.