Commentary. As may be seen upon referring to Bauhin, Woodville, Sprengel, and Pereira, several of the authorities have been disposed to hold this plant for the Arbutus Uva Ursi; but the probability is that it was the Laurus Alexandrina, or Uvularia amplexifolia. Dioscorides recommends it in fluxes from the bowels and womb, and in all kinds of hemorrhage. (iv, 44.) Pliny translates the chapter of Dioscorides. (H. N. xxvii, 69.) Our author copies from Galen; and Oribasius, in like manner, borrows his description of the plant from him. As far as we can discover the Idæa Radix is not treated of by the Arabians; and even in the days of Matthiolus it had disappeared from the Mat. Med.
Ἰδρῶς.
Sudor, Sweat; it is troublesome to collect by itself; but is mixed with the powder of those who exercise themselves in the palestra, which powder, being only repellent before, thus becomes altogether discutient. It is, therefore, a powerful remedy for inflamed nipples, and for extinguishing the heat in them. It also answers with buboes; but if too dry it must be softened with oil of privet or oil of roses.
Commentary. Sweat, or the matter of Perspiration. “Sweat,” says Galen, “is one of the fluids formed in the animal body, consisting of the same materials, and having the same mode of formation, as the urine, for both are formed from the liquids drunk, these being heated, and acquiring also some bilious property. But the sweat is more elaborated, as having passed through so many intervening bodies to the skin.” (De Med. Simpl. x.) This is a very ingenious account of the nature of the sweat and urine, which, it is certain, bear a close analogy to one another, and are often vicarious discharges. Thus, in cases of suppression of urine, the perspiration has often an urinous taste and smell. But this is not the place for enlarging further upon this subject. Our author’s account of the medicinal properties of sweat is taken from Galen. (l. c.) All the other authorities, in like manner, copy from him. See in particular Serapion (De Simpl. 466), and Avicenna (ii, 2, 648.)
Ἰξὸς,
Viscum, Birdlime, is heating with acrimony. It attracts, therefore, the deep-seated humours powerfully, and is discutient, like the Thapsia, but is much more inefficacious than it.
Commentary. The Viscum, or Birdlime, is got from the Loranthus Europæus, or Misseltoe. The Viscum quercinum held a place in the Materia Medica from the earliest times down to a very late date. Dioscorides mentions that birdlime is also got from the apple tree, the pear tree, and other trees, and is found upon the roots of certain shrubs. Pliny describes the ordinary mode of preparing it. (H. N. xvi, 94.) Dioscorides recommends it principally as an agglutinative and attractive application to indolent tumours and sores. When mixed with the caustic ley (quicklime and potass) he says birdlime increases its efficacy. With orpiment and sandarach, and applied in a cataplasm, it draws off diseased nails. (iii, 93.) Galen remarks that, like Thapsia, its calefacient powers do not come into immediate operation. The other authorities, in treating of this substance, follow Dioscorides and Galen. See in particular Avicenna (ii, 2, 717), and Ebn Baithar (i, 410.) The Viscum album is retained in the modern Greek Pharmacopœia. (Athens, 1837, 167.)
Ἰὸν,
Viola, the Violet; its leaves have a watery and coldish substance for their prevailing ingredient.
Commentary. There can be little or no doubt that the purple violet of Dioscorides is the Viola Odorata. On the violet, see a most interesting disquisition by Celsius (Hierobotanicon in voce Dudaim); also Sprengel (R. H. H.) Dioscorides calls it refrigerant, and recommends it as an external application in ardor of the stomach, inflammation of the eyes, and prolapsus ani; and mentions, that it had been taken internally in quinsy and epilepsy of children. (iv, 120.) Galen merely recommends it externally in the same cases as Dioscorides. The Arabian authorities extend the use of this article. Thus, Avicenna recommends it in heat of the stomach, both internally and externally; in a syrup for coughs, pleurisies, and other affections of the lungs; in pains of the kidneys as a diuretic, and as a cholagogue. (ii, 2, 715.) See also Rhases (Cont. l. ult. 3, 21), and Ebn Baithar (i, 170.) Serapion, on the authority of Aben Mesuai, says further of it that it is laxative in doses of from three to seven drachms. (De Simpl. 141.)