Commentary. Sprengel makes them to be the Buccina Harpa and Lapillus. They are noticed among the articles of food in [the ninety-first section of the First Book]. Dioscorides correctly remarks that a species of quicklime is got from their shells. He recommends it as a dentifrice, and as an application to burns. (ii, 5.) Galen very properly inculcates the necessity of getting them finely levigated before applying them to sores. Avicenna treats of the buccina along with other crustacea under one head. His information is almost entirely borrowed from Dioscorides and Galen. (ii, 2, 529.) See also Rhases (Cont. l. ult. i, 224.)
Κίκι,
Ricinus, Palma Christi; its fruit, which is also purgative, has detergent and discutient properties, and so also has its leaf, but weaker. We have already spoken of its oil.
Commentary. There can be no doubt that the κίκι or κρότων was the Ricinus communis, the Castor-oil plant, or Palma Christi. It is mentioned by Herodotus (Euterpe, 94) and in several passages of the Hippocratic treatises. See Œconom. Hippocrat. (218.) It does not occur, however, in the works of Celsus. Dioscorides informs us that it is called croton, from its resemblance to the dog-tick, and it is worthy of observation that both the plant and the dog-tick bear the name of Ricinus in Latin. See Pliny (H. N. xi, 34, and xv, 7.) Dioscorides says that the oil is used for lamps and plasters, and also as a purgative and emetic; but that it is a very loathsome and harsh medicine when administered internally. He further mentions the seeds as being used in cutaneous diseases, and the leaves in diseases of the eyes (iv, 141.) Galen notices it but very briefly as a purgative having detergent and discutient powers. Aëtius and Oribasius appear to have overlooked it. Mesue commends it as a purgative in cases of colic attended with flatulence. He says it produces vomiting and painful dejection of the bowels, but that its operation occasions a discharge of phlegm and bile, which often proves effectual in diseases of the joints. (De Simpl. 28.) He calls it by the names of Albemesuch, Granum regum, and Kerva. Avicenna says of the oil, that it is laxative, and is a good application to scabies and other cutaneous diseases. (ii, 2, 523.) It is deserving of remark that the Grana regia of Rhases (Cont. l. ult. i, 339), are applicable to the Lathyris, and not to the Cici. Indeed Mesue jumbles together his description of these two substances. (l. c.) We have mentioned already that the Oleum Cicinum or Castor-oil, was used as a purgative by the ancient physicians. Dr. Hill says of it, “the ancients obtained an oil by expression, and also by boiling, from the seeds; they called it Oleum Cicinum; they used it, for burning in their lamps, and in some of their ointments and plasters. Dioscorides commends it internally against worms; and Piso tells us that it is sometimes used in the same manner in the Brazils, with success.”
Κιννάβαρις,
Cinnabaris, Sanguis Draconis, is possessed of moderately acrid powers with some astringency.
Commentary. We must refer to what we have stated in another work, which we have already often quoted, for the general literature of this subject. It will be sufficient in this place to state that the substance here treated of under the name of Cinnabaris is indisputably the Sanguis Draconis, or concrete juice of the Dracœna Draco. This is obvious from Dioscorides’s description of it, who says that it is of a deep colour, and hence some had thought it the blood of the dragon. (v, 109.) See further, Pliny (H. N. xxxiii, 38), and the very interesting note of Harduin, in which the origin of the confusion of the dragon’s blood with cinnabar is fully explained. Serapion treats of the Sanguis Draconis as the production of a tree, and quotes a description of it from Dioscorides and Galen. What vegetable substance in their Mat. Med. Serapion refers to, we are at a loss to decide. One of his authorities, Constantinus, calls it the juice of a plant, possessed of styptic powers, and therefore used as an astringent both internally as a suppository, and externally when so applied. (De Simpl. 341.) Avicenna recommends it similarly, but gives no description of it. (ii, 2, 627.) It is to be borne in mind that besides the vegetable cinnabar, the ancients described two other substances under this name, viz., the native mineral cinnabar or sulphuret of quicksilver, and a factitious cinnabar, which was their Sal Atticum. See Hill (Mat. Med. 60), and Geoffroy (215.) The dragon’s blood is retained in the modern Greek Pharmacopœia, where it is set down as the product of the Calamus Draco.
Κιννάμωνον,
Cinnamomum, Cinnamon, is composed of extremely subtile parts, yet is not extremely heating, but only in the third degree. But of those in the same rank of calefacients none is so desiccative owing to the tenuity of its parts. The cinnamomis is a sort of weak cinnamon; but some call it pseudo-cinnamomum.
Commentary. Sprengel and Dierbach acknowledge it as the Laurus Cinnamomus. We have stated, however, under Cassia that Stackhouse is of opinion that the ancients were unacquainted with our Laurus Cinnamomus; but we see no good grounds for this opinion. We shall give the words of Sprengel: “Cassia lignea nostratum et cassia cinnamomea eadem esse videntur, unde et cassiam ipsam ex eadem arbore provenire, quæ cinnamomum largiatur, veteres jam statuerunt.” (ad Dioscor. i, 13.) Dioscorides recommends cinnamon in uterine affections, that is to say, for promoting the flow of the menses and for the expulsion of the fœtus. We need scarcely mention that this use of it has been revived of late. He also holds it to be alexipharmic, recommends it in coughs, dropsies, and diseases of the kidneys and bladder; in complaints of the eyes, and in the formation of elegant ointments; in short, he adds, it is a medicine much in use. (i, 13.) Galen and the other Greek authorities give its medicinal characters in more general terms. The Arabians treat of it at great length, and more especially Avicenna, who recommends it in the same cases as Dioscorides, namely, as a diuretic, emmenagogue, and alexipharmic medicine, and also as a stomachic and deobstruent in congestion of the liver. He also holds it to be cordial and expectorant. (ii, 2, 124.) Serapion professes to borrow his account of cinnamon from Dioscorides and Galen; but the extract which he gives from the latter, is not to be found in his works as they now exist. In it cinnamon is commended as being an aromatic medicine, applicable in complaints of the stomach and liver, in affections of the eyes, and as an emmenagogue and diuretic. (De Simpl. 266.) Rhases copies from Dioscorides, Galen, and our author. (Cont. l. ult. i, 213.)