From a drawing of the XVI century
The plant is being uprooted by the struggling dog, whilst a horn is blown to drown the cries of the fatal herb
The younger Pliny (A.D. 32–79), in his “Natural History,” also describes the use of mandragora as a narcotic, and gives preference to the use of the leaves over the root for that purpose. “The dose,” he says, “is half a cyathus, taken against serpents, and before cuttings and puncturings, that they may not be felt.” He further adds: “For these purposes it is sufficient for some persons to seek sleep from the smell,” from which it is clear that this anæsthetic was also used by inhalation.
With reference to mandragora, Sir Benjamin Ward Richardson once prepared a draught according to one of the recipes given by Dioscorides, and took it. He tells us that “the phenomena repeated themselves with all faithfulness, and there can be no doubt that, in the absence of our now more convenient anæsthetics, ‘morion’ might still be used with some measure of efficacy for general anæsthesia.”
Further allusion is made to mandragora as a surgical anæsthetic by Apuleius in his “Liber de Herbis,” in which he says: “If anyone is to have a limb mutilated, burnt, or sawn, he may drink half an ounce of mandragora with wine; and while he sleeps the member may be cut off without any pain or sense.”
Avicenna, the Father of Arabian medicine, gives special directions as to the employment of mandragora, both as an anæsthetic and a hypnotic; while Averrhöes, another Arabian physician, refers to the soporific effects of the fruit of the same plant. Galen also alludes to its powers to paralyse sensation, and Paulus Ægineta states: “Its apples are narcotic, when smelled to, and also their juice, that if persisted in they will deprive the person of his speech.” According to Isidorus, “a wine of the bark is given to those about to undergo operations, that, being asleep, they feel no pain”; and Serapion confirms this statement in his works.
Anæsthesia in Roman times
Evidence of the practice of surgical anæsthesia is to be found in the writings of several physicians during the time of the Roman Empire. It is probable that the practice came to them from the Greek school, for mandragora, which they almost invariably used, grew largely in the Grecian Archipelago. Celsus recommends a pillow of mandragora apples to induce sleep.
Hindu Anæsthetics
From ancient records it appears probable, that the Hindus inhaled the fumes of burning Indian hemp as an anæsthetic at a period of great antiquity. As early as the year 977 they also knew of other drugs which they employed for the same purpose.