Serapion gives a full account of these gentle emetics. (De Antidotis, c. 36.) On the simpler methods which the ancients had recourse to in order to produce vomiting, see Prosper Alpinus. (Med. Meth. iii, 10.) We would here remark that the predilection of the ancients for vomits has appeared very extraordinary to some of our modern writers on dietetics, the more especially as it was supposed that the ancients made use of violent emetics, as for example, the white hellebore, in such cases. It is certain, however, that the ancients were acquainted with gentler means of unloading the stomach on ordinary occasions, and that they seldom made use of such medicines as the hellebore, except in cases of disease; and, as we shall see afterwards, were well aware of the danger of giving strong emetics unseasonably. SECT. XLIII.—ON LAXATIVES AND DIURETICS TO THOSE IN HEALTH. Some of the ancients thought it sufficient for health that the bowels and urine should be evacuated once a day freely and fully, according to the quantity of food and drink which had been taken; and when the evacuations were agreeable to this rule, they were satisfied, or, if otherwise, they assisted them by taking, in order to increase the urinary discharge, shepherd’s needle, parsley, asparagus, Macedonian parsley, anise, calamint, marjoram, wormwood, the roots of couch-grass and of golden thistle, tree-medic, and of maiden-hair; all these being boiled in water, so that the decoction might be drunk with wine. For these things purify the blood by the mine, and are of no small efficacy. Alvine discharges are to be assisted by giving turpentine to the quantity of an olive when going to rest, or, when it is wished to purge more effectually, by adding a little rhubarb. Soft eggs, of pot-herbs the beet and mallows, and the soup of shell-fish are also laxative, and these probably will be sufficient. But if more powerful remedies be required, the herb mercury, boiled in water with salt, may be eaten, or the decoction drunk; and, in like manner, the leaves of the elder tree (sambucus), or the root of the oak-fern (polypodium) to the amount of two drachms, may be sprinkled upon pickle, or swallowed in a ptisan; or milk-whey, with salt; or honey, to the amount of three or four heminæ; or the broth of an old cock, by itself or with two drachms of bastard saffron, or aloes, to the amount of about three chick-peas, may be taken at supper-time. But the best remedy is dodder of thyme, taken in wine after a moderate supper. But he that wishes to purge more strongly must take, in the morning, a drachm of this medicine infused in vinegar and honey, if in the spring season. * * * * * COMMENTARY. Oribasius treats fully of purgatives towards the end of the 8th book of ‘Med. Collect.’ He gives a list of gentle laxatives. (Euporist. i, 45.)