The seven books of Paulus Ægineta, volume 3 (of 3) : $b translated from the Greek: with a commentary embracing a complete view of the knowledge possessed by the Greeks, Romans, and Arabians on all subjects connected with medicine and surgeryPaulus, Aegineta
Science
The seven books of Paulus Ægineta, volume 3 (of 3) : $b translated from the Greek: with a commentary embracing a complete view of the knowledge possessed by the Greeks, Romans, and Arabians on all subjects connected with medicine and surgery
Paulus, Aegineta
Medicine; Medicine, Arab; Medicine, Greek and Roman
Carum, _Caraway_; the seed is desiccant and heating in the third degree;
and not only the seed, but also the whole plant is carminative and
diuretic.
* * * * *
COMMENTARY. There can be no doubt that it is the _Carum Carui_. It is
evidently the careum of Pliny, and derives its name from Caria. (H. N.
xxix, 49.) Our author copies closely from Galen. Dioscorides calls it
diuretic, stomachic, pleasant to the taste, digestive, &c. The Arabians
further give it the character of being a cordial and anthelminthic
medicine. (See Serapion (c. 279), Avicenna (ii, 2, 137), and Rhases
(Cont. l. ult. i, 178.)
Καρπήσιον,
Carpesium, is aromatic, and consists of subtile particles. It therefore
clears away visceral obstructions, proves diuretic, and removes calculi
of the kidneys.
* * * * *
COMMENTARY. The Arabians identified this substance with their own
_Cubebæ_. See Rhases (Cont. l. ult. i, 242), Avicenna (ii, 2, 134),
and Serapion (c. 188.) But we will show in another place that this was
a mistake on their part. Nothing satisfactory has been ascertained
regarding it, and we have no pleasure in dwelling upon the conjectures of
the commentators on Dioscorides and of the herbalists.
Καρύον,
Nux Juglans, _Walnut_; the tree has some astringency in the shoots, but
more in the bark of the nuts. The juice of them, therefore, when boiled
with honey, becomes a stomachic medicine. The rind of it, when burnt,
consists of subtile particles, and becomes desiccant without pungency;
but the edible part of it being oily, is readily converted into bile.
The oil formed from them consists of subtile particles, and discusses
swellings and gangrenes. Walnuts which are rancid from age prove
detergent of cutaneous affections. But the Pontic, called the slender
nut, is colder and austere, but in other respects is like the large.
* * * * *
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