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
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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
COMMENTARY. It certainly is the _Coriandrum sativum_. Dioscorides says
that its action is refrigerant, but Galen insists that it is calefacient.
Symeon Seth, Mesue, as quoted by Serapion, and most of the ancient
authorities adopt the opinion of Dioscorides. Our modern views would
seem to correspond better with those of Galen; coriander-seed being now
generally looked upon as an aromatic stimulant, and as being carminative
and stomachic. Galen’s remarks under this head are highly interesting.
The coriander was used in the age of Hippocrates. (359, etc. ed. Föes.)
Celsus, like Dioscorides, holds it to be refrigerant. (84, ed. Milligan.)
He also calls it diuretic. (Ibid.) The Arabians say that when the juice
is taken to the extent of four ounces, it proves destructive of life.
Avicenna (ii, 2, 143); Serapion (c. 44); and Rhases (Cont. l. ult. i,
229.) They also hold that it is possessed of soporific powers. They
prescribe it for the cure of epilepsy, in which case they say it checks
the aura which ascends from the stomach to the brain. The _Coriandrum
sativum_ holds a place in the modern Greek Pharmacopœia. (58.) It is also
still retained in our Materia Medica. See Pereira (1073.)
Κόρυδος ἢ Κορύδαλλος,
Alauda, _the Lark_; this bird when boiled with plain broth is of use in
colic affections. But one must eat it perseveringly and frequently with
the broth.
* * * * *
COMMENTARY. No one can doubt, from the ancient descriptions of it,
that it was the _Alauda cristata_. Galen remarks, that it is correctly
described by Aristophanes, in his ‘Birds;’ and that it is noticed by
Theocritus. (Idyll. vii.) It is also mentioned by Aristotle and Ælian
in their works on Natural History. Pliny calls it _Galerita_. Galen
says there is a herb of the same name. Like our author, he praises it
when given in broth, for the cure of colic. Both, however, copy from
Dioscorides. (ii, 59.) It is not noticed in the works of Hippocrates and
Celsus. It would appear that it is the _hanabroch_ of Serapion, who, in
describing it, merely gives extracts from Dioscorides and Galen. (436.)
It is also briefly noticed by Ebn Baithar in nearly the same terms as
Serapion. (ii, 329.)
Κορωνόπους,
Coronopus, _Buck’s-horn Plantain_; the root of it is believed to be
useful in colic affections when eaten.
* * * * *
COMMENTARY. It is the _Plantago Coronopus_, called in English Buckshorn
Plantain. See Parkinson, Gerard, and Quincy. Dioscorides says it is used
as a potherb, and that it is given as a medicine in colic. (ii, 157.)
None of the others supply any additional information regarding it worth
quoting.
Κόστος,
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