* * * * * COMMENTARY. The modern botanists have described many species of it, and it is difficult to determine from among them those which are applicable to the two species described by Dioscorides and our author. Sprengel is pretty confident that the former is the _Orchis papilionacea_. He is undecided respecting the _Sarapias_, but we may venture to refer it to the _Orchis Morio_. Regarding the medicinal virtues of the former of these, Dioscorides merely relates the vulgar belief, namely, that one of its bulbous roots had the virtue of rousing to venery, and the other of blunting the venereal appetite, and that the one promoted the generation of male children, and the other of female. However nonsensical all this may appear, the same properties are ascribed to the orchis by our herbalist Culpeper. (130.) The other orchis he represents as being an ingredient in applications to fistulæ, mortifications, ulcers of the mouth, and so forth. (iii, 31, 32.) Galen attempts to explain the reputed aphrodisiacal virtues of the orchis upon its sensible qualities. Our author copies from him. The Arabians describe these two plants under the names of Testiculus Vulpis and Testiculus Canis, or _Chasi altaleb_ and _Chasi alchelb_. See Avicenna (ii, 2, 706); Rhases (Cont. l. ult. i, 714); Serapion (De Simpl. 90, 91.) They ascribe the same real and imaginary powers to the two species as the Greeks had done. Ὄσιρις, Osiris, _Toad-flax_, from which besoms are made, is bitter and removes obstructions in the liver. * * * * * COMMENTARY. Dioscorides briefly notices this plant (_Osyris alba?_), and recommends it in jaundice. Our author copies literally from Galen, as does also Aëtius. Oribasius borrows from Dioscorides. It does not appear to be treated of by the Arabian authorities at all. Ὀστὰ, Ossa, _Bones_, when burnt are possessed of discutient and considerably desiccative powers, especially, they say, those of men. The ankle-bone of a sow when burnt, is said to cure flatulence and tormina. And some cure epilepsy and arthritis by giving burnt bones to drink. The burnt ankle-bone of an ox is said to fasten loose teeth; but if drunk with honey, it removes round worms, and with oxymel it reduces the spleen, and when rubbed in relieves leuce. It is also an aphrodisiac. The burnt thigh-bones of an ox if taken in a draught, stop hemorrhages and fluxes of the bowels. * * * * * COMMENTARY. The other authorities give nearly the same account of their medicinal properties. See Galen (De Simpl. 11); Serapion (c. 464); Avicenna (ii, 2, 528.) The Arabians borrow from Galen and our author. Ὄστρακα, Testæ, _Shells_, from furnaces, when triturated, are possessed of desiccative and detergent powers. Hence they are used as a dentifrice, and when rubbed in with vinegar cure itch, exanthemata, and gouty complaints, and with cerate dispel enlarged scrofulous glands.