the latter was also sometimes included. In the modern Greek Pharmacopœia both the bark of the root and the rind of the fruit are described, the term σίδιον being restricted to the latter. Ῥοῦς βυρσοδεψικὴ, Rhus Coriaria, _Sumach_; the fruit and juice of it come principally to be used by physicians, being considerably astringent and desiccative of the third order, but detergent of the second. * * * * * COMMENTARY. It is the _Rhus Coriaria_, or _Elm-leaved Sumach_. This also was much used as an astringent. Pliny briefly says of it, “vim habet astringendi refrigerandique.” The Arabian writers on husbandry mention that in times of famine bread was sometimes made from sumach. Dioscorides says of it that its leaves are astringent, being applicable in the same cases as acacia. He recommends it in dysentery when given by the mouth, in a lavement and hip-bath, as an injection in cases of purulent discharges from the ears, and for many other practical purposes. He concludes with mentioning that it bears a gum which is put into the holes of carious teeth to relieve pain. (i, 147.) Celsus notices it but once, and then as an application to aphthous ulcerations of the mouth. (vi, 11.) It is mentioned as an astringent medicine and condiment in the Hippocratic treatises. (De Mulieb. and de Liquid. usu.) Galen, and the other Greek authorities after him, merely state its general properties as a medicine. The Arabians treat of it under the name of sumach, which it still retains. See Avicenna (ii, 2, 635); Rhases (Cont. l. ult. i. 695); Serapion (De Simpl. 225); Ebn Baithar (ii, 46, 163.) Ῥύπος, The Sordes, from copper statues or vessels, in which a considerable quantity of oil has been kept, having also some verdigris, is discutient, moderately desiccative and emollient. It therefore discusses unconcocted phymata. But the sordes in the palestra (which some call paton), has been described under the head of sweat. The sordes in the ears is said to cure whitlows. * * * * *