COMMENTARY. That the Dictamnus Creticus, so celebrated even in poetry (Virg. Æn. xii, 412) as a vulnerary herb, was a species of _Origanum_, has been long known and acknowledged. Until of late years it held a place in our Dispensatories under the name of dittany of Candy. It was always held to be alexipharmic, and as such it is commended by Dioscorides. Such, he adds, is the power of this herb that by the smell and touch it kills venomous reptiles; and the juice of it when poured into a wound inflicted by an iron instrument or the bite of a venomous animal immediately cures it. (iii, 34.) Galen would appear to have been sceptical as to the great medicinal powers said to be inherent in this plant, for he dismisses it with a brief notice to the effect that it is more attenuant than the pennyroyal, but like to it otherwise. See also Celsus (v, 25.) The Arabians follow Dioscorides, and represent it to be diuretic and emmenagogue. See Avicenna (ii, 2, 461) and Serapion (De Simpl. 310.) They describe it along with the pennyroyal. The bastard dittany has been pretty generally recognized as the _Dictamnus Fraxinella_. See Parkinson, Miller, and Pereira (ii, 1652, ed. sec.) The last of these authors remarks regarding it, that “it was formerly much used in medicine, but of late years has fallen into almost total disuse.” Not very many years ago, however, it was in great repute as being diuretic, emmenagogue, alexipharmic, anthelmintic, &c. See Alston’s Lectures (i, 434.) It is still esteemed by the Arabians and Persians as a tonic and stimulant. Ainslie (Mat. Med. 63.) Διονυσίας, Dionysias, is treated of under Androsæmum. Διφρυγὲς, Diphryges, _Husk of Brass_, is possessed of mixed powers, being somewhat astringent and moderately acrid. It is therefore a good application for malignant ulcers. * * * * * COMMENTARY. Dioscorides gives a very circumstantial description of three varieties of this substance, which for many years has been lost sight of. Matthiolus calls it the Husk of Bronze, and Sprengel says it is called _Kupfermulm_ in Germany. Rutty ranks it among the obsolete medicines of the ancients. (Mat. Med. pr. 27.) Rhases treats of it. (Cont. ult. 256.) See Serapion (c. 418.) Διψακὸς, Dipsacus, _Teasel_; the root of this thorn is desiccant in the second degree, and is also somewhat detergent. * * * * *