COMMENTARY. Dioscorides in like manner recommends a cataplasm prepared with the shavings from the _elephant’s_ hoofs in cases of paronychia. Most of the other authorities would appear not to have treated of it. Ivory shavings were retained in the Dispensatory until late years. See Quincy. Ἑλκυσματα τοῦ ἀργύρου, Recrementum argenti, _the Dross of Silver_, has the same powers as the molybdæna, for it is astringent and epispastic, hence it is mixed with the plasters called Fusca and Epulotic. * * * * * COMMENTARY. What the _Scoriæ argenti_ are will be readily understood from the following description of the process of extracting silver from the ores of it: “These ores are extremely hard, and also mixed with bituminous, sulphureous, arsenical, or vitriolic substances, which carry off with them a considerable part of the silver, or burn it to _scoriæ_ along with themselves.” Geoffroy, &c. (p. 272, Engl. ed.) Our author copies almost verbatim from Dioscorides, and the other Greek authorities supply nothing additional under this head. Aëtius treats of the _scoriæ_ in general terms, as we shall see in the proper place, and merely says of the _Scoriæ argenti_ that they are possessed of desiccative powers. Of the Arabians, Avicenna, in treating of this article, borrows every word from the Greeks. (ii, 2, 693.) Serapion quotes an Arabian authority, Adamasti, to the effect that the scoria argenti is of use in cardiac disease (c. 415.) Rhases, after quoting from Galen, Dioscorides, and Paulus, gives the opinions of two Arabian authorities, Damas (?) and Chuz, the former to the effect that it is useful in palpitation of the heart and fetor of the mouth, and the other, that it cures scabies and pruritus. (Cont. l. ult. i, 74.) Ἐλλέβορος, Helleborus, _Hellebore_; both kinds are calefacient and desiccative in the third degree. It (the white) is also acrid and detergent; and hence it agrees with leprous affections of the skin. The black, when introduced into fistulæ, makes the callus cast off in three days. * * * * *