2

HISTORICAL TABLE OF THE MATERIA MEDICA.

1729

1689

B. C.

1491

1491

1063

884

713

600

A. D.

40

B. C.

A. D.

229

EGYPTIAN MEDICINE.

Thout or Thaut (also called Hermes or Mercury) regarded as the founder of Medicine.Medicine practised first by priests, afterwards by physicians who confined themselves to thestudy of one disease. (Herod . Euterpe lxxxiv).

The sick exposed in public places {Strabo ).

Purges, vomits, and clysters, used for three days successively in every month. (Ibid lxxvii).

Dietetical regulations: the hog regarded as unclean. Baths and unguents.

Worshipped a bulbous plant (Kpofxfxvov, Squilla?) to which they erected a temple (Pauw).Employed aetites, slime of the Nile , frictions with crocodile’s fat in rheumatism, and mucilageof Semina psyllii. Salt , \hpov (carbonate of soda?), alum, plasters,and unguents; whitelead and verdigris occasionally entered into the latter.

Fumigations with Cyphi (Ku<f>t) a mixture of various drugs. (Disocorides, i. 24).

Spices, balm, and myrrh, carried to Egypt . (Gen. xxxvii. 25).

Embalming practised. Palm wine, aromatics, myrrh, cassia, and other odorous substances,(not frankincense), as well as vtrpov (carb. soda?) and gum used in this process.

FT Consult,— Pauw (M. De), “Phil. Dissert, on the Egyptians and Chinese .” vol. l. p. 130. 1795.

Alpinus (Prosper), “De Medic. Algypt.”

HEBREW MEDICINE.

The infliction and cure of diseases on various occasions ascribed by the Sacred Historian tothe direct interposition of God . ( Exod . ix. 15. Numb. xii. 10.)

Remedial agents consisted principally in strict hygienic means. (Circumcision, dieteticalrules, separation, ablution, combustion of infected garments. See Gen. xvii. 10; Lev. xi.& xiii.; 'l Kings, v.)

Medicine practised by the Priests . (Lev. xiv.) Gold, silver, lead, tin, iron, and brass (copper?)mentioned by Moses.

Odoriferous ointment and confection ; the most ancient recipes on record. (Exod. xxx. 23—25, & 34—35.)

Music employed as a remedy. (Sam. xvi. 16.)

Sesquisulphuret of antimony used as a face paint. (2 Kings, ix. 30).

Fig poultice. (2 Kings , xx. 7.)

Physicians (not priests) referred to. ( Jerem . viii. 22.) N.B. The so called Egyptian physi-cians (Genes. L. 2 ) were probably £vrct<piatmu t undertakers, or einbalmers.

The following substances are referred to in the Bible • the Olive, Saffron , Barley , Wheat , theFig , the Vine, Myrrh , Bdellium, Galbanum, Cumin, Coriander , Flax , Garlic , Balm of Gilead,Olibanum (Frankincense ), Cassia, Cinnamon , the Almond, the Pomegranate, Dill (in ourtranslation incorrectly called Anise )—Colocynth ? Ricinus ?

Herod was let down into a bath of oil. (Josephus , Bell. Jud. lib. 1. cap. 33. $ 5.)

Oil and wine applied to wounds. (Luke, x. 34.)

Various superstitious practices. (Adam Clarke Comm. Note to Mark, v. 26.)

£3* F° r further information respecting Hebrew medicine consult the “Bible ”;—J. H. Horne’s “Introd.to the Crit. Study and Knowl. of the Holy Script, vol. iii. 8th ed. 1839;—K. Sprengel, “Analecta His-torica ad Medicinam Ebneorum,” Hal. 1796;—D. Carcassone, “ Essai Historique sur la Med. des He-breux, anciens et moderues.” 8vo. Montp. 1815.

ASSYRIANS.

The Babylonians had no professors of medicine. They exposed their sick in public places, inorder that passengers might communicate their experience as to the best mode of cure.(Herodotus , Clio cxcvii.) Extracted oil from the Sesamtim. (Ibid, cxviii).

ffT Consult,— Smoll (D. G.), “ Venerandse antiquitatis Assyriorum Chaldaeorum, &c. Philosoph . Med.Regum et Princip. philosophica et Med. Principia.” 4to. Lubec. 1609.

CHINESE MEDICINE.

Of its ancient state but little is known. The Chinese pretend that its study was coeval withthe foundation of their empire, and that their medical code was the production of Hoangti,B. C. 2000. (Grosier.) Before the Christian era there was a constant communicationbetween China and India. (Asiat. Journ. July, 1836).

Medical science commenced with Chang-ka; for all works before that (said to be dated B. C.1105 & 189) treat of medicine without giving prescriptions. (Trans, of Med. Soc. of Calc. i.146). As the Chinese have retained their ancient manners and customs, we must judge ofwhat their medicine was by what it is.

Pun-tsaou or (Herbal ), the most considerable Chinese work on Materia Medica, includesminerals vegetables and animals. (Davies, ii. 278.)

Cking eke ckun eking, (Approved marked line of Medical Practice,) a celebrated work in40 vols.; of whicii, eight are devoted to Lny-fang (Pharmacology ). The articles of theMateria Medica are very numerous. Ginseng is their panacea. Aromatics and gums inapoplectic cases. Opium as an anodyne and in dysentery. Mercury both raw and oxidized.Musk, rhubarb, tea, camphor of the Dryobalanops, a3afcetida, spices, larvas of the silkworm, bones of tigers and elephants, vegetable w ax, horns, fins, &c. Moxa. Croton Tiglium.

£3* Consult,—Du Halde (J. 15.), “ Dt'script. Geogr. et Hist, de la China.” t. 3. p. 318. 1770; Grosier(L’Abbe), “ Descript. Gen. de la China.” t. ij. p. 466. 1787; Davies (J. F.), “ The Chinese .” vol. 2 .p. 278; Gutzlafk “ Journ. of the Asiat. Soc.” vol. 4. p. 154.