I 
SI 
The leaves of Scordmm have a fmdl fomewhat of the o";,ri;pl 
kind/, and to the tafte they are bitterifh, and flightly pun^^ent^ 
« When moderatelv and newly dried they give out their fmeirand 
tofte both to water and to reaified fpirit. In diftillation their pecu- 
liar flavour arifes with water, but the impregnation of the diftilled 
fluid is not ftrong, nor could any eflential oil be obtained on fub- 
mitting to the operation feveral pounds of the herb.'' V 
,The ancients, to whom Scordium w-as well known ' attributed fo 
■^■^ 
\ 
J "-ty 
It a peculiar antifeptic and alexipharmic power, and for m.an 
it had the charader of being remarkably efficacious in all peftilential 
and putrid difeafes ; v/ith a view to this, it was afterwvirds direded in 
the compofition of feveral officinal medicines,' fuppofed to be antidotes 
to various kinds of poifons and infedions ; and we are told, even at 
a date not very remote from the prefent, of its fuccefsful ufe in the 
plague, which raged in Turkey/ But notwithftanding the Scordium 
was formerly confidered fucli a celebrated remedy, and ftill has pi 
in both the Pharmacopoeias, yet it appears to be a very infignificant 
of the Materia Medica, and is therefore very juftiy fall 
difufe ; and in this opinion we have the authority of Dr. CuUen, vdio 
fays, " this plant has a bitter, joined with fome volatile parts ; but 
neither of thefe qualities is confiderable enough to retain it in the 
prefent pradice."^ Bergius hov/ever ftates virtus to be antiputredinofa, 
tonica, diaphoretica, diuretica, refolvens / and fome others recom- 
mend it to be employed externally in antifeptic cataplafms and 
•fomentations 
' From this fmell It is fuppofsd to take the name Scordium, or Sxofo^oy, which fignifies 
Garlick ; and the milk of animals, v/hich feed upon this plant, is faid to acquire a fimilar 
flavour. ■ ■ ^ Lewis Mat. Med. p. ^(^6. 
^ We are far from being certain that the plant we have figured Is really the Scordium 
of the ancients, and on this account we have not referred it to the Greek writers 
•* Of the fabulous accounts of its antifeptic powers, we may mention the following 
from Galen: Scriptum autem eft a quibufdam viris graviiTimis, cum in bello intcremp- 
torum cadavera multos dies infcpulta jacuiilent, quaecunque fupra fcordium forte fortuna 
ceciderant, multo minus aliis computruifle, ea prsefertim ex parte qus herbam contigerat. 
Lib, de Antidot. 6. cap. 12. 
^ The Mithridate and Therlaca have but lately been expunged from our difpenfatories ; 
and though often experienced to be ufeful remedies, yet with Haller v/e may fay, " Sed 
es farragines funt medicamentorum, in quibus non dignofcas, cui tribuas eventa." I. c. 
{ Vide Lettres par De Foy. t. i. p. 198. and Chenot de pe/?e, p. 132. 
S Mat, Md, vol, 2. p. 82. ^ Mat. Med. p. 505. 
; • ■ PUNICA GRANATUM. 
/ 
