Chap. 28.] SCOLEX OF COPPER. 197 



It affords a most useful ingredient for eye-salves, and from 

 its mordent action is highly beneficial for watery humours of 

 the eyes. It is necessary, however, to wash the part with 

 warm water, applied with a fine sponge, until its mordency 

 is no longer felt. 



CHAP. 27. HIERAeiUM. 



*' Hieracium"^ is the name given to an eye-salve, which is 

 essentially composed of the following ingredients ; four ounces 

 of sal ammoniac, two of Cyprian verdigris, the same quantity 

 of the kind of copperas which is called " chalcanthum,"^" one 

 ounce of misy" and six of saffron; all these substances being 

 pounded together with Thasian vinegar and made up into 

 pills. It is an excellent remedy for incipient glaucoma and 

 cataract, as also for films upon the eyes, eruptions, albugo, 

 and diseases of the eye-lids. Verdigris, in a crude state, is 

 also used as an ingredient in plasters for wounds. In com- 

 bination with oil, it is wonderfully efficacious for ulcerations 

 of the mouth and gums, and for sore lips. Used in the form 

 of a cerate, it acts detergently upon ulcers, and promotes their 

 cicatrization. Verdigris also consumes the callosities of fis- 

 tulas and excrescences about the anus, either used by itself, 

 applied with sal ammoniac, or inserted in the fistula in the 

 form of a salve. The same substance, kneaded with one third 

 part of resin of turpentine, removes leprosy. 



CHAP 28. (12.) SCOLEX OF COPPER; EIGHTEEN- REMEDIES. 



There is another kind of verdigris also, which is called 

 *'scolex."^^ It is prepared by triturating in a mortar of 



5 According to Celsus, tbis substance obtained its name from the person 

 wlio invented or compounded it; he calls it " Collyrium of Hierax." — B. 



i*^ " Atramenti sutorii, quod chalcanthum vocant." We may presume that 

 this substance was somewhat different from the "atramentum sutorium" 

 mentioned in the last Chapter : the word " chalcanthum" means "flower of 

 copper ;" x^^fou dvOog. — B. Delafosse identifies it with blue vitriol, 

 sulphate, or hydro-trisulphate of copper. See Chapter 32. 



'1 See Chapter 31. 



^2 From the Greek <Tic(o\r/P„ " a worm," *' Vermicular Verdigris." — 

 " The accounts of this substance in ancient authors seem to some commen- 

 tators to be obscure ; but in my opinion we are to understand by them 

 tliat the ingredients were pounded together till the paste they formed as- 

 sumed the appearance of pieces or threads like worms. For the same 

 reason the Italians give the name of vermicelli to wire-drawn paste of 



