Chap. 31.] MIST. 1P9 



tringently upon the gums, the uvula, and the tonsillary glands.^^ 

 It is applied in wool, as a pessary, for affections of the uterus ; 

 and with leek juice it is formed into plasters for diseases of 

 the genitals. This substance is macerated for forty days in 

 vinegar, in an earthen vessel luted with dung ; after which it 

 acquires a saffron colour. When this composition is mixed with 

 an equal proportion of cadmia, it forms the medicament known 

 lis " psoricon."^^ If two parts of chalcitis are combined with 

 one of cadmia, the medicament becomes more active ; and it is 

 rendered still more powerful if vinegar is used instead of wine. 

 For all these purposes, calcined chalcitis is the most efficacious. 



CHAP. 30.— SOEY : THREE EEMEDIES. 



The sory^^ of Egypt is the most esteemed, being considered 

 much superior to that of Cyprus, Spain, and Africa ; although 

 some prefer the sory from Cyprus for affections of the eyes. 

 But from whatever place it comes, the best is that which has 

 the strongest odour, and which, when triturated, becomes 

 greasy, black, and spongy. It is a substance so unpleasant to 

 the stomach, that some persons are made sick merely by its 

 smell. This is the case more particularly with the sory from 

 Egypt. That from other countries, by trituration, acquires 

 the lustre of misy, and is of a more gritty consistency. Held 

 in the mouth, and used as a collutory, it is good for toothache. 

 It is also useful for malignant ulcers of a serpiginous nature. 

 It is calcined upon charcoal, like chalcitis. 



CHAP. 3 MISY : THIRTEEN EEMEDIllS. 



Some persons have stated, that misy'^" is formed by the cal- 

 cination of the mineral, in trenches r^ its fine yellow powder 

 becoming mixed with the ashes of the burnt fire-wood. 

 The fact is, however, that though obtained from the mineral, 

 it is already formed, and in compact masses, which require 



^'' We have a similar account of its medicinal virtues given us by Dios- 

 corides ; Celsus also enumerates chalcitis among the corrosives, or cauteries, 

 " quae exedunt corpus." He also recommends it for affections of the 

 eyes. — B. ^^ a goi-g ointment." 



19 See Note 15 above. 



'^ See Note 15 above. Hardouin calls this substance "yellow cop- 

 peras," or " Roman vitriol." 



21 " In serobibus." The mineral alluded to is Chalcitis, mentioned in 

 Chapter 29.— B. 



