RANDOLPH. — MANDRAGORA IN FOLK-LORE AND MEDICINE. 525 



the appearance of the statement in his work gives to it to some extent a 

 guarantee of truthfulness. Furthermore, the manner in wliich this use 

 is stated in Dioscorides makes it all but certain that the one who first 

 wrote the statement founded his record on fact. 



While the writers of anticpiity have not very much to say about the 

 employment of other anaesthetic agents, yet there are a few passages 

 bearing ou the subject which go to confirm the above conclusions. 



Both Dioscorides and Pliny mention local anaesthesia : 



Diosc, 18. 17 : The stone memphiles is found in Egypt, near Memphis, being 

 of the size of a pebble, brilliant and variegated. It is said that when it is 

 reduced to powder and applied to parts of the body which are to be cut or 

 cauterized it produces a safe anaesthesia. 



Plin., 36. 56 : It is called memphiles from the place where it is found, and 

 it sparkles like a gem. It is reduced to powder, mixed with vinegar, and 

 applied to parts of the body which are about to be cauterized or cut • the 

 body is thus benumbed, and does not feel the pain. 



These two passages, which must be taken from a common source, 

 agree perfectly ; Dioscorides, however, adds that the anaesthetic is safe 

 {AklvSwov). This is a most excellent indication that the physician Dio- 

 scorides understood better and was paying closer attention to the subject 

 in hand than Pliny. For if he copied the word aKiv^wov from the 

 common source, while Pliny disregarded it wholly, it is manifest that 

 Dioscorides, in noting this important point, had a more intelligent idea 

 of what he was recording. If. on the other hand, he added the word 

 himself, the same thing is indicated, and it is further plain that he per- 

 sonally knew of the use of anaesthetics, since he thus distinguishes 

 between safe and dangerous ones.* It has often been observed by those 

 who have written of mandragora that it was dangerous.^ Perhaps we 

 may even think that the autiior who wrote of this safe anaesthetic had 

 mandragora in mind as a dangerous one. 



Pliny writes about the crocodile : 



28. 110 : The ashes of the hide of either species mixed with vinegar and 

 applied to parts of the body which are to be cut, or the smell of the burnt 

 hide, removes all sense of the knife. 



* Tliis argument holds good regarding the original autlior of this statement, 

 whetlier Dioscorides or some one earlier. One who writes of safe anaesthetics 

 must have known of dangerous ones ; but the fact that some were safe and otliers 

 dangerous could have been learned only by experiment. 



t (Theophr., Caus. Plant., 6. 4. 5) ; Diosc, 1. 571 ; Plin,, 25. 150. 



