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. niEIUCIUM. 



"Hieracium" 9 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," 10 one 

 ounce of misy 11 and six of saffron; all these substances being 

 pounded together with Thasian vinegar arid 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 dctorgently upon ulcers, and promotes their 

 cicatrization. Verdigris also consumes the callosities of fis- 

 tulas and cxcrescc'iJCL-s 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 COPPKU ; KIGIITEEX REMEDIES. 



There is another kind of verdigris also, which is called 

 " scolex." 12 It is prepared by triturating in a mortar of 



* According to Cclsus, this substance obtained its name from the person 

 who invented or compounded it; he calls it *' Collyrium of Ilierax." B. 



10 '* Atramenti sutorii, quod chaleanthum vocant."" We may presume that 

 this substance was somewhat different from the "atramentum sutoriuni" 

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

 copper;" %a\Kov dvOof. 15. Dclafosse identifies it with blue, vitriol, 

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



11 Src Chapter '>!. 



u From the (Jreek ?*<<>Xy}g, " a worm," *' Vermicular Verdigris." 

 M Th accounts of this substance in ancient authors seem to some commen- 

 tators to be obscure ; hut in mv opinion we arc to understand by them 

 that 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 tinnicelli to wire-drawn paste of 



