88 | Aster HIsTory 
From Galen,* “ De terra Samia. We use moreover that other 
kind of Samian earth more, which they entitle Samzum astera, for 
stopping hemorrhage, just as with the earth under the Lemnian 
seal (Lemnio sigillo). Aster Samius is used for ulcers, with the 
juice ofarnoglossum (= Plaxtago mayor L., sometimes called Aster, 
says Apuleius, perhaps from this use for ulcers like Aster Atticus 
and Aster Samius) in uster and wine and vinegar. But the 
Lemnian earth seems to me not a little more efficacious than the 
Samian [for ulcers]. The Samian is fit and efficacious for incipi- 
ent buboes (bubonas incipientes) and where it is desired to use a 
moderate refrigerant (refrigerare mediocriter), For the Samian 
Aster is tenacious and viscous,t and the Lemnian seal (Lemma 
Sphragis) has some little degree of the same character. Women 
also use as abstergents, the Selinusian earth and the Chian ; they 
are the most excellent remedies for the fiery burn of an_ ulcer. 
They are excellent moderate remedies without great heat or cold ; 
which is true of Selinusian, Chian and Samian earths. It is said, 
moreover, that the species of this which they call Aster excels the 
remaining earths, because it has a certain viscous and tenacious 
quality, and either the Chian or the Selinusian earth is inferior to_ 
the Samian in treating tumors of the breast, or the early develop- — 
ment of buboes on the testes or the groin.’ t 
ASTER MEDICAMENTS 
Aster as name of a medicament, a collyrion, poultice or com- 
pound medicine, seems to have come into use as name of a com- 
pound to replace the simple Aster Samius, and seems to have 
become confirmed in use by its connoting a star. Galen and 
Aétios are chief existing authorities for this use of the word Astef- 
Galen made use, for ulcers, etc., of a composition which he 
called Aniketos Aster, dutzgzos dotyo, or in Latin Aster inex- — 
superabilis. Galen’s statement of its use is as follows: , 
“ Aster inexsuperalibis, ad doloris vexatione, pustulas, staphy- 
lomata, ulcera sordida, et serpentia. Facit ad inveteratos affectus 
et cicatrices exterit,’’ 
a iain ane 
* ee Se 
_ Kuhn : 12: 1784+, repi Yauiac yy. 
7 : own enim et viscosus est Samius Aster,’? 
ft phlegmonas in mamillas, testibus atque inguinibus incipientes.’’ 
