76 
and Arabic languages, must have correctly applied the 
synonymous terms, to such drugs as had been long in use; 
while those which then began to be first employed, must 
have been introduced either by new or by their Indian 
names. In this view the continued chain of authors is 
very valuable, as each is likely to have been well acquainted 
with the drugs described by at least his immediate pre- 
decessor : Myrepsus, therefore, is useful in forming the 
connexion with the Arab authors, as well as with Paulus 
^Egineta, whom they so closely succeeded ; while he com- 
pletes the reference to iEtius and Oribasius. 
These authors, however, being chiefly copyists of their 
predecessors, as well as having for the most part prac- 
tised as far West as Rome, contain little information 
which is not found in older works, and few new medicines; 
though their prescriptions are often almost entirely composed 
of Indian drugs. Paulus of jEgina, who lived in the 
seventh century, and was a great traveller, treats parti- 
cularly, as remarked by Dr. Freind, of the diseases of 
Women, and in his sixth book gives us, even if we compare 
him with Celsus, the most perfect account of Surgery, as 
it stood in the time of the ancients. " The chapter concern- 
ing the extraction of Darts and Arrows, &c. contains many 
excellent rules ; and the description he gives of that sort of 
weapon, then in use among the ancients, particularly the 
Egyptians, is very curious, and clear, as well as concise. 1 '' 
(1. p. 163). He notices few new medicines, but, among 
the Plasters, there is an " Emplastrum indicum; 11 — " he 
is probably the first to mention the internal use of Steel, 
as he speaks much of its virtues in scirrhus of the spleen, 
and recommends it both in infusion and in substance ;" he 
seems also to have been the first to take notice of Cloves, 
and of Rhubarb, by the name of " rheum barbaricum," which 
Actuarius, and after him Myrepsus, called " reon indicon," 
