KtVIEYv' OF THE FRENCH CODEX. 
380 
Grammrs. 
Gr .m:nc3. 
Lemon Grass . . ... 
• • 
30 
I’ruit of Athamanta C retensis . 
. . 01 
Origanum Dictamnus . . 
« • 
30 
Seeds of Tares. 
Dried Laurel Leaves .... 
• • 
30 
„ Wild Turnips , . . 
. . 60 
Tops of Water Germander . . 
« • 
60 
„ Malabar Cardamoms . 
. . 80 
„ Calamint. 
30 
Polyporus officinalis .... 
. . 60 
„ White Horehound . . 
• 
30 
Smyrna Opium. 
„ Germander (spec, var.) 
• • 
30 
Liquorice Juice. 
„ Wall-Germander . . 
• • 
20 
Catechu. 
„ Teucrium Chamcepitys 
• • 
20 
Gum Arabic. 
„ Perforated St. John’s Wort . 
20 
Myrrh. 
„ Common Centaury 
10 
Olibanum. 
. . 30 
Eed Rose Petals. 
60 
Sagapenum. 
. . 20 
Lavandula Stcechas .... 
30 
Galbanum. 
. . 10 
Dried Lemon Peel. 
30 
Opopanax . 
. . 10 
Fruit of Long Pepper . . 
• • 
120 
Benzoin in Tears. 
. . 20 
„ Black Pepper . . . 
• • 
60 
Dried Vipers. 
. . 60 
„ Common Parsley . . 
• • 
30 
„ Ptychotis fosniculifolia 
* , 
20 
Dried Bread-crumbs .... 
. . 60 
„ Anise. 
20 
Terra Sigillata. 
. . 29 
„ Fennel. 
20 
Dried Sulphate of Iron . . . 
. . 20 
„ Hartwort of Iilarseillcs 
• 
20 
Asphaltuni. 
. . 10 
Pound these substances together, and sift them, so as to of tain a fine powder, with 
the least possible residue. This powder is known as Theiiaccd Fuwder. Then take of— 
Theriacal Powder.grammes 1000 
Chian Turpentine. „ 50 
Narbonne Honey. „ 3500 
Malaga Wine. „ 250 
Put the Chian turpentine into a pan, and liquefy it by a gentle heat, add to it as 
much of the theriacal powder as will mix witli it. Melt the honey, and whilst hot pour 
it by degrees into the pan to dilute the first mixture. Add, gradually, the rest of the 
powder and the Malaga wine, which should bring the mass to the consistence of a 
softish paste. When the mixture has been rendered quite homogeneous, preserve it in 
an earthen vessel. At the expiration of a few months empty the thcriaca into a mortar, 
and pound it again so as to mix it thoroughly. Four grammes of theriaca contain 
about 0-05 of a gramme of crude opium, equal to 0'025 of a gramme of extract of 
opium. 
Such is the formula of the Codex for Theriaca, a medicine which has passed through 
every degree of laudation and contumely; by some esteemed as a panacea for every 
ailment; by others denounced as the trashiest farrago. Borden used to say of it, that 
it succeeded in a thousand opposite cases, because it had a thousand aspects favourable 
to health, uniting every possible relish for every sort of stomach. On turning up recent 
authorities, I find that Trousseau and Pidoux, whilst admitting that its virtues have 
been exaggerated, still feel bound to state that, with such pharmaceutical compourrds as 
Theriaca and Dioscordiiim, cures can occasionally be effected when opium alone has 
failed. According to these most esteemed authorities, theriaca is particularly indicated 
in certain malignant forms of fever, in confluent small-pox, in measles, when serious 
complications, whether of the head or chest, ensue upon the disappearance of the erup¬ 
tion ; or, on the other hand, when, at the outset of the eruption, a prefuse diarrhoea so 
weakens the patient as to prevent the due elimination of the morbific piinciple. Again, 
theriaca is preferable to opium in gastralgias and entcralg'as, especially when these are 
complicated with chlorosis; for it establishes a tolerance of ferrugimus preparations, 
and completes the cure which iron alone could not eflcct. 
One feels sorely tempted to compare the above formula with the SI akq car'an mix¬ 
ture decocted by the weird sisters— 
“ Fillet of a ^enny snake, 
In the cauldron boil and bake,” etc. 
That any rational e;:plai:ation can be given of t’le i hysiological or therapeutical action 
