The Complete Works of Claudius Galen, Vol. 14

GALEN ON ANTIDOTES

Ed. Chart. XIII. [865.]

...is promised by the medicine known as the theriac from the Greek 'theriakos,' pertaining to wild or venomous beasts. This was composed by the physician Andromachus, and it replaced the one called the Mithridatic antidote, which was named after the man who created it. This Mithridates, just like Attalus in our own time Attalus III of Pergamum, a king famous for his studies in pharmacology and toxicology, was eager to gain practical knowledge of almost all simple drugs that work against deadly poisons. He tested their powers on wicked men who had been condemned to death. He discovered that some of these drugs were specifically effective against venomous spiders original Greek: φαλαγγίων (phalangia), some against scorpions, and others against vipers. Likewise, among lethal poisons, he found some effective against aconite a poisonous plant also known as monkshood or wolfsbane, others against the sea hare a marine mollusk, Aplysia depilans, considered highly toxic in antiquity, and others against various other substances. Mithridates mixed all these ingredients together to create a single medicine. He hoped to have a defense that would help against all deadly things. Later, Andromachus, the primary physician to Nero, created the antidote called the theriac by adding certain ingredients and removing others. He mixed a significant amount of viper flesh with the other components, which the Mithridatic remedy did not have. Because of this...

...is promised, just as that which is called theriace, composed by the physician Andromachus, which also displaced that which they call the Mithridatium, named after the man who composed it. For this Mithridates, just as with our Attalus, sought to have experience of nearly all simple medicines which oppose destructive poisons, exploring their powers on criminals condemned to death. Therefore, he found certain of them to be privately suitable against venomous spiders, some against scorpions, just as others were against vipers. Likewise, against killing poisons, some work against aconite, some against the sea hare, and others against one thing or another. Therefore, with all these things mixed together, Mithridates fashioned one medicine, hoping he would have a protection against all lethal things. Afterward, Andromachus, the primary physician of Nero, prepared the antidote called theriace by adding some things and taking others away, using a considerable amount of viper flesh, which [the Mithridatium did not have].