GALEN ON THE COMPOSITION OF MEDICINES

BOOK 8

Edition of Chartier XIII. [530, 531.]

Edition of Basel II. (258.)

...those who have studied these writings should remember. Even if they do not have a ready memory, they should diligently read the sixth, seventh, and eighth books of On the Power of Simple Medicines original: "peri tēs tōn haplōn pharmakōn dynameōs." This was Galen's major work classifying the properties of individual drugs before they are mixed. at the very time they are learning about such compound medicines. In those books, I described all the materials for medicines, including the roots, leaves, flowers, seeds, fruits, saps, and juices of all plants that grow from the earth. Since you have heard these things, now turn your attention to what Andromachus wrote about this medicine.

The Windpipe Medicine Arteriaca which I use. [531]

Take the thickest roots of fern original: "ptereōs" or "filicis." Likely the male fern, used frequently in ancient pharmacology.. Wash them until they are perfectly clean and all soil is removed. Then let them dry for one day. Cut them into pieces the length of three fingers and crush them. Take 10 pounds original: "litrai" or "librae." A Roman pound was roughly 329 grams. of these. Put them into a new pot with 10 pints original: "xesteis" or "sextarios." A liquid measure roughly equal to half a liter. of fresh water. Boil this until only 5 pints remain. Strain them and pour the liquid into a double-walled vessel original: "diplōma." A vessel designed for indirect heating, similar to a double boiler, to prevent scorching the medicine.. Add the coarse aromatics in their whole parts:

Take:
Indian nard original: "nardou Indikēs." A highly prized aromatic root imported from the Himalayas. 4 drams original: "drachmas." A unit of weight, about 4 grams..
Cinnamon 6 drams.
Sweet root original: "glykeias rhizēs." This is liquorice root, used then as now for soothing the throat....