ON MEDICINES ACCORDING TO PLACES

BOOK II

Edition of Chartier XIII. [531.]

Edition of Basel II. (258.)

...[and of valerian] 6 ounces original: "℥ vj." The Latin and Greek both use symbols for the ounce, a weight roughly equal to 27 grams.. Cassia 4 ounces. Pontic rhubarb 4 drachmas. Pomegranate flowers 6 ounces original: "balaustii." These are the flowers of the wild pomegranate, used for their astringent properties.. Dried roses 4 ounces; other versions of the text specify 6 drachmas. These ingredients are boiled in the same manner until the liquid is reduced by half. The mixture is then strained and squeezed out. To this decoction, add 1 pint original: "xestēs" or "sextarius," approximately 500 milliliters. of Attic honey. The honey must be pre-boiled and thickened separately in a double boiler original: "diplōma." A vessel for indirect heating to prevent scorching. until it reaches a consistency where it no longer sticks to or stains the hands.

Then add:
3 ounces of clear turpentine resin original: "terminthinēs." This resin, from the terebinth tree, was valued for treating respiratory issues.
2 drachmas of galbanum
5 drachmas of saffron
1 ounce of henbane juice
1 ounce of hypocistis juice original: "hypokistidos." A juice extracted from a parasitic plant that grows on the roots of the rockrose.
3 obols of mandrake juice original: "triobolon." An obol is one-sixth of a drachma; three obols make a half-drachma.
8 drachmas of white pepper.

Andromachus subsequently described an eighth preparation, for which he stated the primary purpose of its medicinal power. This is a practice he should have followed for all the recipes. His own words are as follows:

The highly praised Windpipe Medicine Arteriace of Mithridates. It is used for accumulations of fluids in the chest; it cleanses and smooths the passages.

Take:
1 ounce of toasted hedge mustard original: "erysimou." This plant was commonly used by ancient singers to clear the throat. The Latin text lists this as 1 drachma.. In some copies of the text, "crushed bean" original: "eregmos." is written instead; however, both ingredients possess a cleansing quality.
20 ounces of toasted linseed. This also has a cleansing power.
8 drachmas of pine nuts. These clearly have a smoothing effect.
Raisins with the seeds removed...