CHAP. 91.—FIVE REMEDIES DERIVED FROM THE HELENIUM.
The helenium, which springs, as we have already[1] stated,
from the tears of Helena, is generally thought to have been
produced for improving the appearance, and to maintain unimpaired the freshness of the skin in females, both of the face
and of other parts of the body. Besides this, it is generally
supposed that the use of it confers additional graces on the
person, and ensures universal attraction. They say, too, that,
taken with wine, it promotes gaiety of spirit, having, in fact, a
similar effect to the nepenthes, which has been so much vaunted
by Homer,[2] as producing forgetfulness of all sorrow. The
juice of this plant is remarkably sweet, and the root of it, taken
fasting in water, is good for hardness of breathing; 'it is white
within, and sweet. An infusion of it is taken in wine for the
stings of serpents; and the plant, bruised, it is said, will kill
mice.
1. In c. 33 of this Book.
2. Od. iv. 1. 221. This has been supposed by many commentators to
have been opium. The origin of the word is nh/, "not," and pe/nqos,
"grief;" and, as Fée says, it would seem to indicate rather a composition
than a plant. Saffron, mandragore, nightshade, and even tea and coffee,
have been suggested by the active imaginations of various writers. Fée is
of opinion that it is impossible to come to any satisfactory conclusion, but
inclines to the belief that either the poppy or a preparation from it, is
meant. In confirmation of this opinion, it is a singular fact, that, as Dr.
Paris remarks (in his Pharmacologia), the Nepenthes of Homer was obtained from Thebes in Egypt, and that tincture of opium, or laudanum,
has received the name of "Thebaic tincture." Gorræus, in his "Definitiones Medicæ," thinks that the herb alluded to is the Inula Campania,
or Elecampane, which was also said to have derived its name of
"Helenium" from Helen. Dr. Greenhill, in Smith's Dictionary of Antiquities, inclines to the opinion that it was opium. See the article
"Pharmaceutica."