CHAP. 56.—ARRHENICUM.
Arrhenicum,[1] too, is procured from the same sources. The
best in quality is of the colour of the finest gold; that which is
of a paler hue, or resembling sandarach, being less esteemed.
There is a third kind also, the colour of which is a mixture of
that of gold and of sandarach. The last two kinds are both of
them scaly, but the other is dry and pure, and divides into
delicate long veins.[2] This substance has the same virtues as
the one last mentioned, but is more active in its effects.
Hence it is that it enters into the composition of cauteries
and depilatory preparations. It is also used for the removal
of hangnails, polypi of the nostrils, condylomatous tumours,
and other kinds of excrescences. For the purpose of increasing
its energies, it is heated in a new earthen vessel, until it
changes its colour.[3]
SUMMARY.—Remedies, one hundred and fifty-eight, Facts,
narratives, and observations, nine hundred and fifteen.
ROMAN AUTHORS QUOTED.—L. Piso,[4] Antias,[5] Verrius,[6] M.
Varro,[7] Cornelius Nepos,[8] Messala,[9] Rufus,[10] the Poet
Marsus,[11] Bocchus,[12] Julius Bassus[13] who wrote in Greek on
Medicine, Sextus Niger[14] who did the same, Fabius Vestalis.[15]
FOREIGN AUTHORS QUOTED.—Democritus,[16] Metrodorus[17] of
Scepsis, Menæchmus[18] who wrote on the Toreutic art, Xenocrates[19]
who did the same, Antigonus[20] who did the same,
Duris[21] who did the same, Heliodorus[22] who wrote on the
Votive Offerings of the Athenians, Pasiteles[23] who wrote on
Wonderful Works, Timæus[24] who wrote on the Medicines de-
rived from Metals, Nymphodorus,[25] Iollas,[26] Apollodorus,[27]
Andreas,[28] Heraclides,[29] Diagoras,[30] Botrys,[31] Archidemus,[32]
Dionysius,[33] Aristogenes,[34] Democles,[35] Mnesides,[36] Xenocrates[37]
the son of Zeno, Theomnestus.[38]
1. The substance here mentioned, though its name is the foundation
of our word "arsenic," is not the arsenic of modern commerce, but
probably a sulphuret of arsenic containing a less proportion of sulphur
than the Sandarach of the last Chapter.—B.
2. The other two mentioned species naturally divide into laminæ, while
this kind is disposed to separate into fine fibres.—B.
3. By this process a considerable portion of the sulphur is expelled, so
as to cause the orpiment to approximate to the state of arsenic.—B.
4. See end of B. ii.
5. See end of B. ii.
6. See end of B. iii.
7. See end of B. ii.
8. See end of B. ii.
9. A different person from the Messala mentioned at the end of B. ix.
He is mentioned in B. xxxiii. c. 14, B. xxxv. c. 2, and in Chapter 38
of this Book; but nothing further seems to be known of him.
10. See end of B. vii. and Note 94 to B. vii. c. 53.
11. Domitius Marsus, a poet of the Augustan age, of whom few particulars
are known, except that he wrote an epitaph on the poet Tibullus, who died
B.C. 18. He is mentioned by Ovid and Martial, from the latter of whom
we learn that his epigrams were distinguished for their wit, licentiousness,
and satire.
12. See end of B. xvi.
13. See end of B. xx.
14. See end of B. xii.
15. See end of B. vii.
16. See end of B. ii.
17. See end of B. iii.
18. See end of B. iv.
19. See c. 19 of this Book, Note 11, page 184.
20. See end of B. xxxiii.
21. See end of B. vii.
22. See end of B. xxxiii.
23. See end of B. xxxiii.
24. See end of B. xxxiii.
25. See end of B. iii.
26. See end of B. xii.
27. See end of Books iv., viii., xi., and xx.
28. See end of B. xx.
29. See end of Books iv., and xii.
30. See end of B. xii.
31. See end of B. xiii.
32. See end of B. xii.
33. See end of B. xii.
34. See end of B. xxix.
35. See end of B. xii.
36. See end of B. xii.
37. See end of B. xxxiii.
38. See end of B. xxxiii.