Chapter XVI: Section VII

STAMP NO. VI.—FIRST DESCRIBED BY MR. DOUCE.

Mr. Douce published in 1778[504] a notice of a square flattened Roman medicine-stamp, a quarter of an inch thick, and each side or edge measuring about two inches.

Mr. Gough published in the _Archæologia_ a sketch of this stamp, which is copied into Pl. II., No. VI. Some wax impressions were taken of the stone, but the stone itself was (it is stated in the same volume of the _Gentleman’s Magazine_, 1778, p. 510) “lost out of a pocket that had a hole in it, and probably, instead of gracing a museum, has contributed its mite towards mending the roads.”

The four sides of the stone contained the following series of inscriptions, the terminal and initial letters of three of the lines being wanting, and supplied in our copy below by italic letters:—

1. MJULSATYRIDIA
LEPIDOSADASPR

2. MJULSATYRIDIASMI(_r_)
(_n_)ESPOSTMPETLIPPIT

3. MJULSATYRIDIALI
BANUADSUPPURAT

4. (_m_)JULSATYRIPENI
CILLENEEXOVO

The name of the oculist, M. JUL. SATYRUS—_M(arcus?) Jul(ius) Satyrus_—is sufficiently distinct, and occurs with each of the four legends of the stamp. When we analyse further the inscriptions on the four sides of the seal, they severally read as follows:—

1. M(_arci_) JUL_ii_ SATYRI DIALEPIDOS AD ASP_e_R_itudines_.—_Marcus Julius Satyrus’ Dialepidos or Copper collyrium for granulations of the eyelids._

The three first sides of this stamp have the special collyria inscribed upon them, beginning each with the letters DIA, from the Greek preposition δια, “with,” and here signifying “made with.”[505] The three principal ingredients in the three first inscriptions are all given, combined with this initial preposition δια, and under their Greek appellatives,—λεπιδος, σμυρνα and λιβανος—forming instances, among many others, of the anxiety of the ancient Roman oculists to invest their drugs with all the mysterious attraction and formality of a Greek name; just as some modern English physicians foolishly enough consider it still proper to write always the names of the medicines which they now prescribe in the language of the ancient Romans, thus, like their predecessors, attempting, in the exercise of their profession, to act upon that principle in the weakness of human nature which holds “omne ignotum pro mirifico.”

I have already described (see Stamp No. II., p. 245) the composition of the collyrium termed _Dialepidos_, and the origin of the name of the inscription from the λεπιδες, or scales of the oxide of copper.

2. M. JUL. SATYRI DIASMI_rn_ES POST IMPETUM LIPPIT_udinis_.—_The Diasmyrnes or Myrrh collyrium of M. Jul. Satyrus, after the commencement of ophthalmy._

The principal ingredients in the collyrium _Diasmyrnes_, namely, myrrh (μῤῥυα or σμυρνα), was a drug to which important therapeutical virtues were formerly ascribed. It was applied in the treatment of various diseases. In reference to affections of the eye, it had the power, according to Dioscorides, of filling up ulcers of the organ, removing cicatrices and scales obstructing the pupil; and besides, it cured eruptions and granulations of the eyelids (oculorum ulcera complet, exteritque albugines, et ea quae pupillis tenebras offundunt; quin et scabritias seu asperitudines expolit).[506]

Various collyria were used by the ancients, bearing the name of _Diasmyrnes_ or _Diasmyrnon_, from myrrh constituting their leading ingredient. Aetius has one of his long chapters on collyria headed “Collyria Diasmyrna et Chiaca appellata.”[507] Actuarius, in his section “De affectionibus Oculorum,” speaks of the collyria _Diasmyrna_ (quæ ex myrrha constant) in the plural number, and as well known in his time.[508] Paulus Ægineta, in discussing the treatment of hypopion or suppuration in the cornea, speaks of sometimes making the abscess burst; and, if so, then, he adds, “cleanse the ulcer by means of the more potent remedies, such as those called _Diasmyrna_,”[509] etc. Among his formulæ for individual collyria in his several books, he gives a receipt for the collyria _Diasmyrnes_. (Aldine edition, p. 118.)

Galen gives several collyria _Diasmyrna_, as the _Diasmyrnum_ Odorum Synerotis,[510] the _Diasmyrnum_ Glaucidanum, and the _Diasmyrnum_ ex hæmatite.[511] And in his work _De Simplicium Medicamentorum Temperamentis ac Facultatibus_, he states, “Sed et collyria sunt plurima quæ medeantur suffusionibus, et maxime quod plurimam recipit myrrham, quale est quod a Democrate compositum est, quod vocant _Diasmyrnon_.”[512]

The term _Lippitudo_ in this legend, and which we will find recurring in the sequel, was, according to Galen, anciently applied to that form of ophthalmy which consists of inflammation of the conjunctival covering of the cornea (lippitudo inflammatio est membranæ, quæ corneæ adnata est.)[513] But the term was also used to designate other forms or varieties of ophthalmic inflammation. The disease described by Celsus under the name of _Lippitudo_ appears (says a high modern authority on eye-diseases) to have been “catarrhal conjunctivitis.”[514] The same oculist speaks of Lippitudo as “an excoriation of the edges of the lids, or bleared eyes;” and he describes obliteration of the Meibomian follicles as the cause of incurable Lippitudo.

3. M. JULII. SATYRI DIALIBANU_m_ AD SUPPURAT_ionem_.—_M. Jul. Satyrus’ Dialibanum, or Incense collyrium, for Suppurative discharge from the eyes._

Frankincense (_thus_, λιβανος, λιβανωτος)[515] was frequently used by the ancient oculists in their collyria. According to Galen[516] and Paulus Ægineta,[517] in consequence of its detergent powers, it apparently cleanses and fills up ulcers in the eyes (expurgare et implere quæ in oculis consistunt ulcera videtur). It has the power, according to Oribasius, “astringendi, calefaciendi, _caliginem oculorum_ discutiendi, cava ulcera implendi, ad cicatricem perducendi,”[518] etc.

Alexander Trallianus gives a formula for the collyrium _Dialibanum ad chemosim efficax_; and he describes the _Dialibanum_ as, like the Libanum, of much use in eye-diseases, and particularly for inflammations which are accompanied with ulceration (multi est usus, maxime ad inflammationes quae cum ulcere infestant).[519] Celsus recommends it in ulcers of the eye following pustules (fit quoque proprie ad hæc quod δια λιβανου vocatur).[520] Paulus Ægineta gives a formula for the _Dialibanum_, in his chapter on collyria.[521] Marcellus Empiricus, who offers two recipes for its composition, ascribes to it the power of being efficacious in the disease noted on our inscription, namely, “ad suppurationes oculorum.”[522]

When speaking of the treatment of suppuration of the eye, Galen lays down the following indications for the use of the _Diasmyrnes_, and _Dialibanum_:—“At quando pus, quod in oculis est, digerere placet, collyriis quæ myrrham habent, maxime utemur; quæ utique et _Diasmyrna_ Græci proprie vocant; his certe minus, sed reliquis melius faciunt quæ _Dialibanum_ vocant.”[523]

4. (M): JUL: SATYRI PENIC_illum_ LENE EX OVO.—_M. Jul. Satyrus’ mild Penicillum; to be used with an egg._

The term _Penicillum_ has been found inscribed on several different Roman medical stamps, as upon specimens discovered at Vieux and Paris, each marked with _lene penicillum_; upon one discovered at Nais (_penicillum ad omnem lippitudinem_); and upon another at Famars. Its signification has given rise to several opinions somewhat differing from each other.

M. Grivaud considers the _Penicillum_ indicated on the Roman medicine-stamps, to be merely a small brush or hair-pencil, such as is still used at the present day to wipe away the more viscid discharges that may be found adhering to the palpebræ and eyelashes.[524] According to M. Sichel, the _Penicillum_ consisted of a pledget or folds of charpie, which the ancient oculists used both for the purpose of cleansing the eyes, and of introducing into them soothing washes and collyria.[525] M. Eloi Johanneau,[526] and M. Duchalais,[527] describe the _Penicillum_ as a soft and fine sponge, employed in applying collyria to the diseased eye. Blancardi, in his _Lexicon Medicum_, defines the word _Penicillum_ as “lint reduced to charpie, and besmeared with ointment to be applied to ulcers.”

The word _Penicillum_ occurs in the writings of Pliny and Celsus, and is used by these ancient authorities in such a manner as to give countenance to each of the preceding opinions. Thus Pliny, in his chapter on sponges (_De Spongiarum Natura_), speaks of a variety of very fine sponge under the name of _Penicillum_; and this, when soaked in a preparation of honeyed wine (mulso), was, he says, applied to tumours of the eyes.[528] These _Penicilli_ were also (he adds) useful, when very soft and fine, in cleansing the eye in ophthalmy.[529] Celsus, in his observations on the diseases of the eye, three or four times, and in different senses, uses the term. In inflammation of the eye, he recommends the eyes to be fomented with a _Penicillum_ or pledget, squeezed out of a warm watery decoction of myrtle or rose leaves, before local medicines and collyria are applied to them.[530] Elsewhere, he recommends a pledget or _Penicillum_ to be laid, or, if necessary, bound over the eyes, squeezed out of water; or, if the attack is more severe, out of vinegar and water (_Penicillo_ uti expresso ex aqua; si major, ex posca).[531] In another passage, he states that in intense ophthalmia the white of an egg or the milk of woman, dropped into the eye with a _Penicillum_, relieves the inflammation, and that this may be used by the patient when neither a physician nor other medicines are at hand.[532] And again, he recommends the patient to take a bath, and foment his head and eyes freely with the warm water, then to wipe both with a _Penicillum_, and anoint his head with iris ointment.[533] Here we have the _Penicillum_ used by the same author as a mechanical means both of cleansing the eye and of making local applications to it. Further, in his chapter on the surgery of the eyes, Celsus uses the word _Penicillum_ in the signification of tents. Thus, in describing the operation for ancyloblepharon, or agglutination of the eyelids, he directs the eyelids, after being separated by a probe, to be kept asunder by small _penicilla_ laid between them, till the ulceration of the part is cured.[534]

The preceding quotations show that, besides other significations, there is no doubt that the term _Penicillum_ was used to designate a soft sponge, and perhaps also a brush or pledget of charpie that was occasionally employed in ophthalmic practice, for the double purpose of fomenting or cleansing the eye, and of dropping local applications into it. But it seems very unlikely that a stamp should be used by the oculist to mark the material of these _Penicilli_ with. It would be both difficult and unnecessary to stamp in any way either a piece of sponge or of charpie with such an inscription as that found upon this and the other Roman seals. And I would venture to suggest, that it appears much more probable that the collyrium, ointment, or lotion, that was to be used with the sponge or charpie, was sometimes designated _Penicillum_, from the special mode in which it was to be applied; in the same way as we have found various eye-drops passing under the general designation of _Stactum_, from the special mode in which they were applied to the diseased organ. In this way the LENE PENICILLUM in the legend of our present oculist-stamp would not signify the material which was used in the application of the medicine, but the name of the medicine or collyrium as indicative of the mode in which it was to be used.

The employment of the collyrium PENICILLUM mixed with an egg (EX OVO) is often indicated upon the oculist-stamps; and in the ancient Roman authors it is a mode in which many of the collyria were directed to be prepared before they were applied to the diseased eye.