Corpus of Electronic Texts Edition
An Irish Materia Medica (Author: Tadhg Ó Cuinn)

subsection 119

119. Euforbium: i.e. the gum of a tree; it is hot and dry in the third degree; it has the laxative virtue most efficiently; it is best when


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it is of a yellow colour; it purges the phlegmatic humour and the viscous humours principally from the stomach and the intestines, and it purges the same humours from the joints; it is of benefit against stranguria, and against quotidian fever arising from the lemon-coloured or yolk-coloured choleric humour. It serves well against, the dropsy that comes from coldness and against arthritis and colic and ileus, because it consumes the excessive wetness from which the aforesaid illnesses arise; it soothes the shaking and excessive sensitivity of the nerves. Platearius says that the way to give this purgative is to mix gum arabic and bdellium and mastix with it and to give it that way, because it would excoriate the intestines if it were given on its own. The same man says that it is of benefit against epilepsy andapoplexy and headache; this is the gum that gives acuteness to benedicta and ieralogodion; for the cure of asthma or laboured breathing, it should be given with water in which anise or seed of fennel has been boiled. If the same gum be put on red coals and the fumes allowed into the mouth against shortness of breath, it will open the passages so that the viscous humours that are in the lungs will flow and so be expellable; it retains its efficacy for ten years; an electuary in which it is put will serve well for those suffering from failure of memory or from lithariga. If the head be shaved and washed in warm wine, and euphorbium be then rubbed into it, this will help with lithariga. Item, if euphorbium be given in a raw egg, it will help with jaundice and oppilation of the liver and spleen. Item, if euphorbium, mastix, and soap, equal amounts of each, be put in the wounds, this will help with suppuration, pus and ulceration.


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