FIVE REMEDIES DERIVED FROM LIME

Latine · Mayhoff 1906

Calcis et in medicina magnus usus. eligitur recens nec aspersa aquis. urit, discutit, extrahit incipientesque serpentium ulcerum impetus coercet; aceto et rosaceo mixta atque inlita, mox cera ac rosaceo temperata perducit ad cicatricem. luxatis quoque cum liquida resina aut adipe suillo ex melle medetur, eadem compositione et strumis.

Maltha e calce fit recenti. glaeba vino restinguitur, mox tunditur cum adipe suillo et fico, duplici lenimento. quae res omnium tenacissima et duritiam lapidis antecedens. quod malthatur, oleo perfricatur ante.

Cognata calci res gypsum est. plura eius genera. nam et e lapide coquitur, ut in Syria ac Thuriis, et e terra foditur, ut in Cypro ac Perrhaebia; e summa tellure et Tymphaicum est. qui coquitur lapis non dissimilis alabastritae esse debet aut marmoroso. in Syria durissimos ad id eligunt cocuntque cum fimo bubulo, ut celerius urantur. omnium autem optimum fieri compertum est e lapide speculari squamamve talem habente. gypso madido statim utendum est, quoniam celerrime coit; tamen rursus tundi se et in farinam resolvi patitur. usus gypsi in albariis, sigillis aedificiorum et coronis gratissimus. exemplum inlustre est, C. Proculeium, Augusti Caesaris familiaritate subnixum, in stomachi dolore gypso poto conscivisse sibi mortem.

English · Bostock & Riley 1855–57

Lime is also employed very extensively in medicine. For this purpose, fresh lime is selected, which has not been slaked with water. Its properties are caustic, resolvent, and attractive; and it prevents serpiginous ulcers from spreading, being incorporated with vinegar and oil of roses, for the purpose. When this has been effected, it is tempered with wax and oil of roses, and applied to promote cicatrization. In combination with honey, and liquid resin, or hogs’ lard, lime is curative of sprains and scrofulous sores.

Maltha is a cement prepared from fresh lime; lumps of which are quenched in wine, and then pounded with hogs’ lard and figs, both of them, mollifying substances. It is the most tenacious of all cements, and surpasses stone in hardness. Before applying the maltha, the substance upon which it is used must be well rubbed with oil.

Gypsum has a close affinity with limestone, and there are numerous varieties of it. One kind is prepared from a calcined stone, as in Syria, and at Thurii, for example. In Cyprus and at Perrhæbia, gypsum is dug out of the earth, and at Tymphæa it is found just below the level of the soil. The stone that is calcined for this purpose, ought to be very similar to alabastrites, or else of a grain like that of marble. In Syria, they select the hardest stones for the purpose, and calcine them with cow-dung, to accelerate the process. Experience has proved, however, that the best plaster of all is that prepared from specular-stone, or any other stone that is similarly laminated. Gypsum, when moistened, must be used immediately, as it hardens with the greatest rapidity; it admits, however, of being triturated over again, and so reduced to powder. It is very useful for pargetting, and has a pleasing effect when used for ornamental figures and wreaths in buildings.

There is one remarkable fact connected with this substance; Caius Proculeius, an intimate friend of the Emperor Augustus, suffering from violent pains in the stomach, swallowed gypsum, and so put an end to his existence.