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In pre-modern medicine, diascordium (medical Lat diascordium, for diascordiōn, from Gr διὰ σκορδίων, [a preparation] of scordium, σκόρδιον, "a strong-smelling plant mentioned by Dioscorides", possibly Teucrium scordium[1]), or diascord, is a kind of electuary, or opiate, first described by Fracastorius, and denominated from the dried leaves of scordium, which is an ingredient therein.[1] The other ingredients are red roses, bole, storax, cinnamon, cassia lignea (coarse bark of Cinnamomum cassia), dittany, tormentil roots, bistort, gentian, galbanum, amber, terra sigillata, opium, long pepper, ginger, mel rosatum, and malmsey. It was used against malignant fevers, the plague, worms, colic, to promote sleep, and resist putrefaction.[2] In 1746, diascordium was offered in two forms: with or without opium.[3]
In 1654, Nicholas Culpeper wrote in his London Dispensatorie about the mixture: "It is a well composed Electuary, a something appropriate to the nature of women, for it Provokes the Terms, hastens their Labor, helps their usual sickness at the time of their Lying-in, I know nothing better."[3]
Over the years, the composition of diascordium was modified, until it gradually changed into what became known as pulvis catechu compositus ("compound powder of catechu").[3]
References
- ^ a b "diascord". Oxford English Dictionary. Oxford University Press. 2nd ed. 1989.
- ^ This article incorporates content from the 1728 Cyclopaedia, a publication in the public domain.
- ^ a b c O'Dowd, Michael J. (2001). "Diascordium". The History of Medications for Women. Informa Health Care. ISBN 1850700028. p 212.
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- This page was last modified on 25 May 2007, at 17:08.
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