276
Materia Medica.
part II.
intestinal abrasions, and extensively in pharmacy, in the com-position of ointments, cerates, and plasters.
The dose of olive oil is from F3J to f^ j, triturated with mu-cilage, or mixed with water by means of a few drops of solutionof potash. In cases of poisons or of worms, as much may begiven as the stomach can bear.
ONISCUS. Syst. Nat. Gmelin. v. 3009.CI. 5. Ord. 7. Insecta Aptera.G. 272. Jaxu truncated, toothed. Lip bifid. Palpi unequal. Feelers
bristly. Body oval. Feet fourteen.Sp. 14. O. asellus.* Slaters.Officinal. Millepede ; spiritus vini vapore enecat^. Dub.
Slaters killed by the vapour of spirit of wine.
Syn. Cloporte (F.) Kellerwurmer [G.)
These insects are found on roofs of houses, old walls, andunder stones; they are rather more than half an inch in length,whitish on the belly, with seven pairs of legs, each terminatedby a sharp horny claw. The head is somewhat pyramidal, andfurnished with two articulated feelers; and the whole of theanimal on the upper part is guarded by a callous brownishlivid-coloured jointed armour, consisting of fourteen semicir-cular scales, within which the insect rolls itself like a ball whentouched. Like some other insects it casts the skin, and car-ries the young in valvular follicles under the abdomen. Slatersare prepared by hanging them inclosed in a canvas bag, in thesteam of hot alcohol, till they are killed.
Qualities. — Prepared slaters have a fetid odour, and a sweet-ish nauseous taste; on analysis they furnish an alkalescentfluid and an inert oil. _
Medical properties and uses. — These insects were formerlyregarded as expectorant, and diuretic; and used in humoralasthma,, dropsy, jaundice, and a long list of diseases. Theretention of them in the list of materia medica exhibits the re-mains of a barbarous practice, which the good sense of modernpractitioners should altogether explode. Their value as a me-dicine was justly estimated by professor Alston, when he ob-served, " Upon the whole there is reason to think Millepe-darum 3j is good for nothing; and *fs not much worth." 1
OPIUM. See Pa-paver.
OPOPONAX. See Pastinaca.
ORIGANUM. Spec. Plant. Wild. iii. 132.CI. 14. Ord. 1. Didynamia Gymnospermia. Nat. Ord. Verticillata:
Linn. Labiatse Juss.G. 1116. Strobile four-cornered, spiked, collecting the calyces. Co-
olivarum vel amygdali dulcis, ad cutem ab extra unguendum, ad longaevitatem condu-ces existimamus." Opera, fot. 1665. p. 536.
1 'Oucrxu Discoiidis. * Lectures on Mat. Med. ii. 496.
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