THERI ACA (Esepraxd) was the name given orginally by the ancients to all those medicines which were intended as antidotes to the bite of venomous animals (Ohpia), swt those which counteracted poisonous drugs were called isartiorippasa (Galen,' Comment. in llippocr.' De Alim.,' lib. iii., cap. 7, torn. xv., p. 279, ed. Ktihn ; id., Comment. in Ilippoca' ' De Morb. Vulgar. VI.,' lib. vi, cap. 5, tom. xvii., pt. ii., p. 337) ; afterwards, however, the word seems to have been somewhat restricted ln its signification, or at least Ornmertin the singular number) is applied to one particular compound, while at the same time this one drug was considered to be a safeguard not only against the bites of venomous animals, but also against poisonous drugs and unwholesome food. (Oaten, ' De Antld.,' lib. 1., c. 1, tom. xiv., p. I.) Many of those old preparations are preserved in the writings of the ancient physicians, but of these it will be enough to mention here the two most famous, namely the .11ithridatium (Willoatirelow, or 'Arraoros M‘Op,S.irtmom) and the Thcriaca Andromeda.
The Mithridatium received its name from the great Mithridatert, king of Pontus, who had a strange affectation of superior skill in the powers of simples. lie tried the effects of these upon condemned malefactors, and, finding that different drugs counteracted different poisons, he thought that, by putting all of them together, he should be able to make a compound that would render him secure against any poison that could be given him. (Galen, ` De p. 2.) ingly he is commonly said to have so fortified his own body by the constant use of this antidote, that ho afterwards tried in vain to put an end to his life; but this, if true, "was probably," as Dr. Heber.
den says (‘ Antither.; p. 10), "less owing to the strength of his antidote than to the weakness of his poison." Andromachus the Elder (who was physician to the emperor Nero, and the first person who is known to have received the title of A rchia ter) made considerable alterations in the Mithridatium by omitting some of the ingredients, adding others (especially the dried flesh of vipers), and by increasing the proportion of opium. Ills receipt was embodied in a Oreek elegiac poem, in order that it might be the more ! easily preserved without alteration ; and thi9 has been inserted by Galen in two of his works: (` De Antid.; lib. i., cap. vi., et De Ther. ad Pisoit, c. 6), and has been frequently published in a separate form. Andromachus likewise changed the name of the Mithridatium thus re formed to assa*rri; but in Trojan's time it obtained that of 'Theriaca,' either from the vipers in it, or from its good effects in curing the bites of venomous animals. (Galen,' De Antid.,' lib. i., cap. 6 ; De Ther. ad Pison.,' alp. 5., tom. xiv., pp. 32, 232.) The formula for the Theriaca of Andromachus, as well as for others, is to be found in Geiger's Pharmac. Universalis. Pars. Posterior,' p. 2S1.
It is much to be regretted that the word Theriaca' is applied to the uncrystallisable juice which flows from sugar in the process of refining ; for distinction's sake this should always be termed " Foca Sacchari," or " Syrupus Ernpyreumaticus," anglic6, " Molasses," as in the Dublin `Pharmacoposia: The uses of molasses (or melasses) are well known.
TH Elt3I LE. [Barns.)