DCLP Transcription [xml]
Introduction
Prescriptions for plasters (P.Chic. 4). Papyrus fragment (16 x 6 cm) containing a sequence of at least three medical recipes written on the verso of an account (of grain?). The prescriptions are separated with blank spaces (ll. 6 and 13) and seem to regard plasters for acute skin diseases, as the ingredients and the indications of use may show (see commentary below). The elaborate structure of the texts point to a therapeutical work of rather good quality. The hand is a well-formed and fairly regular semi-uncial of the 2nd cent. AD.
(This papyrus has been digitally edited by Nicola Reggiani as part of the Project "DIGMEDTEXT - Online Humanities Scholarship: A Digital Medical Library based on Ancient Texts" (ERC-AdG-2013, Grant Agreement no. 339828) funded by the European Research Council at the University of Parma (Principal Investigator: Prof. Isabella Andorlini). The digital edition is mostly based on the previous editions (ed.pr. = E.J. Goodspeed, AJPh 24, 1903, pp. 327-9; ed.alt. = E.J. Goodspeed, P.Chic. 4; ed.ter. = I. Andorlini, "Atti e memorie dell'Accademia toscana La Colombaria" 46, 1981, pp. 33-81: 53-6).)
[ίας](*) [σχιστῆς(?) καδμεία(?)]ς κεκαυμένης, δι-
[φρυγοῦς ἀνὰ -ca.?- σὺ]ν̣ κηρωτῇ ῥοδίνῃ
[μίξας -ca.?- καὶ τὸ δέρ]μα προαποσμήξ[ας]
5[ -ca.?- ] ̣ ̣ ̣(*) τὴν ἐπιφάνεια[ν]
[ -ca.?- ] ̣ ̣ ̣ ̣δει(*). vac. ? λέπρ[αν](*)
[δὲ ἰᾶται -ca.?- ἀ]λ̣ε̣ύ̣ρου ̣(*) (ἥμισυ(?)), πίσης(*) ξη-
[ρᾶς -ca.?- χα]λκοῦ τοῦ ἄντους
[ -ca.?- ]κόψας ἔμβαλε εἰς κ[ύ-]
10[θραν, ἕψε ἐπὶ μαλ]ακοῦ πυρὸς χρῶ. π̣[ρὸς(?)]
[ -ca.?- ]ξη ἔνχριε εἰς δερ-
[μα -ca.?- ὕδατ]ι̣ ψυχρῷ περίμασσε[ -ca.?- ]
[ -ca.?- ]. vac. ? ἄλλη πυ[ρ]ίτυ(*) π̣ί̣σ̣[ης](*)
[ -ca.?- ἐ]λαίου παλαι-
15[οῦ -ca.?- ] ̣ ̣ ̣ ̣ ψ̣ι̣μίθι\ν/(*) π[ -ca.?- ]
[ -ca.?- ] ̣η̣ λι-
[θαργύρου -ca.?- π]υρί-
[του -ca.?- ]α̣ν̣[ -ca.?- ]
-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Apparatus
^ 1. ed.ter. : [ -ca.?- ]δις prev. ed.
^ 1-2. or στυπτηρ(ίας)(?)
^ 5. or [ -ca.?- ]θε̣ι (or [ -ca.?- ἐπιτί]θε̣ι(?))
^ 6. or [ -ca.?- ]επ̣ειδει (l. ἐπίδει)
^ 6-7. or λέπρ[ι]|[κὴ]
^ 7. ed.ter. : λ̣ prev. ed.
^ 7. l. πίσ<σ>ης
^ 13. l. πυ[ρ]ίτ<ο>υ
^ 13. l. πίσ<σ>[ης]
^ 15. l. ψιμίθι<ο>ν, N. Reggiani via PN : ψ̣ι̣μιθι\ν/ ed.ter.
Notes
- 2.
The supplements are exempli gratia, but such astringent minerals were frequently used in the treatment of skin illnesses like psoriasis (cf. Aet. 7.16 = CMG 8.2, pp. 422-8: 425 Olivieri).
- 3-5.
The κηρωτὴ ῥοδίνη (cf. Aet. 6.56 and 71 = CMG 8.2, pp. 205,19 and 220,20 Olivieri), the verb προασμήχειν "to rub" (cf. Alex.Trall. 1.461; PSI 10.1180,48; P.Ryl. 1.29a,21; Aet. 8.16 = CMG 8.2, p. 425,4-5 Olivieri), and the term ἐπιφάνεια (skin layer often affected by skull wounds) point to a context related to diseases of the scalp.
- 6.
λέπρ[ such an incipit can recall a phrase like λέπραν δὲ θεραπεύει as in Dsc. Simpl. 1.121 (= 3, p. 197 Wellmann), or λεπρική sc. ἔμπλαστρος (cf. P.Oxy. 8.1088,14).
- 7.
For the therapeutic use of flour in a similar context see Dsc. Simpl. 1.121 = 3, p. 197,1 Wellmann: λέπραν δὲ θεραπεύει αἴρινον ἄλευρον.
- 9-10.
The grinded ingredients are to be poured in the κύθρα (i.e. χύτρα, see Medicalia Online s.v.) and baked on a light fire, according to a procedure described also in P.Strasb. inv. Gr. 90,iir,1-2 and P.Ant. 2.64,5-6, and by Orib. Syn. 3.135 = CMG 6.3, p. 102,7-8 Raeder).
- 12.
The verb περιμάσσειν is technical and rare and alludes to a precise operation: cleansing the part before the application, or better cleansing the medicament after a short application (cf. Aet. 8.16 = CMG 8.2, p. 427,12 Olivieri).
- 13.
For pyrite-based plasters see Gal. Comp.med.gen. 4.13 = 13.738-41 K.