Page:Arrian's Voyage Round the Euxine Sea Translated.djvu/36

32 was the method in ue in the time of Diocorides, both with Opium, and with Scammony, and is mentioned by Dr. Ruel to be the method practied at preent in the Eat for collecting the latter drug, indicates this very trongly. As to its being procured from the root, Diocorides ays, that in his time the whole plant of the Poppy was preed, and its inpiffated juice made ue of which had the name of Meconium, and was much weaker than Opium; and this account is confirmed by Pliny. The juice of the root therefore, though not in ue at preent, might have been o formerly, and is probably poeed of imilar virtues with that of the ret of the plant. Mithridates, whoe kingdom was contiguous to Colchis, and included the place in quetion, was celebratedfor his kill in Botany and Medicine. He invented the celebrated Antidote, or Alexipharmic, which has his name, and which has been retained in medical practice even to the preent day. The principal ingredient is well known to be Opium; and