Note 72: — XIX.—MEDICINE AND SURGERY. (Table-Case H.)

A very interesting class of antiquities is furnished by the stamps of oculists (No. 569). These take the form of square or oblong plates, generally of steatite or slate. On the edges are engraved inscriptions, giving the name of the oculist, the name of his specific, and its purpose. These salves were pounded on the stone into a paste. They generally bear a Greek name, such as Diasmyrnes, Crocodes, etc., indicating their composition. They appear to have been made up into the form of sticks impressed with the engraved edge of the stone, and put into cylindrical bronze boxes, which have from time to time been found with Roman surgical instruments. One or two examples of the stamps may be given: "Saffron ointment for scars and discharges prepared by Junius Taurus after the prescription of Paccius"72 (fig. 226, bottom). "The anodyne of Q. Junius Taurus for every kind of defective eyesight."73 Puff names for the drugs, such as "Invincible," "Inimitable," also occur. An engraved gem, from a drug compounder's ring has a seated Athena and the legend HEROPHILI OPOBALSAMUM—"Balsam of Herophilus" (No. 570). Whether the balsam was named in honour of the founder of scientific anatomy, or of a more obscure oculist of the first century B.C., or of an unknown drug-seller cannot be determined. A set of Roman lead weights, probably used for the weighing of drugs, is here exhibited. They are marked 1 to 10, the unit probably being the scripulum of 18 grains (No. 571). Two small lead pots placed near the weights were used for holding eye-salves. One from Corfu bears the letters A T; the other, from Athens, has the tripod of Apollo, the god of healing, and is inscribed "The Lykian salve from Musaeos" (No. 572). Near these pots are spoons with channels for melting and pouring the salves into wounds (No. 573). A piece of stone with corrugated surfaces is thought to be for rolling pills (No. 574). The ivory figure of a dwarf afflicted with a peculiar form of spinal curvature causing pigeon-breastedness is a work of considerable spirit, probably of the third century A.D. (No. 574*).