In pre-modern medicine, "diarrhodon" (
Gr , "compound of roses", from , "of roses") is a name given to diverse compositions, in which red roses are an ingredient.
[{{1728]
Diarrhodon ''abbatis'' is a cordial powder, denominated from the
Abbot
Abbot is an ecclesiastical title given to the male head of a monastery in various Western religious traditions, including Christianity. The office may also be given as an honorary title to a clergyman who is not the head of a monastery. Th ...
who invented it. It consists of red roses, red and citron
santals
The Santal or Santhal are an Austroasiatic speaking
Munda ethnic group in South Asia. Santals are the largest tribe in the Jharkhand and West Bengal state of India in terms of population and are also found in the states of Odisha, Bihar a ...
,
lignum aloes, cinnamon,
rhapontic,
spikenard, ivory,
harts-horn, saffron,
mastic, pearls,
ambergris, musk, etc. It was used to strengthen the heart, stomach, and liver, and to assist in digestion, and prevent vomiting.
, author of the first textbook on medicine published in English, gives this description and recipe for diarrhodon abbatis:
:"Electarium Diarrhodon Abbatis mitigateth the heate of the stomacke and midrife, and yet notwithstanding furthereth their concoction, aswageth paine, and dissipateth wind.
::"R. ''Rosarum rubrarum'' oz. 1 1/2. ''Santali albi & rubri'', ana dr. 2 1/2. ''Tragacanthe, Gummi Arabici, Eboris vsti,'' ana scr. ii. ''Mastiches, Spicae nardi, Cardamomi, succi Glycyrrhizae, Croci, Xyloales, Caryophyllorum, Galliae Muschatae, Anisi, Foeniculi, sem. Ocymi, Acinorum Berberis, sem. Scariolae, Portulacae & papaueris albi, quatuor sem. frigido. maiorum, Rheubarbari electi, Cinamomi'', ana scr. i. ''Margaritarum, ossis e corde cerui,'' ana scr. 1/2. ''Caphurae'' gr. viii. ''Moschi,'' gr. iiii. Make thereof tablets with eight times so much sugar dissolved in Rosewater."
There is also ''trochisci'' diarrhodon, composed of red roses, scrapings of ivory, santals, liquorice, mastic, saffron, camphor, and
rosewater. They were used to fortify the heart, stomach, and liver, and to stop dissenteries, and other fluxes of the belly.
''Pillulae'' diarrhodon are composed of aloes, trochisci diarrhodon,
wormwood leaves, mastic, and
rock salt. They were used to purge, then fortify the stomach, promote digestion, and prevent
bad breath.
A recipe for the intoxicating liquor known as "damnable hum" contains diarrhodon:
:"Take Species de Gemmis,
Aromaticum Rosatum, Diarrhodon Abbatis, Lætificans Galeni, of each four drams, Loaf-sugar beaten to powder half a pound, small Aqua Vitæ three Pints, strong Angelica water one pint; mix all these together, and when you have drunk it to the Dregs, you may fill it up again with the same quantity of water. The same powders will serve twice, and after twice using it, it must be made new again."
American writer
Samuel Woodworth makes reference to the concoction in an 1811 New Year's Address written for the news carrier of ''
The Columbian'', apparently in reference to an article that appeared in the newspaper:
:''"The Diarrhodon"'' you have heard expose
:The latent beauties of a modern ''Rose'',
:And smiled to see the lively writer roast
:The doughty champion of the Morning Post.
[Woodworth, Samuel (1818). ''The poems, odes, songs, and other metrical effusions, of Samuel Woodworth''. New York. 284pp. p 163.]
References
History of pharmacy