The stag as an historical source of materia medica

Author:

Duffin Christopher

Abstract

This paper presents a brief overview of the items of materia medica harvested from male red deer [Cervus elephas]. The medicinal use of stag's antlers and other body parts began in classical times with the writings of Dioscorides and Pliny the Elder, and relied on the legendary vitality, sexual prowess, strength, alexipharmic and rejuvenative powers with which the animal was credited. In early modern times a wide range of organs harvested from stags killed in formal hunts were made available for use as amulets, Galenic simples and alchemical derivatives for incorporation into a wide range of medicaments used to treat a huge diversity of health issues ranging from deadly infections like the plague, through conditions such as barrenness and loss of sexual potency, to baldness. The stag provided a fundamental apothecarial resource which was exploited to the full.

Publisher

Centre for Evaluation in Education and Science (CEON/CEES)

Subject

General Earth and Planetary Sciences,General Environmental Science

Reference62 articles.

1. Meiri M, Kosinysev P, Conroy K, Meiri S, Barnes I, Lister A. Subspecies dynamics in space and time: A study of the red deer complex using ancient and modern DNA and morphology. Journal of Biogeography. 2018; 45 [9]: 367-380;

2. Gascoigne G. The noble art of venerie or hunting: wherein is handled and set out the vertues, nature, and properties of fifteene sundry chaces, together with the order and manner how to hunt and kill euery one of them. London: Thomas Purfoot;

3. Duffin CJ. Lacrimae cervi: Stag's tears in materia medica. Pharmaceutical Historian. 2021; 51 [3]: 76-87;

4. Topsell E. 1658. The History of Four-footed Beasts and Serpents. London: M.D. E. Cotes; 1658;

5. Graba JA. Elapographia. Jena: Jacobi Trescher; 1667;

同舟云学术

1.学者识别学者识别

2.学术分析学术分析

3.人才评估人才评估

"同舟云学术"是以全球学者为主线,采集、加工和组织学术论文而形成的新型学术文献查询和分析系统,可以对全球学者进行文献检索和人才价值评估。用户可以通过关注某些学科领域的顶尖人物而持续追踪该领域的学科进展和研究前沿。经过近期的数据扩容,当前同舟云学术共收录了国内外主流学术期刊6万余种,收集的期刊论文及会议论文总量共计约1.5亿篇,并以每天添加12000余篇中外论文的速度递增。我们也可以为用户提供个性化、定制化的学者数据。欢迎来电咨询!咨询电话:010-8811{复制后删除}0370

www.globalauthorid.com

TOP

Copyright © 2019-2024 北京同舟云网络信息技术有限公司
京公网安备11010802033243号  京ICP备18003416号-3