On the characters, actions, and therapeutic uses of the ordeal bean of Calabar, (Physostigma venenosum, Balfour) : a graduation thesis, for which a gold medal was awarded by the Edinburgh University, August 1862 / by Thomas R. Fraser.

  • Fraser, Sir Thomas Richard, 1841-1920.
Date:
1863
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: On the characters, actions, and therapeutic uses of the ordeal bean of Calabar, (Physostigma venenosum, Balfour) : a graduation thesis, for which a gold medal was awarded by the Edinburgh University, August 1862 / by Thomas R. Fraser. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    t'he Bible one of the earliest accounts of such a trial is found, where a cup of bitter water is commanded to be drunk for the detection of conjugal unfaithfulness.^ In Hindostan and China, in Japan, Pegu, Java, the Canary Islands, and many other places, various forms of ordeal were, and in many are still employed ; and in our own country the practice existed to a great extent until the thirteenth century, wlien, in the reign of Ilenry III,, a law is stated to have been passed for its abolishment.^ In the other countries of Europe it had the like prevalence during the medieval periods. It would occupy too much space to attempt to enumerate the many and ingenious methods which were made use of in such trials. They may be naturally classified under two great divisions,—those whose application was external^ and those in which some substance was introduced into tlie system, or where it was internal. ThQ first includes the well-known trials by fire, water, the combat, and the balance,' The second class comprises Avhat may be regarded as the more curious and interesting forms, and it includes the large section of the vegetable ordeal poisons. This description prevails, as might be expected, in the tropical latitudes, where plants containing principles of active energy are more abundantly to be met with. The actions of these vegetable agents have, no doubt, been narrated in very exaggerated terms, and in many instances erroneously. Merolla describes the Ncassu, a plant employed as an ordeal at Congo, as possessing properties so pernicious, that birds even fly from the tree, for if they settle on its branches they immediately fall down dead.'' Many of them must, at the same time, really pos- sess energetic actions, in order to suggest the assertion of sucla absurdities, and many may yet become valuable as therapeutic agents. The general rationale of the use of the ordeal will be more satisfactorily explained by entering on a few details as to its employment at Calabar. The region included in the term Calabar occupies a district of West Africa, in the neighbom-hood of the Bight of Biafi-a, and extending along the course of a considerable river—the Rio Calbary, Old Calabar, or Oude Calburgh. Its bound- aries are indefinite. It is situated between 4° and 8° N. lat., and 6° and 12° E. long., and is estimated to have a length of one hun- dred miles, and a breadth of fifty. The natives are descended from the Ibibio tribe, who inhabit a region extending westward from Calabar to the river Niger. Their government is oligarchical. Several chiefs rule the towns, each of which separately forms an independent government, joining with others in times of danger for the common cause, and possessing with them a common council. ' Book of Numbers, chapter v., 17-31. 2 Hlackst07ic's Commentaries, vol. iv. 3 Min-oUa's Voyage to Congo. See Pinkerton's A'ovagcs and Travels, 1814, vol. xvi. p. 222.