Orvietan

Orvietan was the name for a angepriesenes as an antidote remedies. It was, in contrast to Mithridates and treacle, which had their origins in classical antiquity produced only from the late 16th century and used in the 19th century, and came out of fashion.

It was considered a universal remedy for all types of poisonings, both for preventive dose, and after a poisoning. It was with criminal backgrounds used in cases of poisoning, as well as mushroom poisoning, snake and scorpion bites, bites of rabid animals, etc., but also in diseases such as the plague, which was assumed to be fancy poison in the body.

History

Orvietan based on initially kept secret formulas of charlatans that the means eg sold at fairs. It was after the central Italian town of Orvieto, the birthplace of its inventor adopted, knives Lupi da Orvieto, named, of which, however, no reliable biographical data are preserved. Born in Rome Gerolamo (French: Hyeronimo ) Ferranti began to act in Paris at the beginning of the 17th century. In his public performances he is to demonstrate the efficacy of the agent, have tried unknown toxins that were offered to him from the set to itself. More became known charlatans in the wake of Ferranti were in France Jean Vitrario (also Vitrario ), Desiderio Descombes and Cristoforo ( Christophe ) Contugi.

Physicians and pharmacists of conventional medicine hesitated long to apply Orvietan, fearing the reputation of charlatans. As a first -respected physician Johann Schröder published 1655 in his Pharmacopoeia Medico - Chymica a recipe of your own. As the first pharmacist Moyse Charas took (1619-1698) Orvietan in a work on ( Pharmacopée Royale Galénique et Chymique, 1676 ).

Composition

Orvietan was a Electuarium (see: electuaries ), a mixture of partially toxic herbs dissolved in wine with honey. It was also sold in pure powder form in lead boxes.

Patrizia Catellani and Renzo Console have 35 different recipes for Orvietan evaluated, which were published 1655-1857, most of them dating from the 18th century. The number of ingredients varies 9-57, the average number is 26 26 The following ingredients are most frequently raised and thus give an impression of the most common composition:

• Angelica (Angelica archangelica )
• Poison curing (Aconitum Anthora )
• Long Aristolochia ( Aristolochia longa )
• Rundknollige Aristolochia ( Aristolochia rotunda )
• Snakes knotweed ( Polygonum bistorta )
• Calamus ( Acorus calamus )
• Eberwurzen ( Carlina )
• White Dittany ( Dictamnus albus)
• Gentian ( Gentiana )
• Meisterwurz ( Peucedanum ostruthium )
• Salsify ( Scorzonera )
• Bloodroot ( Potentilla tormentilla )
• Valerian (Valeriana officinalis)
• Blessed thistle ( Cnicus benedictus )
• Crete marjoram (Origanum dictamnus )
• Rue ( Ruta graveolens )
• Garlic germander ( Teucrium scordium )
• Laurel berries
• Juniper berries
• Cinnamon
• Cloves
• Viper meat
• Mithridates
• Theriak
• White wine
• Honey

Mention in the literature

Orvietan is mentioned among others in the following works:

• Molière, L' amour médecin ( 1665)
• Voltaire, Pot- pourri ( 1765 )
• Walter Scott, Kenilworth (1821 )

Swell