Citrullus colocynthis

<p>In pre-modern <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medicine" title="Medicine">medicine</a> it was an ingredient in the electuary called <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confectio_hamech" title="Confectio hamech" class="mw-redirect">confectio hamech</a>, or <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catholicon_%28electuary%29" title="Catholicon (electuary)">diacatholicon</a>, and most other <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laxative" title="Laxative">laxative</a> pills; and in such cases as required purging, it was very successful. It is one of the most violent <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laxative" title="Laxative">purgative drugs</a> known; insomuch that it excoriates the passages to such a degree as to sometimes draw blood and induce a so-called "superpurgation". Sometimes, it was taken boiled in water, or <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beer" title="Beer">beer</a>, in obstruction of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Menses" title="Menses" class="mw-redirect">menses</a>, which was considered successful in strong constitutions. Some women used it in the same manner, in the beginning of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pregnancy" title="Pregnancy">pregnancy</a>, to cause an <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abortion" title="Abortion">abortion</a>, which often occurred due to the violence of its operation.<sup id="cite_ref-cyclo_17-0" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citrullus_colocynthis#cite_note-cyclo-17">[17]</a></sup> Its usage for this purpose is documented in ancient times; for example, the following <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recipe" title="Recipe">recipe</a> was found in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ebers_Papyrus" title="Ebers Papyrus">Ebers medical papyrus</a> in Egypt, dated to about <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1550_BCE" title="1550 BCE" class="mw-redirect">1550 BCE</a>:<sup id="cite_ref-Riddle_18-0" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citrullus_colocynthis#cite_note-Riddle-18">[18]</a></sup></p>

<div class="Bug6200"><i>"To cause a woman to stop [terminate] pregnancy in the first, second or third period [trimester]: unripe fruit of acacia; colocynth; dates; triturate with 6/7th pint of honey. Moisten a pessary of plant fiber [with the mixture] and place in the vagina."</i></div>

<div class="templatequotecite">—— <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ebers_papyrus" title="Ebers papyrus" class="mw-redirect">Ebers papyrus</a>, c. 1550 BCE; translation from <i>Eve's Herbs</i>, by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_M._Riddle" title="John M. Riddle">John M. Riddle</a><sup id="cite_ref-Riddle_18-1" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citrullus_colocynthis#cite_note-Riddle-18">[18]</a></sup></div>

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Citrullus colocynthis

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