Ineye care,collyrium is an antique term for a lotion or liquidwash used as a cleanser for theeyes, particularly indiseases of the eye. The wordcollyrium comes from theGreekκολλύριον, eye-salve. The same name was also given tounguents used for the same purpose, such as unguent oftutty (Sanskrittuttha meaning variouslyzinc oxide orblue vitriol). Lastly, the name was given, though improperly, to some liquid medicines used againstvenereal diseases.
Pre-modernmedicine distinguished two kinds of collyriums: the one liquid, the other dry. Liquid collyriums were composed ofophthalmic powders, or waters, such asrose-water,plantain-water, that offennel,eyebright, etc., in which was dissolvedtutty,white vitriol, or some other proper powder. Dry collyriums werepastilles ofRhasis,sugar-candy,iris,tutty prepared and blown into the eye with a little pipe.[1]
The 2nd centuryMishnah mentionscollyrium. TheSunan Abu Dawood reports, "ProphetMuhammad said: 'Among the best types of collyrium isantimony (ithmid) for it clears the vision and makes the hair sprout.'"[2]Maimonides[3] (12th century Egypt) mentions the use of this eye salve.
This article incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain: Chambers, Ephraim, ed. (1728).Cyclopædia, or an Universal Dictionary of Arts and Sciences (1st ed.). James and John Knapton, et al.{{cite encyclopedia}}:Missing or empty|title= (help) | Thishistory of medicine article is astub. You can help Wikipedia byadding missing information. |
