# Collyrium

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{{Short description|Type of pre-modern eyewash}}
In [eye](/source/human_eye) care, '''collyrium''' is an antique term for a lotion or liquid [wash](/source/eyewash) used as a cleanser for the [eye](/source/human_eye)s, particularly in [diseases of the eye](/source/diseases_of_the_eye). The word ''collyrium'' comes from the [Greek](/source/Greek_language) {{lang|grc|κολλύριον}}, eye-salve. The same name was also given to [unguent](/source/unguent)s used for the same purpose, such as unguent of [tutty](/source/tutty) (Sanskrit ''tuttha'' meaning variously [zinc oxide](/source/zinc_oxide) or [blue vitriol](/source/blue_vitriol)). Lastly, the name was given, though improperly, to some liquid medicines used against [venereal disease](/source/venereal_disease)s.

Pre-modern [medicine](/source/medicine) distinguished two kinds of collyriums: the one liquid, the other dry. Liquid collyriums were composed of [ophthalmic](/source/Ophthalmology) powders, or waters, such as [rose-water](/source/rosewater), [plantain](/source/Plantago)-water, that of [fennel](/source/fennel), [eyebright](/source/eyebright), etc., in which was dissolved [tutty](/source/tutty), [white vitriol](/source/white_vitriol), or some other proper powder. Dry collyriums were [pastille](/source/pastille)s of [Rhasis](/source/Muhammad_ibn_Zakariya_al-Razi), [sugar-candy](/source/sugar_candy), [iris](/source/Iris_(anatomy)), [tutty](/source/tutty) prepared and blown into the eye with a little pipe.<ref>[https://archive.org/details/Cyclopediachambers-Volume1/page/n409/mode/1up ''COLLYRIUM'' at Chambers's ''Cyclopædia, or an Universal Dictionary of Arts and Sciences'', Volume 1 page 256, year 1728]</ref>

The 2nd century [Mishnah](/source/Mishnah) mentions [https://www.sefaria.org/Mishnah_Shabbat.8?lang=bi collyrium]. The [Sunan Abu Dawood](/source/Sunan_Abu_Dawood) reports, "Prophet [Muhammad](/source/Muhammad) said: 'Among the best types of collyrium is [antimony](/source/antimony) (''ithmid'') for it clears the vision and makes the hair sprout.'"<ref>{{cite book|author=Sunan Abu-Dawud (Ahmad Hasan translation)|title=Book 32, Number 4050|url= http://www.muslimaccess.com/sunnah/hadeeth/abudawud/032.html}}</ref> [Maimonides](/source/Maimonides)<ref>Hilchot Shabbat 18:2</ref> (12th century Egypt) mentions the use of this eye salve.

== References ==

{{reflist}}
{{wiktionary}}
*{{1728}}
*"Collyrium". ''Oxford English Dictionary''. Oxford University Press. 2nd ed. 1989.

Category:History of pharmacy

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