De ̄mokritos, pseudo (Pharmacy) (150? – 80 BCE)
P quotes Democritus on herbs, once giving the title, De Effectu Herbarum (25.23, cf. 25.13),
describing magical properties of over a dozen Armenian, Persian, or Indian plants
(24.160–166, 25.14, 26.18–19, 27.141); A D augmented
the list (so this man may predate A ̄). The eastern plants are listed
approximately in Greek alphabetical order (24.160–166), but none can be reliably identi-
fied: 24.163 aethiopis is not the sage variety of 27.11 and the therionarca of 24.163 is not the
oleander of 25.113 (the narcotic onothuris of 26.18 may recur at 26.111, 146). Pliny quotes
De ̄mokritos’ potion for ensuring good and pretty children (24.166); presumably the book
included more such; cf. G 7.32, recording De ̄mokritos’ potion to cure excessive
desire for alcohol. Dietary properties of turnips (20.19) and radishes (20.28) may derive
from another work, perhaps from B. Pliny’s citation of De ̄mokritos – followed appar-
ently in chronological order by A “M,” M, A and A
S – as the source of medicines derived from humans, 1.ind.28, 28.7–8, apparently
refers to a similar pseudepigraphon. A P, Dyn. 39.1, 46.1 cites other remed-
ies from a pharmaceutical work attributed to De ̄mokritos. The 5th–6th c. CE Latin work
Liber Medicinalis purports to be a translation.
RE S.4 (1924) 219–233, I. Hammer-Jensen; K.-D. Fischer, “Der Liber Medicinalis des Pseudo-
Democritus,” in Vázquez Buján (1994) 45–56.
PTK
De ̄mokritos, pseudo (Medicine) (ca 150 – ca 50 BCE)
C pr.7–8 describes P, E, and D as founders of
medicine, the last of whom taught H (cf. Gellius 4.13.2). Celsus seems to be
relying on a tradition found also in the 1st c. BCE pseudo-Hippokratic letters (Smith 20–34),
which represent De ̄mokritos as a medical expert excelling Hippokrate ̄s. Letter 17.3 (9.356
Littré) makes gall the cause of madness, proven by animal dissection, 18 (9.380–384 Littré)
concerns the use of hellebore, 19 (9.304–306 Littré) pretends that De ̄mokritos composed
the H C S D, and 23 (9.392–398) is a précis of human
anatomy. R, in O Coll. 45.28.1 (CMG 6.2.1, p. 184) rejects, and S/
C , Chron. 4.4 (CML 6.1.2, p. 776), hesitantly cites, De ̄mokritos’ book on
elephantiasis; So ̄ranos/Caelius says the author prescribed a plant found in Syria and
Kilikia. Rufus also cites him on bubonic plague: Oreib. Coll. 44.14.1 (pp. 131–132). A.
P. 51.1 records De ̄mokritos’ theory that elephantiasis arose from phlegm blocking
surface veins. Caelius also cites De ̄mokritos’ work on hudrophobia, describing it as an
affection of the neura, and prescribing marjoram-potion, drunk from a hemi-spherical cup
(Acute 3.132–133 [CML 6.1.1, p. 372], cf. 3.112, 120 [pp. 358, 364]). D L
9.48 attributes works on prognosis, diet, and regimen to De ̄mokritos.
The medical pseudo-De ̄mokritos “listened to bird’s voices” (Letter 10.1 [9.322 Littré]),
and Pliny says Democritus claimed that mixing blood from various birds generated snakes,
the consumption of which conferred comprehension of birds’ speech (10.137, 29.72). He
appears also to have written on the anatomy (11.80), ethology (8.61), and medicinal value
(28.153, 32.49) of animals (cf. X A). Two lengthy paraphrases
are preserved, on the chameleon (Pliny 28.112–118, rejected by Gellius 10.12.1, 6), and on
the basilisk of Libya (DK 68 B300.7a), described per N, The ̄r. 396–398, said to be
DE ̄MOKRITOS, PSEUDO (PHARMACY)