Pedanius Dioscorides (c.40-c.90 AD,left),ancient Greek physician. At centre the nymph Euresis holds a mandrake plant,while an artist draws it. When working as a surgeon in the Roman army of Nero,Dioscorides used the mandrake plant,combined with wine,as an anaesthetic when carrying out surgical procedures. He also wrote a five-volume book,De Materia Medica,in which he described herbs and herbal remedies. The book remained in use,in various translations,until 1600. Engraving from Vies des Savants Illustres (1877) |