William Hill and the Ormskirk Medicine

probably in the first century A.D. at the beginning of the Roman Empire. It is probable that later the interest in these amulets gradually decreased, as in the first century a rather important Christian community arose in Ephesos. The gentiles who became Christians renounced the amulets with Ephesian formulas and burned them. This fact proves that together with metallic tesserae wooden and leather tesserae were also used which could be burned. We may suppose that metallic tesserae, because of their durability, could be rather an object of interest of rich people. The development of the Ephesian Artemision during the Empire could not increase because, as is well known, Nero had already bought artistic objects of this Temple which had been ransacked in the year A.D. 262 by the Goths and later destroyed by an earthquake. The metallic tesserae from Ephesos bearing magic formulas are rare and are not mentioned in great specialized collections of medals relating to medicine as, for example, in Brettauer's, Faludi's and other collections.SA One specimen, similar to ours, is indicated in the catalogue of the collection of the British Museum" and two other similar specimens may be found in the collection in Copenhagen., One of them is perforated, which proves that it had been worn as an amulet for protection from different illnesses. The tesserae of Ephesos bearing magic formulas are of the same value for the history of medicine as Greek coins with symbols of the Asklepios cult reminding us of the existence of numerous Asklepions in antiquity. As far as the protection from certain diseases which the man in antiquity was looking for, the Ephesian Artemision within the range of its action had the same mission as any Asklepion. We have therefore in future to range these Ephesian tesserae among the same material as antique coins and medals with subjects belonging to the cult of Asklepios. THRE are many medicines and preparations named after the people who invented them, but it is unusual for an eponymous title to be employed for a therapeutic agent using the name of a locality or town. Such is the case for a powder that was prescribed in the eighteenth century for the treatment of the bite of a mad dog, and for the prevention of rabies. William Hill of Ormskirk in the county of Lancashire was the 294 News, Notes and Queries owner of this powder, and the …