Theriac : a selected annotated bibliography of the history of Theriac

Abstract

Theriac,also treacle in the English language, was a complex antidote and one of the most ancient medicaments which was already in use in the second century before Christ. The French term for theriac is theriaque, the Latin theriaca, whilst in Greek it is known as theriake. Theriake was derived from theriakos (of wild or venomous beasts); hence theriac or theriake was an antidote which was primarily used against the bites of serpents, then against poisons in general.