Brewer's: Panace'a

A universal cure. Panacea was the daughter of Esculapios (god of medicine). The name is evidently composed of two Greek words panakeomai (all I cure). Of course the medicine that cures is the daughter or child of the healing art.

Panace'a.

An Orkney proverb says the well of Kildinguie and the dulse (sea-weed) of Guiodin will cure every malady save Black Death. (SirWalterScott: The Pirate, chap. xxix.) (See Azoth.)

Other famous panaceas.

Prince Ahmed's apple, or apple of Samarcand, cured all disorders. (See under Apple.) The balsam of Fierbras (q.v.).

The Promethean unguent rendered the body invulnerable.

Aladdin's ring (q.v.) was a preservative against all the ills which flesh is heir to. Sir Gilbert's sword. Sir T. Malory, in his History of Prince Arthur (i. 116), says:-

“Sir Launcelot touched the wounds of Sir Meliot with Sir Gilbert's sword, and wiped them with the cerecloth, and anon a wholler man was he never in all his life.”

(See also Achilles' Spear, Medea's Kettle, Reynard's Ring [see Ring], Panthera, etc.)

Source: Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, E. Cobham Brewer, 1894

Panama

Pan