Antiq. Also surmaia, surmia. [mod.L., a. Gr. συρμαία radish used as purge-plant, purge, f. συρμός vomiting, purging, f. σύρειν to drag along, sweep away, purge.] A cathartic said to have been used in some Egyptian forms of embalming.
1833. J. Davidson, Embalming, 8. The third, or common process [of embalming], consisted in passing the Surmaia (supposed a cathartic solution) through the body.
1860. Smith’s Dict. Bible, I. s.v. Embalming, The third mode [of embalming] … consisted in rinsing out the intestines with syrmaea, an infusion of senna and cassia.
1885. C. G. W. Lock, Workshop Receipts, Ser. IV. 41/2. The nature of syrmaea, or, as some spell it, surmia, is not known.
