The workes of that famous chirurgion Ambrose Parey translated out of Latine and compared with the French. by Th: Johnson

CHAP. X. What cure must bee used to the bitings and stingings of venemous beasts.

CUre must speedily bee used without any delay to the bites and stingings of venemous beasts, which may by all meanes disperse the poyson, and keepe it from entring into the body; for when the principall parts are possessed, it boots nothing to use medicines afterwards. Therefore the * 1.1 Ancients have propounded a double indication to leade us to the fin∣ding out of medicines in such a case, to wit, the evacuation of the virulent and vene∣nate humour, and the change or alteration of the same and the affected body. But seeing evacuation is of two sorts, to wit, universall, which is by the inner parts, and particular, which is by the outward parts. We must begin at the particular, by such to pick medicines as are fit to draw out, and retund the venome; for we must not al∣waies begin a cure with generall things, as some thinke, especially in externall disea∣ses, as wounds, fractures, dislocations, venemous bites and punctures. Wherefore

hereto as speedily as you may, you shall apply remedies fit for the bites & punctures of venemous beasts, as for example, the wounds shall bee presently washed with u∣rine, * 1.2 with sea-water, aquavitae, or wine, or vineger wherein old treacle or mustard shall be dissolved. Let such washing be performed very hot, and strongly chafed in, ••••d then leave upon the wound and round about it, linnen ragges, or lint steeped in the same liquor. There be some who thinke it not fit to lay treacle thereto, because, as they say, it drives the poyson in. But the authority of Galen convinceth that opi∣nion, * 1.3 for he writeth that if treacle be applyed to this kind of wounds before that the venome shall arrive at the noble parts, it much conduceth. Also reason confutes it; for vipers flesh enters the composition of treacle which attracts the venome by the similitude of substance, as the Load-stone draweth iron, or Amber strawes. Moreo∣ver, the other simple medicines which enter this composition, resolve and consume the virulencie and venome, and being inwardly taken, it defendeth the heart and o∣ther noble parts, and corroboratheth the spirits. Experience teacheth that mithridate fiftly given in the stead of treacle worketh the like effect. The medicines that are ta∣ken * 1.4 inwardly and applyed outwardly for evacuation, must bee of subtle parts, that they may quickly insinuate themselves into every part to retund the malignity of the poyson; wherefore garlike, onions, leeks, are very good in this case, for that they are vaporous; also scordium, tue, dictamnus, the lesser Centaury, horehound, rocket, the milkie juice of unripe figs, and the like, are good; there is a kind of wilde buglosse amongst all other plants, which hath a singular force against venemous bites, whence it is termed Echium and viperinum, and that for two causes; the first is, because in the * 1.5 purple flowers that grow amongst the leaves, there is a resemblance to the head of a viper or adder. Another reason is, because it heales the biting of a viper not onely applyed outwardly, but also helpeth such as are bitten, being drunke in wine, yea, and will not suffer those that have lately drunke thereof to bee bitten at all. Wilde time hath the like effect; though these oft-times agree with the poyson in quality as in heate, yet doe they helpe in discussing and resolving it: yet, as much as wee may, wee must labour to have evacuation and alteration together. It is most convenient, if the part affected will permit, to apply large cupping-glasles with much flame and hornes; also sucking is good, the mouth being first washed in wine wherein some treacle is dissolved, and with oile, lest any thing should adhere thereto, for it will hinder it, if so be the mouth bee no where ulcerated. It is good also to apply horse-leaches; some wish to apply to the wound, the fundaments of hens or turkies that lay egges, for that such are opener behinde, first putting salt upon them that they may gape the wider, shutting their beaks and opening them now & then lest they should be stifled, and ever and anon to substitute others in stead of such as die or are suffoca∣ted; for thus it is thought the poyson is drawne forth, and passeth into the bird by the fundament. There bee others which had rather apply to the wound live birds cut asunder in the midst, and so laid to hot, for that they ghesse these resist poyson by a naturall discord. But certainely it is by their heate whereby they doe not onely digest toads, aspes, vipers, scorpions and other venemous things, but also weare asun∣der and soften sand, stones, and most dry and stony seeds in their gizzards; wherefore we must think them very good to draw out the poyson and dissipate it. But nothing is so forcible to disperse and retund the venome, as the impression of cauteries, espe∣cially * 1.6 actuall, for a hot iron workes more effectually and speedily, and causeth an ulcer which will remaine open a longer time. Wherefore to cause the speedier fal∣ling away of the eschar, you shall scarifie it to the quick, and then plentifully an∣noint the place. For thus the poyson will the sooner passe forth. But this must bee done before the poyson enters far into the body, for otherwise Cauteries will not only do no good, but further torment the patient, and weaken him to no purpose. Let drawing plasters be laid to the wound & neighbouring parts, made of Galbanum, tur∣pentine, blacke pitch, and other gummy and resinous things. After the falling away of the Eschar, basilicon shall bee applyed, quickned with a litle Precipitate, for it is * 1.7 very effectuall in these cases, for that it draweth forth the virulent sanies out of the bottome of the wound, neither doth it suffer the wound to bee closed speedily. To which purpose they put in a piece of of a spunge, or a roote of Gentian or Hermonda∣ctyll,

or some acride medicine, as agyptiacum or Precipitate mixed with the powder of Al••me, or a caustick beaten to powder. But you must alwaies observe this, that with your ointments you must alwaies mixe some Treacle or Mithridate, or the juice of hypericon, or the like, which have power to attract and disperse the poyson, and cleanse the ulcer; yet if too vehement heat shall cause such paine as is likely to bring * 1.8 a gangrene by the dissipation of the spirits, then neglecting the cure of the proper disease for a time, wee must labour to correct the symptome. But in this case you must observe this rule, that you let no bloud, give no purging medicine, nor glyster, nor vomit, nor use no bath, nor other thing that may procure sweat, untill three daies be past after the bite or sting. In the meane space, let the patient shun all manner of labour, but chiefely venery, lest by causing an agitation of the humours, the poyson get sooner to the heart. Therefore then it is time to use universall evacuations, when as you shall suspect that the poyson is diffused over the veines and whole inner part of the bodie besides. Before you shall give nothing, unlesse medicines of Treacle or Mithridate and the like things, which have a faculty to resist poyson, and strengthen the whole body by their benigne and vital vapour, although their substance goe no further than the stomack. Thus pills when they are swallowed, though they goe no further than the stomacke, yet doe they draw matter out of the joints and head; and strong glysters, though they passe no further than the guts, yet by their quality diffu∣sed * 1.9 further with the vapour, they draw from the most distant parts; yet you must giue an Antidote, not onely more powerfull than the poyson in quality, but also greater in quantitie, that so it may the more easily overcome and expell the poyson. Wherefore you must give it twice in a day, and continue it so long untill you shall know that the strength of the poyson is weakned and overcome by the remission and decay of the maligne symptomes. Yet in the meane while, you must not neg∣lect distemper caused in the part by the poyson, but must rather correct it by the application of remedies contrary to the distemper, as by cold things, if great heat afflict the affected part and whole bodie; by hot things on the contrary, if it seeme as cold as a stone, which oft-times happens. And let thus much suffice for the generall cure of poysons: now will we come to their particular cure.

Notes

• * 1.1

  A double indi∣cation in the cure of vene∣mous bites
• * 1.2

  Lotions fit for venemous bites.
• * 1.3

  Lib. de theriaca.
• * 1.4

  Treacle out-wardl•• applyed and inwardly ta∣ken good a∣gainst v••ne∣mous bit••s.
• * 1.5

  The force of E. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.6

  The eff•…•…e of Cauteries a∣gainst vene∣mous bites.
• * 1.7

  The ••orce of Precipitate a∣gainst vene∣mous wounds.
• * 1.8

  When hot things are not convenient for poysoned wounds.
• * 1.9

  Antidotes must be given in great quantities.