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

CHAP. XIIII. What cure must be used to such as are bitten by a mad dog.

THis case also requires speedy remedies, for such things are in vaine which come long after the hurt. The Lawyer Baldus experienced this to his great harme; for being by chance lightly bit in the lip by a little dog wherwith he was delighted, not knowing that he was mad, & neglecting the wound, by reason of the smallnesse thereof, after some foure moneths space, he died mad, ha∣ving then in vaine assayed all maner of medicines. Wherefore observing these things both for evacuation, as also for alteration, which we have formerly mentioned in the generall cure of wounds inflicted by the bite or sting of venemous creatures, and by all the meanes there specified, we must draw forth the venome; and if the wound be large, then suffer it to bleed long and much, for so some part of the poyson will be ex∣hausted; if it be not great, it shall be enlarged by scarification, or an occult cauterie, neither shall it be healed or closed up at the soonest, till fourty daies be passed. Sorrel beaten and applied to the wound, and the decoction thereof taken inwardly, is very effectuall in this case, as Aëtius affirmes. To the same purpose you may with good successe make a lotion and friction with mustard dissolved in urine or vinegar, leaving upon the wound a double cloth moistned in the same decoction: lastly, all acride, bi∣ting and very attractive medicines are convenient in this case. Wherefore some apply Rocket boyled and beaten with butter and salt; others take the flowre of Orobus, and temper it with hony, salt and vinegar, and apply it hot. Horse-dung boyled in sharpe vinegar, or brimstone beaten to powder and tempered with ones spittle, is good. Also black pitch melted with some salt, and a little Euphor∣bium mixed therewith and so applied, is good. Some write, that the haires of the dogge whose bite caused the madnesse, applyed by themselves, by their sympathie or similitude of substance draw the venome from within outwards; for so a Scorpi∣on beaten and applied to the place whereas it stung, by drawing out the poyson that it sent in, restores the patient to health, both these by often experience are affirmed to have certaine event. Others chaw unground wheat, and lay it upon the wound, o∣thers roast beanes under hot embers, then huske them and cleave them, and so apply them. Also the wound may be wholesomely washed and fomented with a de∣coction of Docks, and then the herb beaten may be applyed thereto; also the patient may drinke the decoction; and by this one remedy Aëtius affirmes that he hath reco∣vered divers; for thus it moves urine plentifully, which is thought much to conduce to the cure of this disease. There be some who apply the leaves of betony and net∣tles beaten with common salt; others make a medicine to the same purpose and after the same manner of an Onion, the leaves of Rue and salt. Yet the rest are exceeded by Treacle dissolved in aqua vitae or strong wine, and rubbed hard upon the part, so that the bloud may follow, laying upon the wound when you have wiped it, clothes dip∣ped in the same medicine, then presently apply garlike or onions beaten with com∣mon

salt and turpentine: by this onely remedy I freed one of the daughters of Ma∣damoiselle de Gron from the symptomes of madnesse, and healed the wound, when as a mad dog had bit her grievously in the calfe of the right leg. Also it is good present∣ly to eate garlick with bread, and then to drinke after it a draught of good wine, for garlicke by its spirituous heate will defend the noble parts from poyson. There bee some who wish to eate the rosted liver of the dog that hurt them, or else the liver of a goat, of which remedies as yet I have had no experience. Others prescribe a dram of the seeds of Agnus castus to be drunke with wine and butter. Others the powder of river-crabs, burnt and drunke in wine. Or, ℞. rad. gentianae ʒii. astacorum flaviatili∣um in fumo combust. & in pollinem redact. ʒiii. terrae sigill. ℥ss. misce. give ʒi. of this same powder in the decoction of river crabs, & let them drink thereof oft at sundry times. Many have cast themselves into the sea, neither have they thence had any helpe a∣gainst madnesse, as Ferrand Pozet the Cardinall testifieth in his booke of poysons; wherefore you must not relie upon that remedie, but rather you must have recourse to such things as are set downe in the books of Physicians, and approved by certaine and manifold experience. But seeing that no poyson can kill, unlesse it be taken or ad∣mitted into the body, we must not fear any harme by sprinkling our bodies with the sanies of a mad dogge, viper, toad, or any other such like venemous creature, if so bee that it be presently wiped or washed cleane away.

Notes

• A history.
• The force of Sorrell.
• The force of Docks.
• A history.
• A history.
• Leaping into the sea n••ce••∣taine r••me•…•…y a∣gainst madness.