The historie of the vvorld: commonly called, The naturall historie of C. Plinius Secundus. Translated into English by Philemon Holland Doctor of Physicke. The first [-second] tome

CHAP. VI. [unspec K]

¶ Of Sneezing: the vse of Venerie: and other means which concerne mans health.

SNeezing dischargeth the heauinesse of the head, and easeth the pose or rheum that stuffeth the nose: and it is commonly said, That if one lay his mouth to the nosthrils of a mouse or rat and touch the same, it wil do as much. To sneeze also, is a ready way to be rid of the yex or hicquet. And Varro giueth counsell, to scrape a branch of a * 1.1 Date tree with one hand after another by turnes, for to stay the said hicquet. But most Physitians giue direction in this case, to shift a ring from the left hand to the longest finger of the right; or to plunge both hands into very hot water. Theophrastus saith, that old men doe sneeze with more paine and difficulty than others.

As touching carnall knowledge of man and woman, Democritus vtterly condemned it: and [unspec L] why so? Because (quoth he) in that act, one man goeth * 1.2 out of another. And to say a truth, the lesse one vseth it, the better it is for body and mind both: and yet onr professed wrestlers, run∣ners and such gamsters at feats of actiuity, when they feele themselues heauy or dul, reuiue and recouer their liuely spirits again by keeping company with women. Also this exercise clenseth the brest and helpeth the voice, which being sometime before cleare and neat, was now become hoarse and rusty. Moreouer, the temperat sports of Venus, easeth the pain of the reins and loins, mundifie and quicken the eiesight, and be singular good for such as be troubled in mind and gi∣uen ouermuch to melancholy.

Moreouer, it is held for witchcraft, to sit by women in trauell, or neare vnto a Patient who [unspec M] hath a medicine either giuen inwardly or applied vnto him, * 1.3 with hand in hand, crosse-fingered one between another: the experience whereof was well seene (by report) when lady * 1.4 Alcmena was in labour to be deliuered of Hercules. And the worse is this peece of sorcery, in case the par∣ty hold the hands thus joined a-crosse one finger within another about one or both knees. Also

to sit crosse-legged, with the ham of one leg riding aloft vpon the knee of the other, and that by [unspec A] turns shifting from knee to knee. And in very truth, our ancestors time out of mind, haue expres∣ly forbidden in all councels of State, held by princes, potentats, and Generals of the field, to sit hand in hand or crosse-legged; for an opinion they haue, That this manner of gesture hindereth the proceeding and issue of any act in hand or consulted vpon. They gaue out likewise a strait prohibition, That no person present at any solemnity of sacrifices or vows making should sit or stand crosse-legged or hand in hand in manner aforesaid.

As for veiling bonnet before great rulers and magistrats, or within their sight, Varro saith, it was a fashion at first not commanded for any reuerence or honour thereby to be done vnto go∣uernors, but for healths sake; and namely, that mens heads might be more firm & hardy, by that ordinary vse and custome of being bare. [unspec B]

When a mote or any thing els is falne into one eie, it is good to shut the other hard. If there be water gotten into the right eare, the maner is to jump and hop with the left leg, bending and inclining the head toward the right shoulder; semblably, if the like happen to the left eare; to do the contrary. If one be falne into a fit of coughing, the way to stay it is to let the next fellow spit vpon his forehead. If the uvula be falne, it will vp again, if the Patient suffer another to bite the haire in the crown of his head, and so to pull him vp plumb from the ground. Hath the neck a crick or a pain lying behind, what better remedy than to rub the hams? Be the hams pained? do the like by the nape of the neck: say the cramp take either feet or legs, plucking & stretching the sinewes when one is in bed, the next way to be vsed, is to set the feet vpon the floore or the ground where the bed standeth: or put case the crampe take the left side, then be sure with the [unspec C] right hand to catch hold of the great toe of the left foot: and contrariwise, if the cramp come to the right leg, do the like by the right foot. If the body fall a shaking and quiuering for cold, or if one bleed excessiuely at the nosthrils, it is passing good to bind strait and hard the extreame parts; to wit, hands and legs, yea and to plucke the eares also. It falleth out oftentimes, that one cannot lie dry nor hold his water, but it commeth from him euer and anone; what is then to be done? mary tie the foreskin of his yard with a linnen thred or a papyr rush, & withall, binde his thighs about in the middle. If the mouth of the stomacke be ready to turne, and will neither re∣ceiue nor hold any thing, it is good to presse hard and straine the feet together, or els to thrust both hands into hot water.

To come now vnto our speech and exercise of the tongue: in many cases and for diuers causes [unspec D] it is wholsom to speak but little. I haue head say, that Mecaenas Messius inioined himselfe three yeres silence, and during that time neuer spake word, for that in a fit of a convulsion or crampe, he had beforetime cast vp bloud. In case any thing be ready to fall or rush violently against vs, and that we be in danger of some stroke, say that we be climbing vp hill, or turned downe back∣ward, or lying along, there is not the like meanes againe to preserue our bodies, as to hold our winde: and this inuention we had from a bruit and dumbe beast, according as I haue shewed before.

Moreouer it is said, that to stick down a spike or yron naile in that very place where a man or womans head lay during the fit of the falling sicknesse, at the very first time that hee or she fell, secureth the party that so doth, for euer being troubled with that disease. Also it is holden for a [unspec E] singular thing to mitigat the intollerable torments of the reins, loins, and bladder, to pisse with the body bending forward and groueling in the bathing tubs within the baines. As for greene wounds, it is wonderfull how soon they will be healed, in case they be bound vp and tied with a * 1.5 Hercules knot: and verily it is thought, that to knit our girdles which we weare about vs euery day with such a knot, hath a great vertue in it, by reason that Hercules first deuised the same.

Demetrius, in a treatise that he compiled as touching the number of foure, affirmeth that it is of great efficacy; and he alledgeth reasons why it is not good to prescribe in any medicine to be drunke, the quantitie of foure sextars or foure cyaths. To rub the ears behind, is supposed to be very good for them that are giuen to be bleare-eied: like as to rub the forehead, forweeping or watering eies. [unspec F]

Concerning the signs of life & death which may be found in man, this is one, That so long as the Patients eie is so cleare that a man may see himselfe in the apple of it, wee are not to de∣spaire of life.

As for the Vrine of mankind, diuers authors haue treated of it; who as I find, haue not onely

set downe their reasons in nature as touching the vertue thereof, but also haue bin very ceremo∣nious [unspec G] and superstitious in handling that argument; yea, and they haue written distinctly of the seuerall kinds of vrine digested into certain principal heads. And among other things, I remem∣ber, that they set down the vrine of * 1.6 men that are vnable for generation, to be singular good by way of injection, to make women fruitfull. But to speak of such remedies as we may be bold to name with honesty: the vrine of yong children who be not yet vndergrowne nor 14 yeres of age, is good against the venomous humor of the Aspides or Adders which the Greeks name * 1.7 Pty∣ades, for that they spit their poison vpon the eies and faces of men and women. Also the same is held to be singular for the pearle, the cataract, the filmes, the pin and web in the eies; like as for the eie-lids also, and the accidents happening vnto them. Being incorporate with the floure of Eruile, it is good for sun-burnings: sodden also with bolled leeks to the consumption of the one [unspec H] halfe in a new earthen pot which was neuer occupied, it is excellent to mundifie the eares that run with matter, or that haue any worms or vermin within them: and verily a stouph made with the vapour of this decoction, bringeth downe the desired sicknesse of women. Dame Salpe or∣daineth to foment the eies with the said decoction, for to fortifie the sight, and to strengthen them that they fal not out of the head: she appointeth to make a liniment with it and the white of an egge, but principally if it be of an ostrich, and therewith to annoint the skin that hath bin tanned and burnt in the Sun, for the space of two houres together: with it a man may wash a∣way any blots or blurs of ink. Mans vrine is much commended for the gout in the feet, as wee may see by Fullers, who neuer be goutie, because ordinarily their feet are in mens vrine. Stale chamber-lie or vrin long kept and incorporat together with the ashes of oister shels, cureth the [unspec I] red-gomb in yong infants, and generally in all running vlcers: the same so prepared, serueth in a liniment for eating cankers, burns and scalds, the swelling piles, the chaps and rifts in the seat and feet, also for the sting of serpents. The most expert and skilfull midwiues haue pronounced all with one resolution, that for to kill an itch in any part of the body, to heale a scald head, to scoure away dandruffe and scurfe in the head or beard, and to cure the corroding vlcers in any place, but in the priuy members especially, there is not a liquor more effectuall than vrine, with a little sal-nitre put thereto. But surely, euery mans own water (if I may for reuerence of man∣hood so say) is simply best; and namely, if the Patient that is bitten with a dog, do straightways bath the place therewith; or in case there be any prick of vrchin, hedghog, or such like spill stic∣king in the flesh, to apply the same thereto in spunges or wooll, and so let it lie on. But say it [unspec K] was a mad dog that bit the Patient, or that he be stung with a serpent, it is good to temper it with ashes and lay it vnto the sore. For as touching the vertue thereof against Scolopendres, it is wonderfull what is reported, namely, That whosoeuer be hurt by them, if they doe wet the crown of their heads but with one drop of their own vrine, it will presently cure the same, so as they shall feele no more pain nor harm thereby. Ouer and besides, by the speculation of our v∣rine, we are able to giue iudgement and pronounce of health and sicknesse; for if the first water made in a morning be white and cleare, and the next after it higher coloured and inclining to a deep yellow, the former sheweth that concoction was then begun, and the second is a signe that digestion is now perfect. A red vrine is naught, but the black is worst of all: likewise if it be ful of bubbles and froth aloft, and be withal of a grosse and thick subsistence, the same is but a bad [unspec L] water. If the Hypostasis or Sediment which setleth heauy to the botom, be white, it signifieth that there is some pain and grieuance like to insue about the joints or principall parts within the body. Doth an vrine look greenish? it betokeneth some obstruction or disease already in the noble bowels and inwards: is it of a pale hew: it saith that choler aboundeth in that body: If it look red, the bloud be sure is predominant and distempered. The vrin is not to be liked but pre∣sageth danger, wherin there appeare certain contents like brans & blackish clouds: also, a white thin, and waterish vrine is neuer good: but in case it be thick and of a stinking smell withall, it is a deadly signe, and there is no way but one with the Patient. As for children, if their water be thin and waterish, it is but ordinary and naturall.

The Magitians expressely forbid in making water, to lay bare the nakednesse of that part a∣gainst [unspec M] Sun and Moon, or to pisse vpon the shadow of any person. And therefore Hesiodus giueth a precept, to make water against a wall, or something standing full before vs, for feare least our nakednesse being discouered, might offend some god or Angell. To conclude, Hostha∣ues doth vpon his warrant assure vs, That whosoeuer droppeth some of his owne vrine euerie

morning vpon his feet, he shal be secured against all charms, sorceries, and deadly poisons what∣soeuer. [unspec A]

Notes

• * 1.1

  Palma alterna manu scalpere: vnlesse hee meaneth [to scratch the palm or inside of the hand, &c.] which answereth somewhat to the remedies next follow∣ing.
• * 1.2

  Homo alius ex∣iliret ex homi∣ne: which Da∣lc campius ex∣pounds thus, For that a man in that action, goeth beside himselfe.
• * 1.3

  For it hol∣deth women in pain still, & hindreth the operation of Physicke.
• * 1.4

  There was an old witch that by this meanes kept her in a long and tedious trauaile.
• * 1.5

  Wherein no ends are to be seene, they are so close cou∣ched, & there∣fore hardly to be vnloosed.
• * 1.6

  Spadonum.
• * 1.7

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, à spuendo, i. of spitting.