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. XIII. [unspec B]

¶ Receits for stanching bloud: repressing or smiting backe the swelling incident to wounds: healing of vlcers and greene wounds: and generally for curing of many other maladies. Remedies all taken from dumbe creatures.

THe suet that commeth from the kell of a mutton, staies any flux of bloud, if it be conueied into the place from whence it issueth: so is their rede, especially if it be the rennet of a yong Lambe tempered with water, either drawn vp into the nosthrils or poured into them: this is thought to be such a soueraigne remedie, that when all others haue failed, it hath done [unspec C] the deed. The earthie substance sticking to shell-snailes, hath the same effect: yea, and their ve∣rie flesh when they are pulled out of their houses. In case the nose do bleed excessiuely take the said shell-snailes, bruse them and lay them to the forehead: they will stanch the bleeding: the copwebs also put vp into the nosthrils. As for the brains of a Cocke or Capon, they stop a flux of bloud issuing from the braine. But say that bloud do gush immoderately out of a wound: it is wonderfull how the ashes of horse dung, together with egg-shels, will stop the same, if it be laid thereto.

As for * 1.1 wounds, the grease of vnwashed wool, incorporat with the ashes of torrified and cal∣cined Barley and Verdegris, of each a like quantitie, and so made into a plaistre, healeth them. The same is a soueraign salue for any corrosiue vlcers, be they neuer so maligne & cankerous. It [unspec D] eateth and consumeth the dead flesh about the brims and edges of vlcers, yea, and brings down the excrescence of proud flesh, reducing the same to be euen with the rest about it. The same doth incarnat likewise and skin the place after it is filled vp with yong flesh. If the vlcers proue to be ilfauoured cankers, it is thought, that the ashes of sheeps dung mixed with salnitre, is an effectuall pouder for the same: and as great operation is attributed to the ashes of a Lambs leg bones, but principally if the said sores be of the nature of Nunquan sana, and will not skin vp, but scorne all healing plaisters whatsoeuer. Much vertue also is attributed vnto Rams lights in these cases; for it eateth away all the excrescences of ranke flesh in vlcers, and there is not the like againe vnto it, for reducing all vnto an equalitie. The very dung also of sheep heat vnder an earthen pan and afterwards wrought into a masse or paste, assuageth the tumour of any vlcers: [unspec E] And it serueth likewise to mundifie and heale fistulaes, as also to rid away the chil-blanes or bloudy fals, which are ournight-foes. But of al other, the ashes of an horse head is most forcible in this case, for it consumes all superfluous flesh growing in sores, and heales vp the same after∣wards, no Spodium better. And yet it is said, that mice dung is very good therfore: like as the a shes of Weazils dung. The hard callosities in the bottome of vlcers, the Cheeslips or Sowes if they be stamped fresh and reduced drie into pouder, do search throughly: like as all cankers al∣so they cure, if they be incorporat with the right Turpentine and common * 1.2 Bole-Arnioniacke. And these medicines abouesaid are singular for those vlcers that be giuen to breed worms, and thereby are dangerous. And seeing I am light vpon the mention of wormes, it would be noted, that there be diuerse sorts of wormes which haue wonderfull properties in these cases: For first [unspec F] and formost, the grosse and fat wormes breeding in wood & timber, which the Latins call Cossi, are soueraigne healers of any vlcers whatsoeuer. But if the same be burnt with an equall weight of Annise seed, and reduced into a liniment by meanes of oile, they haue a speciall vertue to cure those sores that be corrosiue, which the Greeks call Nomae. Earthwormes are great healers,

and soon do souder greene wounds: in which operation they are so effectuall and speedy withal, [unspec G] That if the sinewes be cut quite asunder, it is a common opinion, that they will consolidat and vnite them again in lesse space than a week: and therefore, because they should be ready and e∣uer at hand, many preserue them for this purpose condite in hony. Indeed, when they be reduced into ashes, they are effectuall to eat downe the hard callosities growing in the sides and edges of vlcers, if they be incorporat with Tarre, or the Sicilian hony called Hyblaeum. Some vse them dried in the Sun and tempered with vineger, for wounds: but this cataplasme they doe not re∣moue vntill 2 daies be past. After the same maner, the terrene or earthly substance of shel-snails do much good: yea, and taken forth whole as they be out of their shels, stamped and so applied, they conglutinat greene wounds, and stay the running farther of corrosiue vlcers. Also there is a certain liuing creature, which is called Herpes by the Greeks; the same hath a peculiar proper∣ty [unspec H] to heale any sore that * runneth on still and corrode as it goeth. For which kinde of vlcers, * 1.3 snails, bruised shells and all, be passing good: and the same incorporat with Myrrh and Frankin∣cense, haue the name to heale sinewes that be cut in two: Moreouer, the fat of a Dragon dried 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the Sun, is very effectuall: like as the brains also of a Cock, to heale green wounds, if the pati∣ent withall eat salt to his meat, which was calcined together with Vipers flesh: and by this means (they say) that any vlcers will sooner yeeld to the cure, and be healed with more speed. The renowned Physitian Antonius Musa, hauing certain Patients in cure vnder his hand, who had vlcers that were thought incurable, prescribed them to eat Vipers flesh; and wonderfull it is how soone he healed them cleane by that means.

The ashes of certain Locusts without wings, called by the Greeks Tryxalides, cause the thick [unspec I] roufs and escars that grow about the brims of vlcers to fall off, and they consume the hard cal∣losities thereof applied with honey. The ashes likewise of Pigeons dung tempered with Orpi∣ment or Arsenick and hony, serue as a corrosiue to eat away any excrescence that ought to bee consumed: the brains of schrich-owls incorporat with grease, doth wonderfully conglutinat any wounds. As for those morimals, named by the Greekes Cacoethe, the ashes of a rams shanke∣bones & legs mixt with brest milk, is singular to heale them, so that the said sores were first well and throughly washed and bathed with fine linnen cloaths soked in some conuenient liquour. There is a bird called an Hulat, which if it be sodden in oile, & so resolued, is good therefore, in case the same be incorporat with butyr made of ews milk and hony. If the sides or brims of any vlcer be growne callous and hard, the Bees that are stifled and killed in hony, doe mollifie very [unspec K] well. The bloud and ashes of a Weazill calcined, doe cure the white filthy leprosie called Ele∣phantiasis. The wounds occasioned by whipping and scourging, the marks also and wales remai∣ning to be seen black and blew after such lashes and stripes, are done away and go presently out, with applying thereto a sheeps skin fresh and newly flaied. If there be any joint bruised or crac∣ked, the ashes of a Sheeps leg bone, burnt, haue a special vertue to help the same: but much bet∣ter, if they be incotporat into a cerot with wax. Of the same operation there is another plaster made; namely, if there be calcined with the former the jaws of the said Sheep, and a Harts horn: and if the wax be softened and resolued with oile rosat. When bones bee broken, it is good to apply vnto the fracture the brains of a dog spread vpon a linnen cloth or inwrapped therein, co∣uering [unspec K] the said cataplasme with wooll laid aloft, and the same eft-soones moistened and wet throughly [* 1.4 in some astringent liquor:] this manner of cure doth souder them lightly in 14 daies at the farthest. The ashes also of field-mice work the like effect as speedily, if the same be tempered with honey, or mingled with the ashes of earth-wormes: which also is able to draw forth spils of bones, and make them to worke out. The lights of a Mutton and of a Ram especi∣ally, reduce skars to their liuely colour againe, sutable vnto the skinne about: their tallow also mixed with sal-nitre: so do the ashes of a greene lizard: the slough that snakes cast off in the Spring boiled in wine: and Pigeons dung tempered with honey, and so applied. The same me∣dicines do take away the filthy white Morphew, called in Latine Vitiligo, if they be vsed with wine: for which Morphew or infection of the skin, it is good to apply Cantharides, with twice as much of Rue leaues, which the patient must indure and abide, lying stil vpon the place in the Sunne, vntil such time as the skinne begin to rise in pimples and little blisters. Afterwards it is [unspec M] needfull to soment and bathe the said place thus offended, yea, and to annoint it wel with oile: which done, to returne againe to the former emplastration, and so hold on this course by turnes for many daies together, but in any wise to take heed that the exulceration in this cure

go not ouer deep. For the same morphew, many giue order to make a liniment with flies & the [unspec A] root of docks, and herewith to annoint the places infected with this morphew: also, to apply thereto hens dung, I mean as much thereof as is white: for which purpose they keep the same in oile within horne boxes, for to serue the turne as need requireth. Likewise, to annoint them with the bloud of bats, or the gall of an Vrchin tempered with water. As for the running scalls, the brains of a s•…•…hrich-owle is very good, incorporat with salt-petre: but dogs bloud hath no fel∣low to represse the same: like as to kill the itch, the little broad snailes stamped and brought into a liniment, are soueraigne. If there be any spill or shiuer of arrowes, if any piece of a dart or whatsoeuer els stick within the flesh, which would bee gotten forth, split a liue mouse in the middest, and lay the same hot to the place, you shall see how it will draw the same out. But a Li∣zard passeth all the rest, being in this wise slit along and diuided: or if the head onely be stam∣ped [unspec C] with salt, and applied accordingly. There be certain shel-snailes that creep in troups toge∣ther for to deuour the yong spring and green leaues of plants, which serue to this effect, if they be punned with their shels and laid to the place. Those also that we vse to dresse and eat, if they be taken forth of their shels: but if you put thereto the rennet of a yong hare or leueret, it is won∣derfull to see how effectually they will worke. Snakes bones incorporat with the rennet of any foure-footed beast whatsoeuer, within lesse than 3 daies shew the same effect, and draw forth a∣ny thing that sticketh within the body. Finally, the flies called Cantharides are much commen∣ded for this operation, if they be stamped and incorporat with barly meale.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Vulnerihus. S•…•…e 〈◊〉〈◊〉 V•…•…us, i. Vlcers.
• * 1.2

  S•…•… 〈◊〉〈◊〉 take it for T•…•…∣ra Sigill•…•…: but it sk•…•…th not much, •…•…ng that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 S•…•…co, T•…•… S•…•…ata. & Bo∣lus A•…•…, yea, and Terra •…•…mnia, little differ in opera∣tion, nisi•…•…e un∣d•…•…m magis & minus, is the le•…•…ned think, Vid E•…•…lium dere Metallia.
• * 1.3

  •…•…ich also is 〈◊〉〈◊〉 •…•…pes: •…•…gles •…•…d
• * 1.4

  As oile of ro∣ses, or red wine