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. VIII.

¶ Diuers receits, set downe disorderly one with another, for sundry maladies.

ONe Frog boiled in fiue hemines of sea-water, is singular to cause the scurfe of the mange [unspec C] or wild scab to fall off: but sodden so long it must be, vntill the decoction bee risen to the height of hony.

There is ingendred in the sea also that which is called Halcyoneum, made as some thinke of the nests of the birds Halcyones and Ceyces: but as others suppose, of the filthy some of the sea thickened and indurat: and according to the opinion of some, it proceedeth from the muddie slime or a certaine * 1.1 hoary dry scum or froth of the sea. Foure kinds there bee of it. The first of an ash colour, thick and massie, of a quick and hot smell. The second is soft and more mild, fauo∣ring in manner like to sea weeds. The third resembleth the whiter kinde of checquer worke in marquettry. The fourth is more hollow and fuller of holes in maner of a pumish stone, & in that respect resembleth a rotten spunge, inclining much to the colour of purple: and this is simply [unspec D] the best, called also by the name of Halcyoneum Milesium; yet in this kind the whiter that it is the worse it is to be liked. The property of them all in generality, is to exulcerat and mundifie. Vsed they are being torrified, euen without any oile. Wonderfull is their operation, if they bee tempered with Lupines, and the weight of two oboli in sulphur, for to take away the wilde scab or leprosie, the foule tettars Lichenes, and the pimples or spots of the skin called Lentils. Hal∣cyoneum also is commonly emploied about the scars or thick filmes appearing in the eyes. An∣dreas the Physitian vsed much the ashes of a sea-crab incorporat with oile in curing the lepro∣sie. Attalus occupied as vsually the fat of a fresh Tuny, new taken, for the healing of vlcers. The pickle of Lampreies, together with the ashes of their heads calcined, and brought into a lini∣ment with hony, healeth the kings evill. And many are of opinion, that to prick the wennes na∣med [unspec E] the Kings euill aforesaid, with the small bone or pricke that sticketh in the taile of that sea fish which is called * 1.2 Rana marina, with this gage and rule of the hand that it wound not deep, is very good for that disease: but the same must be done euery day vntil they bee throughly cu∣red and whole. Of the same operation is the sharp prick in a Puffen: of the sea-hare also applied to them, so as neither the one nor the other be suffered to lie long to the place, but bee soone re∣newed. Also the shelly skin of the sea-Vrchin stamped to pouder and brought into a liniment with vineger: as also the ashes of the sea Scolopendre incorporat with honey: and the riuer crai∣fish either puluerized or calcined, and the dust or ashes thereof likewise tempered with honey, are good to be applied to the same disease. Wonderfull effectuall be the bones also of the cut∣till fish beaten to pouder, and with old swines grease brought into the form of a liniment: and in [unspec F] this manner they apply this medicine to the tumors behind the ears: like as the liuers of the sea fish Scarus. Moreouer, the sheards of such earthen vessels wherin salt fish was pouderd & kept, beaten to pouder, & tempered with old swines grease: the ashes also of Burrets shels incorporat in oile, serue in right good stead for the swellings behinde the eares, and the tumours or wennes

called the kings euill. The stiffe cricke in the neck is mollified and made pliable againe, so as it [unspec G] may turne which way a man would haue it, with drinking of one dram weight of those creepers or insects which be called sea-lice; and yet some take for the same Castoreum in honied wine, adding thereto a little pepper, and drinke this composition in the broth of frogs boiled in oyle and salt. After which manner, many Physitians cureth the crampe that draweth the neck back∣ward: the generall convuision also that stretcheth the body so, as if it were of one piece: and o∣ther particular spasmes and cramps of any part, so there be some pepper put thereto. The ashes of salt Cackerels heads burnt and reduced into a liniment with honey, discusse and resolue the Squinancy cleane, like as the broth of frogs boiled in vineger; and the sayd broth is singular al∣so for the inflammation of the tonsils. The Creifishes of the riuer dried and beaten to pouder, then put into water (so as there be to euery one a hemine of water) make a good liquor to garga∣rize [unspec H] withall for the squinancy. The same also drunke in wine or hot water, worke the like effect. The sauce made of Maquerels called Garum, put with a spoon vnder the uvula, and there held a while, putteth it vp, and reduces it again to the right place. The fish * 1.3 Silurus eaten at the table either fresh or poudered, helpeth the voice much. The barbels kept vntill they be dried, & then puluerized, prouoke vomit, if a cup of drinke be spiced with the pouder. If a man or woman bee short winded, there is not a medicine again so good to helpe that difficulty of breath, as to drink whiles they be fasting, Castoreum, with a little quantity of Ammoniack in honied vineger. The same potion taken likewise with honied vineger hot, allaieth the convulsion of the stomack pro∣ceeding from excessiue yexing or hicquets. Item, it is said, that Frogs boiled in some broth be∣tween two platters after the manner of fishes, are good for a cough: and beeing hanged by the [unspec I] heeles, after that their saliuation and humidity is dropt from them into a pan or platter vnder∣neath, they are to be rid of their garbage, & when the same is flung away, they ought to be kept and preserued for the purpose aforesaid. There is a little Frog that vseth to climb trees, & from thence crieth and croaketh: if a man spit into the mouth of one of them, & then let her go again, it is thought hee shall bee deliuered by that meanes from the cough. To conclude, many giue counsell for the cough that bringeth vp bloud withall, to drinke in hot water the flesh of a raw perwinckle well punned.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Halos•…•…chnes
• * 1.2

  The French∣men terme it Diable de mer∣i. the diuell of the sea.
• * 1.3

  Some take it for the Sturge∣on, but vntruly