The historie of foure-footed beastes Describing the true and liuely figure of euery beast, with a discourse of their seuerall names, conditions, kindes, vertues (both naturall and medicinall) countries of their breed, their loue and hate to mankinde, and the wonderfull worke of God in their creation, preseruation, and destruction. Necessary for all diuines and students, because the story of euery beast is amplified with narrations out of Scriptures, fathers, phylosophers, physitians, and poets: wherein are declared diuers hyerogliphicks, emblems, epigrams, and other good histories, collected out of all the volumes of Conradus Gesner, and all other writers to this present day. By Edward Topsell.

Of the Crampe or convulsion of the sinnewes. and Muscles.

A Conuulsion or crampe, is a forceable and painefull contraction or drawing toge∣ther of the sinnewes and Muscles which doe happen sometime through the whole body, and sometime but in one part or member only. And according as the body [ 50] may be diuersely drawne, so do the Physitians, and also mine Authors that write of horse∣leach craft, giue it diuers names. For if the body be drawne forward, then they call it in Greeke Emprosthotonos, in Latine Tensio ad anteriora. And if the body be drawne backe, it is called in Greeke Opisthotonos, in Latine Tensio ad pesteriora.

But if the body be starke and straite, bowing neither forward, nor backward, then it is called simply in Greeke Tetanos, in Latine Distensio or Rigor: which names also are appli∣ed to the like conuulsions of the necke. Notwithstanding, Vegetius writing of this diease, in••ituleth his chapters de Roborosis, a strange terme, and not to be found againe in any o∣ther A••thor. A conuulsion as I said before, may chance as well to one part or member of the body, as to the whole body: as to the eie, to the skin of the forehead, to the rootes of the to••gue, to the iawes, to the lips, to the arme, hand or Legge: that is to say, whensoe∣uer the sinnew or muscle seruing to the moouing of that part, is euill affected or grieued. Of which conuulsions, though ther be many diuers causes: yet Hippocrates bringeth them [ 10] all into two: that is to say, into fulnesse and emptinesse: for when a conuulsion procee∣deth either of some inflamation of superfluous eating or drinking, or for lacke of due pur∣gation, or of ouermuch rest and lacke of exercise, all such causes are to be referred to re∣ple••ion or fulnesse. But if a conuulsion come by means of ouermuch purging or bleeding, or much watching, extreame labor, long fasting, or by wounding or pricking of the sin∣newes, then al such causes are to be referred vnto emptinesse. And if the conuulsion pro∣ceede of fulnesse, it chanceth suddenly, and all at once, but if of emptynesse, then it com∣meth by little and little, and leisurely.

Besides these kindes of conuulsions, there is also chancing many times in a mans sin∣gers, Legges and toes, another kind of conuulsion, which may bee called a windye con∣uulsion, for that it proceedes of some grosse or tough vapor, entred into the braunches [ 20] of the sinnewes, which maketh them to swell like a Lute string in moyst weather, which though it be very painefull for the time, yet it may bee soone driuen away, by chafing or rubbing the member grieued with a warme cloath. And this kind of conuulsion or cramp chanceth also many times to a Horsses hinder Legs, standing in the stable.

For I haue seene some my selfe, that haue had one of their hinder Legges drawne vp with the crampe almost to the belly so stiffe and hard, as no man hath beene able to stir it, neither could the Horsse himselfe set it0 down to the ground of a long season, which I think might be soone remedied: first by continuall chafing, fretting, or rubbing his Legs with a good wispe, and then by tying vp the other hinder Legge, or else the forelegge on the fore side, when by he should be forced to set down the pained Leg. Thus far I haue discour∣sed [ 30] of the conuulsion of sinnewes, and of the causes therof, according to the opinions of the learned Physitians. Now I wil briefly shew you the causes, signes, and cure thereof, according to the doctrine of mine Authors that write of horseleach-craft.

Absirtus saith, that this disease doeth come, either by driuing the Horsse into a sweate when he halteth, or for that he hath troden vpon some naile, or by taking cold after iour∣nying and sweating in Winter season, whereby his lippes are clung together, or by long lying and rest after sweating, whereby the sinnewes of his forelegges be nummed, or by hauing some stripe of his priuy members, or by long trauelling in the colde Mountaines, where snowe and Ise doth abound. For Theomnestus Writeth, that comming out of Pao∣nia, with the King and his army, and passing ouer the Mountaines to goe into Italy, there [ 40] fell such aboundance of snow, as not onely many Souldiers dyed, sitting still on their hor∣ses backs, with their Weapons in their handes, being so starke and stiffe, and cleauing so fast to their Saddles, as they cold not easily be pulled out of them: but also diuers horsses in their going were so nummed as they could not bow their legs: yea and some were found s••arke dead, standing stil on their feete, and few Horsses or none escaped at that time free from this conuulsion, of sinnewes, insomuch that Theomnestus his owne Horsse which he loued dearely, was sore vexed therewith. The signes to know whether a Horsse bee trou∣bled with the conuulsion in the sinnewes or not, bee these.

His head and necke will be so stiffe and starke as hee can bow it no manner of way, his eares wil stand right vp, and his eies will be hollow in his head, and the fleshy parts therof [ 50] in the great corners, will be turned backward, his lips will be clung fast together, so as hee cannot open his mouth, and his tongue so nummed as he can neither eate nor drinke, his backbone and taile wil be so stiffe, as he cannot moue it one way nor other, and his Legs so stiffe, as they will not bow, and being layed hee is not able to rise, and specially on his hinder Legges, but falleth downe on his buttockes, like a Dogge when hee sitteth on the

ground, and by meanes of the conuulsion in his backe, his bladder also for neighbour∣hoode sake, suffereth, whereby the Horsse cannot stale but with great paine. The cure. Put him into a sweat, either by burying him all saue the head in some warme dunghill, or if he be a horsse of price, cary him into a hot house, where is no smoak, and let him sweat there. Then annoint all his body, heade, necke, legges, and all with oyle of Cypres, and oile of Bay mingled together. Or else with one of these ointments. Take of Hogs-greace two pound, of Turpentine halfe a pound, of Pepper beaten in powder one dramme, of new Wax one pound, of olde Oyle two pound, boile all these together, and being made very warme, annoint all his body therewith. Or els with this ointment. Take of new wax one pound, of Turpentine foure ounces, of oile de Bay as much, of Opopanax two oun∣ces, [ 10] of Deeres sewet and oile of Storar, of each three ounces, melt al these together, and annoint all his body therewith.

It is good also to bath his head with the decoction of Fitches, or els of Lupines, and make him this drink. Take xx. graines of long Pepper, finely beaten into powder, of Ce∣dar two ounces, of Nitre one ounce, of Lacerpitium as much as a Beane, and mingle all these together with a sufficient quantity of white Wine; and giue him thereof to drinke a quart euery Morning and Euening for the space of three or foure daies, or else this drink. Take of Opopanax two ounces, of Storar three ounces, of Gentian three ounces, of Man∣na Succ••rie, three ounces, of Myr one scruple, of long Pepper two scruples, giue him this with old Wine; or make him a drinke of Lacerpitium, Cumin, Annis seed, Fenegreeke, [ 20] Bay berries, and old oyle.

In old time they were wont to let him bloode in the Temples, which Absirtus doth not alow, saying that it will cause the sinnewes of his lips to dry vp, so as the horsse being not able to moue them, shall pine for hunger. As touching his diet, giue him at the first warm mashes, and such soft meat as he may easily get down, and wet haie, bringing him to har∣der food by little and little. And in any case, let him be kept very warme, and ridden or walked once a day to exercise his legges and lims. Theomnestus cured his horsse, as he sai∣eth, by placing him in a warm stable, and by making a cleer fire without any smoak round about him, and the horsse not being able to open his iawes of himselfe, hee caused his mouth to be opened, and put therein sops dipt in a confection called Entrigon conditum, [ 30] and also annointed al his bodie with a medicine or ointment called Acopum (the making whereof herafter followeth) dissolued in Cypres oile, which made him to fal into a sweat, and being before halfe dead and more, brought him againe to his feeling and mouing, so as he did rise and eat his meat.