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 Fistula called of the Italians Fistula.

A Fistula is a deepe hollowe crooking vlcer, and for the most part springes of maligne humors, ingendered in some wound, sore, or canker, not throughly healed. It is ea∣sie to know by the description before. The cure according to Martin is thus. Firste, search the depth of it with a quill, or with some other instrument of lead, that may be bo∣wed [ 50] euery way, meet for the purpose. For vnlesse you find the bottome of it, it wil be very hard to cure: And hauing found the bottome, if it be in such a place as you may boldely cut and make the way open with a launcet or rasor, then make a slit right against the bot∣tome, so as you may thruste in your finger, to feele whether there be any bone or gristle perished, or spungy or loose flesh, which must be gotten out, and then taint it with a taint

of flaxe dipt in this ointment. Take of hony a quarterne, and of Verdigrease one ounce beaten into powder. Boile them together, vntill it looke redde, stirring it continually, least it runne ouer, and being luke warme, dresse the taint wherewith, and bolster the taint with a bolster of flax. And if it be in such a place, as the taint cannot conueniently be kept in with a band, then fasten on each side of the hole, two ends of Shoomakers thread right ouer the bolster to keepe in the taint, which ends may hang there as two laces, to tye and vntie at your pleasure, renewing the taint euery day once vntill the sore leaue mattering. And then make the taint euery day lesser and lesser, vntill it be whole. And close it vp in the end, by sprinckling thereon a little slect lime. But if the Fistula be in such a place as a man can neither cut right against the bottome, or nigh the same: then there is no reme∣dy, [ 10] but to poure in some strong water, through some quill, or such like thing, so as it may goe to the very bottome, and dry vp all the filthy matter, dressing him so twice a day, vn∣till the horse be whole.