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.

[ 40] Of the swelling of the Cod and stones.

ABsirtus saith, that the inflammation and swelling of the cod and stones, commeth by meanes of some wound, or by the stinging of some Ser∣pent, or by fighting one horse with another. For remedy whereof, hee was woont to bath the cod with water wherein hath beene sodden the roots of wilde Cucumber and salt, and then to annoint it with an oint∣ment made of Cerusa oile, Goates greace, and the white of an Egge. Some againe would haue the cod to be bathed in warme Water, Nitrum and Vineger togither, and also to be annointed with an ointment made of chalke, or of potters earth, Oxe dung, cumin, Water and Vineger, or else to be annointed with the iuice of the herb [ 50] Solanum, called of some night-shade, or with the iuyce of Hemblocke growing on dung∣hils: yea and also to be let bloud in the flankes. But Martin saith, that the swelling of the cods commeth for the most part after some sicknesse or surfetting with colde, and then it is a signe of amendment. The cure according to his experience is in this sort. First let him blood on both sides the flanke veines. Then take of oile of Roses, of Vineger of each halfe

a pinte, and halfe a quarterne of Bole Armony beaten to powder. Mingle them togither in a cruse, and being luke-warme, annoint the cods therewith with two or three fea••hers bound togither, and the next day ride him into the water so as his coddes may be within the water, giuing him two or three turnes therein, and so returne faire and softly to the stable, and when he is dry annoint him againe as before, continuing thus to do euery day once vntil they be whole. The said Martin saith also, the cods may be swollen by meanes of some hurt or euil humors resorting into the Cod, and then he would haue you couer the cods with a charge made of Bole Armony and Vineger wrought togither, renewing it [ 10] euery day once vntil the swelling go away, or that it breake of it selfe, and if it breake then taint it with Mel Rosatum, and make him a breech of Canuas to keepe it in, renewing the taint euery day once vntil it be whole.