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.

[ 20] The Midicines of a Woulfe.

A Woulfe being sodden aliue vntill the bones doe only remaine, is very much com∣mended for the paines of the goute, or a liue Woulfe steeped in oile and couered with waxe, is also good for the same disease.

The skinne of a woulfe being tasted of those which are bit of a mad or rauenous dog, doth preserue them from the feare or hazard of falling into water. The skinne of a woulfe is very profitable for those which are troubled with the wind collicke, if it be bound fast a∣bout the belley: and also if the person so affected doeth sit vppon the said skinne, it will [ 30] much auaile him. If any labouring or trauailing man doth were the skinne of a woulfe a∣bout his feete, his shooes shall neuer paine or trouble him. The skinne of a woulfe being new plucked off from him, and especially when it hath the naturall heat in it, and so row∣led about the member where the crampe is, is verie effectuall against it.

The bloud of a woulfe beeing mixed with oyle, is very profitable against the deafe∣nesse of the eares. The dunge and bloud of a woulfe is much commended, for those that are troubled with the collicke and stone.

The bloud of a Bucke, Foxe, or Woulfe being warme, and so taken in drinke, is of much force against the disease of the stone. He which doth eate the skinne of a woulfe well [ 40] tempered and sodden, will keepe him from all euill dreames, and cause him to take his rest quietlie. The flesh of a woulfe being sodden, and taken in meate, doth helpe those that are lunaticke. The flesh of a woulfe being eaten, is good for procreation of children. You may read more things in the Chapter going before, concerning remedies of the flesh of a woulfe taken in meate. The fat of a woulfe is no lesse efficable, then the flesh.

The fat of a woulfe doth very much profit, being anointed vppon those whose ioyntes are broken. Some of the later writers were wont to mingle the fat of the woulfe, with other ointments for the disease of the goute. Some also doe mingle it with other ointments, for the paulsey. It doth soften also the Vula, being anointed thereon. The same also being rub∣bed vppon the eies, is very profitable for the bleardnesse or bloudshot of the eies. The [ 50] head also of a woulfe is very good for those that are weake to sleepe vppon, beeing layed vnder ther pillowe. The head of a woulfe being burned into ashes, is a speciall remedie for the loosenes of teeth. The right eie of a woulfe being salted, and bound to the body, doth driue away all agues ad feauers. The eie of a woulfe being rubbed vppon the eie, doth diminish all diseases that rise in the sight of the eie, and it doth also take away al

markes or prints being made with hot irons. The right eie of a wolfe also is profitable for those that are troubled with stiches on the right side of the belly, and the left eye of a wolfe for pains on the left side. The right eie of a wolfe is very good against the bitings of dogs. Also the eye of a wolfe is much commended for those that are lunaticke by the bitinges of dogges.

The teeth of a wolfe being rubbed vpon the gums of young infants, doth open them, whereby the teeth may the easier come forth. Againe, the gums of children are loosened with the tooth of a Dog, being gently rubbed theron, but they are sooner brought forth with the teeth of a Wolfe. Some men do commend the tongue of a wolfe to bee eaten of [ 10] those that are troubled with the falling sicknesse. The artery which springeth in the throat of a wolfe being taken in drink, is a most certaine cure against the Squincy. The throat of a Wolfe taken in drinke, is very much commended for those that are troubled with the falling sicknesse. The lungs or lights of a Wolfe being sodden and dryed, and mingled with pepper, and so taken in milke, is very profitable for those that are puffed vp, or swol∣len in the belly.

The heart of a wolfe being burned and beaten to powder, and so taken in drinke, doth help those that are sicke of the falling sicknesse. Take one ounce of the gum of an Oake, and halfe an ounce of the gum of a peare tree, and two drams of the powder made of the top of a Harts horne, and one dram of the hart of a wolfe, al which being mingled togither, [ 20] and made into medicine, is alwaies vsed for the cure of al vlcers: but it wil be more effectual if thou dost adde thereto the hinder part of the skull of a man beaten to powder. The Ly∣uer of a wolfe is of no lesse vertue then the lungs or lights, which I haue manifested in the medicines of the Foxe. The liuer of a Wolfe helpeth or profiteth those that are sick of the falling sicknesse. The liuer of a wolfe being washed in the best white, and so taken, is very good for those diseases that arise in the liuer. The liuer of a wolfe mixed in the medicine made of Liuerwort, is very much commended for the diseases in the liuer. Galen also doth say, that he hath holpen those which haue bin diseased in the liuer, only vsing the me∣dicine made of Liuerwort, and he saith if he did apply any other medicine thereto, it did little or nothing at all profit him.

The Lyuer of a Wolfe is very profitable for those that are troubled with the skurfe in [ 30] the mouth. The Lyuer or laps of a wolfe is much vsed for those that are troubled with dis∣eases in the liuer, but you must dry it and afterwards beat it to powder, and so giue the par∣ty so affected one dramme of it in sweet wine. The liuer laps of a Wolfe saith Marcellus, being dryed and beaten to powder, and a little part of it mingled in like portions with the powder made of Fene greeke, of Lupines, Wormewood, and of the Hearbe called Her∣ba mariae, and so mingled that it may be about the quantity of a cup full, and so giuen him that day which hee is not troubled with the feauer, but if he shall be troubled with it, let him take it in water for the space of three dayes, and after hee hath drunke it, let him lie for the space of halfe an houre with his armes spread abroad: and afterwardes let him walk very often, but eate very sildome, and let him be sure he keepe himselfe for the spact of [ 40] those three daies well ordered, and from drinking any cold drinke, or eating any salor sweet thing, and within a little space after he shall bee freed from that disease. The liuer laps of a Wolfe being wrapped in bay leaues, and so set to dry at the Sunne or at the fire, and being dryed beate it to powder in a Morter, first taking away the leaues very wari∣ly, which being powdered, you must keepe it in a cleane vessell, and when you giue it him to drinke, you must adde thereto, two leaues of Spoonewort, with tenne graines of pep∣per beaten very small, and as much clarified Hony as is needfull, and also made hot with a hot burning Iron, and mingled very diligently in a Morter, which being so warmed, you must giue him to drinke sitting right vp in his bed, that after he hath taken the potion, he may lye downe on his right side for the space of an houre, drawing his knees together, and [ 50] after that hee hath done so, let him walke vp and downe for the space of an houre, and this will likewise cure him of the same disease.

Auicen doth set downe a medicine concerning the cure of the hardnesse of the Liuer, which is, take Opium, Henbane, Oyle made of Beauers stones, Myrrhe, Saffron, Spick∣nard, Agrimony, the Lyuer of a Wolfe, and the right Horne of a Goat burned, of each equall partes, and make thereof a Medicine. The Lyuer of a Wolfe being made in the forme of a dry electuary, and giuen as a lozeng, doth also very much profit against the diseases of the liuer.

Gugir a Phylosopher doth affirme, that the Lyuer of all liuing Beastes doth very much profit against all paines of the Lyuer. The Liuer of a Wolfe being througly dryed and drunke in sweete VVine, doth mitigate all griefes or paines of the Lyuer. The Liuer of [ 10] the same beast to the quantity of a penny, taken in a pinte of sweete VVine, is very medi∣cinable for the curing of all paines in the Liuer whatsoeuer. The Liuer of a VVolfe be∣ing taken in hot VVine, doth perfectly cure the cough. If an intollerable Cough doth vex any man, let him take of the liuer of a wolfe, either dried or burnt, as much as he shall thinke conuenient, and therewith let him mingle VVine, Honny, and warme water, and afterward drinke the same fasting euery day, to the quantity of foure spoonefuls, and hee shall in short space be cured of the same.

The laps or fillets of a VVolues Liuer, being applyed vnto the side, doth perfectly heale any sticth or pricking ach therein. The Liuer of a Wolfe being taken in sweete Wine, doth heale those which are troubled with a ptisicke. The Lyuer of a VVolfe be∣ing first boyled in Water, afterwardes dryed, beaten and mingled with some certaine [ 20] potion, doth instantly heale the griefe and inflammation of the stomacke. The powder of a Wolues Lyuer mingled with white Wine, and drunke in the morning for some cer∣taine daies together, doth cure the Dropsie. The Liuer of a VVolfe taken either in meat or drinke, doth asswage the paines of the secret parts. Two spoonefuls of the powder of a Wolues Lyuer, being giuen in drinke, doeth cure all paines or sores of the mouth. The Gall of a VVolfe being bound vnto the Nauell of any man, doeth loosen the belly.

The Gall of a VVolfe taken in wine, doth heale all paines in the fundament. The en∣trals of a VVolfe being washed in the best white VVine, blowen vpon, dryed in an Ouen, pounded into dust, afterwardes rowled in VVormewood, is a good and effectuall remedy [ 30] against the Collicke and stone. If some part of the yard of a VVolfe being baked in an O∣uen, be eaten by any, either Man or VVoman, it instantly stirreth them vp to lust. Con∣cerning the genitall of a VVolfe I haue spoken before in the Medicines of the Foxe: but antiquity, as Pliny saith, doth teach that the genitall of Beasts which are bony, as wolues, Foxes, Ferrets, and VVeasels, are brought to an especiall remedye for many diseases. If any man take the right stone of a VVolfe being bloody, steepe it in Oyle, and giue it vnto any woman to apply it vnto their secret partes, being wrapped in VVooll, it instantly causeth her to forsake all carnall copulation, yea although she bee a common Strumpet. The same being taken in some certaine perfume, doth help those which are troubled with [ 40] the foule euill.

The eyes being annointed with the excrementes of a wolfe, are instantly freed from all couers or spreadi••g skinne therein. The powder of the same wolf being mingled with the sweetest Hony as can possible be had, and in the like manner rubbed or spread vpon the eyes, doth expell all dazeling from them. The fime of a Wolfe long rubbed, vntill it be very light, being mingled with Honny, by the vnction thereof, causeth the filth or scurfe growing about the eyes to auoyd away, and restoreth them to an exceeding clear∣nesse. The powder of a Wolues head being rubbed vpon the teeth, doth make fast and confirme the loosenesse thereof, and it is most certaine that in the excrementes of the same Beastes, there are certaine bones found, which being bound vnto the teeth, haue the same force and efficacy.

[ 50] The dung of a Wolfe or Dogge being beaten into small powder, mingled with Hony and annointed vpon the throate, doth cure the Quinsie or Squirisie, as also al other sores in the throat whatsoeuer. The fime of a Wolfe being giuen to those which are troubled with the Collicke to drinke, doth easily cure them, but this dung is more effectuall if it haue neuer touched ground, which is very hard to come by, but it is found by this means.

The nature of the wolfe both in making his water, as also in voyding his excrements is like vnto a Dogs, for while he voydeth his Water he holdeth vp his hinder Leg, and voydeth his excrementes in some high or steepy place far from the earth, by which meanes it fal∣leth downe vpon bushes, thornes, fruites, Elder-trees, or some other Hearbes growing in those places, by which meanes it is found neuer touching the earth. There is further∣more found in the fime of Wolues certaine bones of Beasts which they haue deuoured, which for as much as they could not bee grinded or chawed, so also can they not be con∣cocted, which being beaten and bruised small, are by some commended to be excellent giuen in drinke for the ease of the Collicke, but if the grieued party shall be some fine or delicate person which cannot endure so grosse a Medicine, then mingle it with Salt, Pep∣per, [ 10] or some such like thing, but it is most often giuen in sweet wine, so there be but a smal quantity thereof drunke at one time.

But this dung which the Graecians cal Lagonas, and is to be applyed to the groin of the dis∣eased person, ought to bee hanged in a band made of wooll, but not of any wooll: But it would be more effectuall if it were made of the Wool of that Sheepe which was slaine by a Wolfe. But if the same cannot be got, then is it fit that there be two bands, one which may be bound about the groine, and another which may bee bound vppon the dung to keepe it from falling.

There are also some which cast a small quantity of the same dung to the bignesse of a Beane in a little pot, fastening the same to any one which is troubled with the saide disease, [ 20] and it healeth them (which in a manner seemeth incredible) in very short time. The dung of a Wolfe boyled in small white Wine, and afterwardes taken in drinke, is very profita∣ble for those which are troubled with the collick: and it is also reported that if the same dung be couered with the skin of the same Beast and hung vpon the thigh of any one which hath the collick being bound with a thread made of the wool of a sheep slaine by a wolfe, it will instantly cure the said disease.

The fime of a Wolfe, so that it be not found vppon the earth, but vppon some trees, Brambles or Bul-rushes being kept, and when there shall bee neede bound vnto the arme of him that shall be troubled with the Collick, or to his Necke being included in a bone, or in Copper, and hung with the thread wherewith silke-women weaue, doth wonder∣fully [ 30] and most speedily cure him, so there be great care had, that in the meane time there be a little of the same dung giuen to the grieued party to drinke, not knowing what it is. The dung of a Wolfe being taken, and the bones therein beaten into powder, mingle therewith cold water, giuing it to any one to drinke which is troubled with the stone, and it will instantly cure him.

The Dung of a Wolfe beaten into the smallest powder then strained and giuen vnto any in his fit which is troubled therewith to the quantity of halfe a spoonefull in hot wa∣ter, is a very effectuall, and approued cure for the stone. The bones which are found in Wolues, being bound vnto the arme of any one which is troubled with the Collike, ha∣uing neuer touched the ground do with great speed and celerity cure him. The pasterne [ 40] bone of a Hare found in the dung of a Wolfe, being bound vnto any part of the body of him which is troubled with the Collicke, doth very effectually cure him. The dung of a Wolfe with the Haires of a white Asse, and taken by any Woman in a certaine perfume, maketh her apt for conception.

The teeth of a VVolfe are vnequall, wherefore their biting is very dangerous. A raue∣ning VVolfe by his biting bringeth the same danger, as a rauenous Dogge, they also are cured by the same Medicines, as we haue declared at large in the story of the Dog. The woundes which come by the teeth or Nailes of a VVolfe are very dangerous, for the filth which pierceth through al clouts or spunges which are laid vpon them: But they are cu∣red [ 50] by no other meanes then the bitinges of Dogs: Aristotle writeth these things concer∣ning the biting of a Lyon, and not of a wolfe.

Iohanes Vitus the Hungarian declared that there were certaine men in Hungary bitten by a mad VVolfe, and that they were as it seemed presently cured: But before forty daies expired they all dyed by a most bitter or painefull disease, small pieces of flesh encreasing through their Vrine in the forme of Dogges, with an exceeding paine or torment. It

is also reported of a certaine Countrey man, who when hee had striken a Wolfe with his Club, and the Wolfe had so torne his face with his Nailes, that he pulled off the skinne, he was in short time healed that there appeared no signe of any harme, but in short time after he beganne to be sicke, and to howle like vnto a Dogge, and so perished; by which it was coniectured that that Wolfe was mad. An Oxe being bitten by a mad Wolfe or Dogge is cured by Garlike being beaten and rubbed vppon the wound: the Wolfe him∣selfe is also healed of any wound by old Salt flesh applyed vnto the same. Two drammes of Gentian being drunke in Wine, is an excellent cure for the bites of a mad Dogge and rauening Wolues, as also of all beastes tearing with their teeth or Nailes. The bites of Wolues being marked in the bodies of any Cattell are burned or seared with a hot yron, [ 10] least that the biting bee assuredly hurtfull, may draw vnto it selfe corruption. And thus much shall suffice concerning the medicines of the Wolfe.

Notes

• Plinie. Sextus.
• Slundus.
• Auicen.
• Dioscorides
• Galen Pliny
• Syluius Albertus
• Rasis
• Marcellus
• Galenus
• Auicenna.