Helps for suddain accidents endangering life By which those that liue farre from physitions or chirurgions may happily preserue the life of a poore friend or neighbour, till such a man may be had to perfect the cure. Collected out of the best authours for the generall good, by Stephen Bradvvell. physition.

CHAP. VI.

Certaine Generall Notions for the Helpe of such as are Stung or Bitten by venomous Beasts.

AS there are divers kindes of Creatures that sting or bite venomously;* 1.1 so are the mischiefes different that breake forth from their veno∣mous natures. For the Hornet hath a more venomous Sting than the Bee or Waspe. So the Biting of the Adder (which is a kinde of Viper) or of the Slow∣worme (which some also call the Blind-worme) is more dange∣rous, than of the Est, or Shrew∣mouse.

As for the Snake;* 1.2 I know by ex∣perience, that he hath neither

sting nor tooth to offend with; though his likenes to the Adder at first sight, hath long deterred people from so neare acquain∣tance, as to take notice of his in∣nocencie.

Likewise the Stings and Teeth of the living Creatures are more pernicious than those of the dead:* 1.3 because natiue heate, that ministreth spirit to the venom, maketh the venomous substance more thin and subtle; as also more actiue and piercing.

Furthermore,* 1.4 the Female of e∣very kinde is more fierce, and more dangerously venomous, than the Male: the young, than the old: And those that liue in rockes,* 1.5 mountaines, and dry pla∣ces, than they that breed in fens, moores, marishes, & such moyst grounds.

Moreover,* 1.6 those that feed vpon other venomous Creatures, are more pernicious vpon the eating of that food; As the Adder when he hath eatē a Toad. And require stronger Antidotes and in grea∣ter quantitie than others.

Also,* 1.7 at the time of their en∣gendering, they are more curst, and full of poyson,* 1.8 than at other times.

And in Summer time,* 1.9 all these are more deadly, than in Win∣ter: For the venomous hidden is more deadly, than the manifest qualitie; the thin, than the thicke matter; and the hot, than the cold temperature.

To which we may adde,* 1.10 the more or lesse aptnesse of disposi∣tion & constitution of the body by any of these so offended. For those men or women that are of

a hot temperament; having ma∣ny and great veynes outwardly apparant, and thereupon their pores more open; are much more apt to receiue the venom euen speedily to the Liver and Heart: than those, that (being of a cold constitution) haue small veynes, and streit pores, through which the poyson hath but slow passage.

Lastly,* 1.11 those that are stung or bitten while they are yet fasting, and their stomach emptie; are in more danger than they that are full fed. For when the veyns and vessels are empty, they doe gree∣dily sucke in any matter that is administred; yea, though nature abhorre the qualitie, because at that time shee mindes onely the supply of quantity (as is apparent in those that are extreame thir∣stie;

for they will drinke a great draught before they regard or finde the taste) whereas those that haue fed, & filled the veynes to the satisfaction of quantitie; their vitall spirits are thereby made the more strong, and able to resist and repell the fiercenesse of the venomous qualitie.

With these few generall No∣tions, I haue thought good to ac∣quaint such, whose understan∣dings are able to make use of them; that they may lend their helping hand to those that need them, with the more judgement and dexteritie.

Notes

• * 1.1

  What Beasts are most veno∣mous.
• * 1.2

  The Snake doth no harme.
• * 1.3

  Living are more ve∣nomous than dead Beasts.
• * 1.4

  More or lesse veno∣mous by Sex; Age;
• * 1.5

  Place of living.
• * 1.6

  Feeding.
• * 1.7

  Ingendring
• * 1.8

  &
• * 1.9

  Time of the Yeare.
• * 1.10

  Aptnesse of the Body offended.
• * 1.11

  Fasting make these Accidents the more dangerous.