Then the Colledg acquaints you with more wonders, That there are certain Living-Creatures, called
Colledg. BEES, Woodlite, Silkworms, Stoads, Crabs of the River, little Puppy Dogs, Grashoppers, 〈◊〉〈◊〉, Cathanel, Hedg-hogs, E∣mets or Ants, Larks, Swallows, and their yong ones, Hors-leeches, Snails, Earth-worms, Dish-washers or Wagtails, House Sparrows, and Hedg Sparrows, Frogs, Scincus, Land Scorpions, Moles, or Mants, Tortoise of the woods, Tenches, Vipers and Foxes.
Culpeper] A. The part of this crew of Cattel and some others which they have not been pleased to learn may be made beneficial to your sick bodies, be pleased to understand, that
Bees being burnt to ashes, and a Ly made with the ashes, trimly decks a bald head being washed with it.
Snails with 〈◊〉〈◊〉 on their backs, being first washed from the dirt, then the shels broken, and they boy∣led in spring Water, but not 〈◊〉〈◊〉 at all, for the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 will sink of it self, and the water drunk for or∣dinary drink is a most admirable remedy for a con∣sumption, and here by the way I cannot but admire at the simplicity of most Physitians, who prescribe that the snails ought to be purged from their flime either with salt or bran before they be used, which if you do, you take away their vertue, for the reason why they cure a consumption is this, Man being made of the slime of the Earth, the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 substance recovers him when he is wasted; if you please to eat the Snails when they are boyled you may, for they have a very pleasing tast, & it would be very cunning∣ly done of you, if you did so, especially in these hard times, for then would you have meat, drink, and me∣dicine all together. Besides this, being 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and applied to the place they help the gout, draw thorns out of the flesh, and held to the Nose help the blee∣ding thereof.
Frogs. It is a vulgar fashion of the Walloons to catch live Frogs and cut off their hinder Legs and fry them and eat them; whether they be good meat or no I know not, but I am sure 'tis a good medicine for the biting of Serpents: An Oyl made of it is ex∣cellent good for the stifness of the Tendons, and the falling off of hair.
Before I come to the Compounds, lest any should think I go about to hide from them any thing that might do them good, I have here inserted the living Creatures, and Excrements, &c. in the order the Colledg left them, (for impose them they could not for want of Authority; Alack! alack! the King is dead, and the Colledg of Physitians want power to impose the Turds upon men.) The use of the Fats and Suets, you shel have if you please but to stay til I come to the Oyls and Oyntments; the other which you think not useful for Physick, will serve to laugh at, the reading of them may make you 〈◊〉〈◊〉, though the smell of them might turn your stomach: My self cannot chuse but smile to think in what part of the Apothecaries Shop the Colledg would have them kept, they had need place them neer the Civit pot.