Some anoint the places where the hair 〈◊〉〈◊〉 off, with Cantharides bruised and liquid Pitch, the skin being prepared with Nitre: they are good for Cauteries, but care must be had that they do not ulcerate so deep▪ then some command to annoint those ulcers made, with the heads, of with the gall or dung of Mice mixt with Hellebo••e and Pepper. Cantharides mixt with quick Lime, cure Botches, as if you should cut them off with a razour. Some use to cast a little of them into Medicaments to provoke urine. But there is a great question of it, because they are poyson drank, in respect of the bladder that they afflict with perpetual toment•• But these is no que∣stion but in oyntment they may do good with the juyce of wilde Vine, or with Sheeps or Goats suet. Some of my Masters put only their wings and their feet into Medicaments that pro∣voke urine. We, saith Galen, are wont to cast in the Cantharides whole, and we judge those to be the best, that are found in wheat, and have a yellow girdle running athwart their wings to adorn them, L. 3. & l. 11. desimpl. fac. also put under, they mightily provoke the terms, and put to medicaments for the Dropsie, they are a very good antidote against it; as not only Hippocra∣tes, and Dioscorides, but Galen, Avicenna, Rhasis, Pliny, and the best writers do testifie amongst Phy∣sicians. I cannot here praise sufficiently the excellent use of them, with Leven, Salt, and Gum Ammoniac, to divert Catarthes, to cure the Gowt in the feet and hips; by drawing the matter that lies deep, from the centre to the superficies. Also they are good against the venome of the Salamander, as Pliny teacheth l. 29. c. 4. Also in some cases and in some compositions, they are good for such as want erection, and do promote venery very much. But as rightly mixt and ex∣hibited in due proportions, they are good for ones health, so being not rightly mingled and given disorderly, they cause cruel symptomes and sometimes death. When Anno 1579. I staid at Ba∣sil, a certain married man (it was that brazen bearded Apothecary that dwelt in the Apothecaries shop) he fearing that his stopple was too weak to drive forth his wifes chastity the first night, consulted one of the chief Physicians, who was most famous, that he might have some stiffe pre∣valent Medicament, whereby he might the sooner dispatch his journey. But when it was day∣break almost, there followed a continual distending of the yard without any venereous desires, and after that bloudy urine, with inflammation of the bladder, and the new married man almost fainted away, all Antidotes profiting nothing a great while. I remember that the same thing hapned to a Noble man of Francfort in my remembrance, whom when an illiterate Physi∣cian thought to cure him of the Dropsie by giving him Cantharides, one in number inwardly, he killed him with lamentable torments. I have a singular remedy against the weakness of the Genital part, which when I used it indifferently▪ however it did great help to many Noble men, and no hurt, (who generally are more studious in venereous matters) yet it did one amongst the rest so much harm, that after venery (which he was too much addicted to) he pissed bloud continually, and swounded away frequently; truly unless there had been plenty of milk at hand, this Venus bird had died and suffered deservedly for his Lechery and lasciviousness. Thus far for their Physical force, now we shall pass to their deadly and ignominious qualities. They are held to be amongst the number of poysons most deadly, not only by reason of their corro∣ding and inflaming, but by reason of a putrefying quality they abound with. Their juyce en∣tring into the veins either from the stomach, or by the skin, destroys a man like to poyson. Therefore Ovid when he wished mischief to his enemy, lib. Trist. wishes that his parents might give him the juyce of Cantharides to drink Cicero ad Pecum l. 9. Epist. famil. Cajus by the accu∣sation of L. Grassus is said to have taken Cantharides: as if by that means he was resolved to kill himself. Gal. l. 3. de Simpl. fac. writ thus: If they be taken inwardly in a very small quantity, mingled with things fitting, they powerfully move 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and sometimes corrode the bladder: whence it is manifest, that all things that kill by a cold quality, if they be taken in a small quan∣tity they may nourish the body: but such as kill by putrefying (as Cantharides do) not at all; since they are enemies to mans nature. Cossiles a Roman Knight, well noted for his familia∣rity with Nero, when he was sick of a dangerous Tetter, a Physician was sent for by Caesar to cure him, who gave him Cantharides to drink, and so killed him. Pliny. Also Cantharides were objected against Cato of Ʋtica, (as the same Author saith, l. 29. c. 4.) as if he had sold poy∣son by open sale, because he set them at 60. Sextertia. But when they are drank too largely, or applyed outwardly too long and too deep, they are wont to produce these symptomes. There happens pricking and pain in the bowels; which is extended from the mouth to the secrets, and to the loyns, and haunches, and hypochondres, and they ulcerate the bladder with a painful ulcer, and inflame the yard and the parts adjacent with a vehement Impostume: then they piss bloud, and after that pieces of flesh. Sometimes there followes a Diarrhoea and Dysentery, swounding and dulness, and the minde is perverted, and there is nauseating and heaviness, and a frequent desire to make water and go to stool; but almost it is in vain. They taste a taste of Pitch in their mouthes: all which symptomes are set down in Dioscorides l. 6. c. 1. Gal. lib. de The∣riac. ad Pison. c. 4. and l. 3. de Temper. c. 3. and in Rhasis lib. 8. c. 17. To those that are so infected and affected, Dioscorides first prescribes frequent vomiting, then frequent Glysters made with Nitre to cleanse the guts; then to preserve the bladder, he gives milk inwardly and flea-seed. And he will have their Clysters made of other matter than at first, namely of Barley water, Marsh-mallowes, whites of Eggs, Muscilage, of Linseed, Rice-water, decoction of F〈…〉〈…〉 greek, Hydromel, fat Broths, Oyl of sweet Almonds, Goose-grease, yelks of Eggs. Also he bids to give inwardly Cowes milk that is sowre, Hydromel, kernels of the Pitch-tree, the great and