The history of four-footed beasts and serpents describing at large their true and lively figure, their several names, conditions, kinds, virtues ... countries of their breed, their love and hatred to mankind, and the wonderful work by Edward Topsell ; whereunto is now added, The theater of insects, or, Lesser living creatures ... by T. Muffet ...

The general Cure of the lowsie Disease.

Amatus Lusitanus cured that good Venetian at Ancona (of whom I spake before) who was s••ck of a general lowsie disease. First, by opening a vein, and then purging him; for so he drove forth the corrupt humours that fomented the disease, not at once, but twice or thrice. After∣wards by applying Topical remedies, in a short time he grew free of this plague. Topical Medi∣caments were made thus: Take bitter Lupins iij. pugils, seeds of Staves-acre ij. pugils, in the sharpest Vinegar what is sufficient, boyl them, and with that Vinegar wash the body from head to feed, then wipe and dry it, and anoint it with this oyntment following: Take Staves-acre two parts, Sandaracha of the Greeks one part, the finest Nitre half a part, mingle them all with the sharpest Vinegar and oyl of Radishes, and pound them together very exactly, and with these make an oynt∣ment: with which Amatus soon attained his purpose, that the sick fell no more into the same foul disease. Amat. Lusitan. cent. 3. curat. 58. Herod (as Josephus and Aegesippus testifie) when he had got this disease by his great pride, and he was so smitten from God, he went to the Baths beyond Jordan, and the Bituminous Lake, that were very good to cure this disease, but at that time they were of no force, when God was pleased to punish a proud Prince with a contemptible crea∣ture. If the body be lowsie all over, it shewes a general Cacochymia, wherefore it is best in my opinion, first to open a vein, and then to give a Purge, as the humour requires, and so to proceed to specificals, and such as agree with the place affected. Dioscorides prescribes such kindes of internal remedies: Take Garlick with the decoction of Origanum; drink this three daies. Another, Let the sick drink Coriander bruised with Origanum, and anoint himself out∣wardly with Honey. He commends also Alum-water, and the Decoction of Betes, juice of Ivy and the gum of it with Honey, liquid Pitch, Alum, Synopex smeered on with Vinegar, Nitre with Samian Earth and Oyl.

Other outward Remedies that kill Lice, out of Pliny: Seeds of Staves-acre beaten, without the hulls, will free the body from Lice, but better if you mingle them with the Sandaracha of the Greeks, Mustard-seed, Garlick, with Vinegar and Nitre are good for the same. Oyl of Radish doth cure the lowsie disease contracted for a long time. Siler, Mountain-seed beaten with Oyl, Hysop, mingled with Oyl, Tar, sweet Gums, the juice of the wilde Vine, and Staves-acre boyl'd in Vinegar, will free garments from them. So black Hellebore with Oyl or Milk anointed on is very good. Internal Remedies out of Pliny. A Snakes cast skin powdred and drank for three daies, will keep the body free from Lice. Mustard-seed, or seed of Tamarisk, drank, are good; so is water of Radish-leaves, and the juyce of Privet-berries, Plantain, Garlick, the juyce of wilde Cucumer, and Tar. Nonus commends the root of the sharp Dock, bruised with Oyl and anointed, first washing the body with the decoction of Lupins, and he prescribes a remedy of San∣daracha of the Greeks, Nitre, and Staves-acre. Oribasius approves the juyce of Pellitory long rubbed on, or Nitre with the wilde Vine in a Bath. Rhasis prefers the leaves of Barberies, gum of Ivie, great Knot-grass, and Sea-water. Avicenna commends Quicksilver with oyl of Roses, and wilde Staves-acre with Arsenick. Haly Abbas bids us purge the body, and then to eat meat of good juyce, to wash away the filth, and to change our clothes often: then he prescribes Quicksilver bruised with Staves-acre-seed, and oyl of wilde Saffron, and with that to anoint the body morning and evening, after bathing. He farther commands us to use these Remedies: Take long Birthwort, bruise it with Pine-leaves and Quicksilver, and with oyl of Lupins what may serve turn, make an Unguent. Anoint the body with that at night, and in the morning wash it

with hot water, after that, with a decoction of Alum, Wormwood, Santonicum, or Mugwo••t, rub it away. Another: Take round and long Birthwort, red Arsenick, that is the Greeks San∣daracha; and with oyl of Ben. make an unguent, with this anoint the body in the evening, and in the mo••ning rub the body with Bran and Barley-meal. Another: Take biter Costus, Carda∣momum, Buls gall, bray them with the Oyl of Pistaches, anoint the body with it, and in the morning wash it with the water of a decoction of clear Bran, or of Barley. Constantinus used Quicksilver with ashes, Litharge, Vinegar and Oyl mingled together for hot complexions; but for cold he used Pine-tree juyce, Sea-water, Staves-acre, Nitre, Arsenick, and oyl of wilde Saffron. Johannes de Rupescissâ, mingled Quicksilver with Aqua vitae, and the powder of wilde Staves-acre, with that he provides a girdle, which worn about the bare loyns will kill the Lice. Serenus, A∣binzoar, Amatus Lusitanus, Matthiolus, Hildegardis, Johan. Vigo, and others, prescribe other remedies, but most of them of these materials. He that desires more remedies against the lowsie disease, let him read Paulus Aegineta, l. 3. c. 3. Galen l. 1. de comp. med. sec. loc. and Guiliel. de Saliceto l. 1. c. 48. I knew one (saith Pennius) who when he was Governour of an Hospital, he cured the lowsie disease thus: He whipt the sick till the skin came off with Birchin rods, and where the prints were, the Lice would never breed again: A new kinde of cure, and most fit for idle Sea-men and slothful companions. Amatus Lusitanus (if I do not mistake) tels of a poor man that had a hole in his back by reason of an Ulcer, out of which daily abundance of Lice crept; questionless they were bred between the skin and the flesh, and afterwards by an un∣guent of wilde Staves-acre, Quicksilver, Pepper, and Lard, he was cured. Raland prefers the Bal∣sam of Sulphur to all remedies, and not without cause.

Aetius writes, that wilde Lice must first be picked out with great diligence, then the place must be fomented with warm Sea-water; yet very warily if they stick in the eye-browes, that you hurt not your eyes: then apply this remedy: Take Alum Scissil ij. drams, Staves-acre j. obolus, Pepper j. obolus, burnt Brass j. dram, Myrrhe ij. oboli, Scissil-stone ij. oboli and half, Misy torre∣fied j. dram; bruise it and dry it, and so use it: Then let them bathe and heat their head with discutients and strengthners, wash the whole body, and rub it again. Our Countreymen pick them out, and then they anoint the places well with black Sope, and if the body were too hot, anoint the body with the pap of a sweet apple mingled with Quicksilver, and it is a certain re∣medy. Celsus saith they offend the eye-brows so much sometimes, that the eyes being ulce∣rated they dim the sight, then incorporate purified Quicksilver with tops of Wormwood, and old Hogs grease, for nothing doth more certainly cure one, if it be done with caution. Also take Aloes j. ounce, Ceruse, Frankincense, each v. ounces, Lard what may suffice, make an unguent; some mingle with this Quicksilver and Brimstone. But here observe, if Crab-lice do breed thick on the beard, eye-brows, the share, and peritonaeum; first all the hairs must be shaved off, so soon as a general purgation hath been taken, and then the forementioned Topicks must be ap∣plyed, and all galls, especially Buls gall, Calfs gall, Capons and Partridge, with juyce of Cen∣taury and Quicksilver, are held very good. A lye of the ashes of Tamarisk destroyes the Lice. Rhasis and Albertus commend the marrow of a live Vulture taken forth. Varignana useth the milk of the greater Bindweed, wilde Mints, and Sow-bread, with a lotion of Honey. But chief∣ly he extols this Medicament: Take Staves-acre ij. ounces, Wine iv. glasses, Hogs bristles ij. ounces, purged Quicksilver j. ounce, let them boyl, and foment the body with the decocti∣on. Marinellus and many others make great reckoning of Wine-lees, juyce of Broom, a Lixi∣vium of Sena, Acorns, Cassia, Pellitory of Spain. But Gilbert an Englishman burns Leeches and Styrax Calamita together, and with these and Hogs bloud, he preparss an excellent Un∣guent.

These filthy creatures, and that are hated more than Dogs or Vipers, by our daintiest dames, * 1.1 are a joy to those that are sick, and sometimes a cure. For they that have lain long sick of a putrid disease, when Lice breed in their heads, they foreshew the recovery of the sick. For it is a sign of the exhaling of it, and flying forth from the centre to the circumference, Also experience proves that the Jaundies are cured with twelve bruised Lice drank with Wine. Pennius gave Lice and Butter to beggers and such as live on alms, very often, and so he recovered some that were almost desperate; some for the Dysurie are wont to put into the yard living Lice the grea∣test they can, to draw forth the urine by their tickling: which Alexander Benedictus relates of Wig-lice, when clammy humours have hurt the eyes, some cleanse them with Lice put into them, which creeping here and there like Oculus Christi, collect the matter; and wrapt up in that they will fall out. Also what shall I say? Apes, Baboons, will feed on them. And Herodotus and Strabo in Pontus speaks of men that feed on Lice, (to whom Arianus in Periplo consents) and the Spa∣niards speake the same of the Inhabitants of the Province of Cuenensis in the West-Indies. And they hunt after them so greedily and desire them, that the Spaniards can hardly keep their slaves from feeding on them. And it is no wonder that they can feed on Lice, that devour Horses, Asses, Cats, Worms (and more than that) men that are raw. But because it is an idle work, the women have that task put upon them to catch Lice, and they do that work almost, and there∣fore Strabo cals them Pedilegas. Serenus makes another use of them and writes thus:

Some hurtful things our bodies do produce By nature, which do stand us in great use, To keep us waking, and to stop th' abuse Of sleeping over much—

See the Chapter of Nits amongst the Insects without feet: Chap. 35.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Use of Lice.