A description of the nature of four-footed beasts with their figures en[graven in brass] / written in Latin by Dr. John Johnston ; translated into English by J.P.

POINT I. Of the fresh-water, and Pond-Tortoyse.

PLiny calls it water-mouse,* 1.1 and Emyda. The clay-coloured is called Myda. In Greek Potamia Cheloonia, or river-Tor∣toyses. They live in fresh water, in lakes,* 1.2 and rivers, as near Adelfing in a small lake in the Tigurine territory. And near Con∣stance in a hote that runs long, and wide among the rocks, there are plenty of them; the women of that city call them divells, and ascribe all their sicknesses to them. They wander also in Ganges,* 1.3 and Nile; they breath. In breeding time they dig a hole on dry land, where they lay and hide their egges, and after thirty dayes they uncover them,* 1.4 and bring their brood presently to the water. Of the fat bruized with Aizoon, or the everliving herb, and Lily-seed some annoint those that have quartans all over,* 1.5 but the head, afore the fit; then they wrap them warme, and give them hote water to drinke. They catch it on the fif∣teenth day of the moon, when it is fattest, and annoint the patient the day after. The blood droped in, eases head-akes, and swellings. Some behead them lying on their backs with a bra∣zen knife receiving the blood in a new earthen pot, annointing with the blood cure all kinds of S. Anthonies fires, and running sore heads, and warts. The dung is said to disperse waxen kernels. some beleeve that ships sayl slower, if a Tortoyses right foot be aboard. The In∣dian river-Tortoyse is just as big as a Boat, and holds sixty bushells of pulse. The clay, or Pond-Tortoyse Pelamida, and Amida, is alike broad on back and breast, the shell makes a handsome cup. It abides in muddy places,* 1.6 but at spring seekes running-water. They want bladder, and reines. They are seene about Fer∣raria, and in France, Poland, Hungary. Some think to drive over a shoar of hayl by laying one with the right hand about their garden,* 1.7 or field on the back, so that it may see the cloud big with hayl. Some lay three on a fire of chips, and take the bodies from the shells,* 1.8 and par∣boyl them in a gallon of water, and a litle salt to a third part, and make a drink for palsy, and gout, for those that have feeling. The gall is good for flegm, and corrupt blood. Drunk in cold water, it stays a loosnes.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Ambro. Name. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• * 1.2

  Place. Gesner. Leo Afr. l. 5.
• * 1.3

  Aeli.
• * 1.4

  Arist.
• * 1.5

  Plin.
• * 1.6

  Plin. l. 32. c. 4.
• * 1.7

  Mizald. Cent. 5.
• * 1.8

  Plin.