CHAP. XIV. What cure must be used to such as are bitten by a mad Dog.
* 1.1THis case also requires speedy remedies; for such things are in vain which come long after the hurt. The Lawyer Baldus experienced this to his great harm; for being by chance lightly bit in the lip by a little dog wherewith he was delighted, not knowing that he was mad, and neglecting the wound, by reason of the smallness thereof, after some four months space, he died mad, having then in vain assayed all manner of medicines. Wherefore observing these things both for evacuation, as also for alteration, which we have formerly mentioned in the general cure of wounds inflicted by the bite or sting of venomous creatures, and by all the means there specified, we must draw forth the venom; and if the wound be large, then suffer it to bleed long and much, for so some part of the poison will be exhausted; if it be not great, it shall be enlarged by scarification, or an occult cautery; neither shall it be healed or closed up at the soo∣nest,* 1.2 till forty daies be passed. Sorrel beaten and applied to the wound, and the decoction there∣of taken inwardly, is very effectual in this case, as Aetius affirms. To the same purpose you may with good success make a lotion and friction with mustard dissolved in urine or vinegar, leaving up∣on the wound a double cloth moistened in the same decoction: lastly, all acrid, biting, and very attractive medicines are convenient in this case. Wherefore some apply rocket boiled and bea∣ten with butter and salt; others take the flower of Orobus, and temper it with hony, salt and vi∣negar, and apply it hot. Hors-dung boiled in sharp vinegar, or brimstone beaten to powder, and tempered with ones spittle, is good. Also black pitch melted with some salt, and a little Euphor∣bium mixed therewith, and so applied, is good. Some write, that the hairs of the dog, whose bite caused the madness, applied by themselves, by their sympathy or similitude of substance, draw the venom from within outwards; for so a Scorpion beaten and applied to the place whereas it stung, by drawing out the poison that it sent in, restores the patient to health, both these by of∣ten experience are affirmed to have certain event. Others chaw unground wheat, and lay it upon the wound, others rost beans under hot embers, then husk them, and cleave them, and so apply them.* 1.3 Also the wound may be wholsomly washed and fomented with a decoction of Docks, and then the herb beaten may be applied thereto; also the patient may drink the decoction; and by this one remedy Aetius affirms that he hath recovered divers; for thus it moves urine plentifully, which is thought much to conduce to the cure of this disease. There be some who apply the leaves of betony and nettles, beaten with common salt; others make a medicine to the same purpose and after the same manner, of an Onion, the leaves of rue and salt: Yet the rest are exceeded by trea∣cle dissolved in aqua vitae or strong wine, and rubbed hard upon the part, so that the blood may follow, laying upon the wound when you have wiped it, cloths dipped in the same medicine; then presently apply garlick or onions beaten with common salt and turpentine: by this only re∣medy I freed one of the daughters of Madamoisella de Gron from the symptoms of madness,* 1.4 and healed the wound, when as a mad dog had bit her grievously in the calf of the right leg. Also it is good presently to eat garlick with bread, and then to drink after it a draught of good wine, for garlick by its spirituous heat will defend the noble parts from poison. There be some who wish to eat the rosted liver of the dog that hurt them, or else the liver of a goat, of which remedies as yet, I have had no experience. Others prescribe a dram of the seeds of Agnus castus to be drunk with wine and butter. Others the powder of river-crabs, burnt and drunk in wine. Or, ℞. rad. gent. ʒii. astacorum fluviat. in fumo combust. & in pollinem redact. ʒiii. terrae sigil. ℥ ss. misce. Give ʒi. of this same powder in the decoction of river-crabs, and let them drink thereof oft, at sundry times. Ma∣ny have cast themselves into the sea, neither have they thence had any help against madness, as Ferrand Pozet the Cardinal testifieth in his book of poisons;* 1.5 wherefore you must not rely upon that remedy, but rather you must have recourse to such things as are set in the books of Physici∣ans, and approved by certain and manifold experience. But seeing that no poison can kill, unless it be taken or admitted into the body, we must not fear any harm by sprinkling our bodies with