The workes of that famous chirurgion Ambrose Parey translated out of Latin and compared with the French. by Tho: Johnson. Whereunto are added three tractates our of Adrianus Spigelius of the veines, arteries, & nerves, with large figures. Also a table of the bookes and chapters.

CHAP. XXII. Of the bitings of Asps.

* 1.1THe wound which is made by an Asp is very small; as if a needle were thrust into the part and without any swelling. These symptoms follow upon her bite, sudden darkness clouds their eies, much agitation in all their bodies, but gentle notwithstanding; a moderate pain of the stomach troubles them, their fore-heads are continually troubled with convulsive twitchings, their cheeks tremble, and their eie-lids fall gently to rest and sleep; the blood which flows from the wound is little, but black; death no longer deserred then the third part of a day, will take them away by convulsions, unless you make resistance with fitting remedies. The male Asp makes two wounds,* 1.2 the female sour, as it also happens in the bitings of vipers. Now for that the poison of Asps congeals the blood in the veins and arteries, therefore you must use a∣gainst it such things as are hot and subtil of parts, as mithridate or treacle dissolved in aqua vi∣tae, and the same powred into the wound; the patient must be wa••med by baths, frictions, walking, and the like. When as the hurt part becometh purple, black or green, it is a sign that the native heat is extinct and suffocated by the malignity of the venom. Therefore then it is best to amputate the member, if the patient be able to endure it, and there be nothing which may hinder:* 1.3 Vigo writes that he saw a Mountebank at Florence, who, that he might sell the more of

his Antidotes, and at the better rate, let an Asp to bite him by the finger,* 1.4 but he died thereof some four hours after. To the same purpose you may read Matthiolus, whereas he writes that those Impostors or Mountebanks to cozen the better, and deceive the people, use to hunt and take vipers and asps long after the spring, that is,* 1.5 then when as they have cast forth their most deadly poison; then they feed them with meats formerly unusual to them, so that by long keeping and care, and at the length they bring it to pass, that they put off a great part of their venomous nature; neither being thus satisfied, they make them oftentimes to bite upon pieces of flesh, that so they may cast forth into them the venom which is contained in the membrane between their teeth and gums. Lastly, they force them to bite, lick and swallow down an astringent medicine, which they compose and carry about for the same purpose, that so they may obstruct the passages by which the venom used to flow out, for thus at length their bites will be harmless, or without great danger. This therefore is their art, that so they may sell their counterfeit treacle to the peo∣ple at a high rate, as that which is a most safe remedy against all poisonous bites.* 1.6 Christopher An¦drew in his book called Oicoiatria, writes, that the Islands of Spain are every where full and stored with serpents, asps, and all sorts of venomous beasts, against whose bites they never observed or found any benefit in treacle. But the efficacy of the following Antidote is so certain and excellent and approved by so manifold experience, that in the confidence thereof, they will not be affraid to let themselves be bitten by an Asp. Now this medicine is composed of the leaves of Muller,* 1.7 A∣vens and red-stock-gilliflowers in like quantity, which they boil in sharp vinegar and the urine of a sound man, and therewith foment the wounded part. Yet if he have not taken nor used any thing of a good while after the wound, it will be better and more certain, if the patient drink three ounces of this decoction fasting two hours before meat.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Symptoms.
• * 1.2

  Cu cing.
• * 1.3

  An history.
• * 1.4

  By what means Asps may be made less hurt∣ful.
• * 1.5

  Gal. lib. de Ther. ad pisonem.
• * 1.6

  Against the bites of what serpents treacle doth no good.
• * 1.7

  A certain re∣medy against the biting of Asps.