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. XXIV. Of the bitings of Toads.

THough Toads want teeth,* 1.1 yet with their hard and rough gums they so straitly press or pinch the part which they shall take hold on, that they will force their poison thereinto, and so over the whole body by the pores of the pressed part. Moreover they cast forth their venom by urine, spittle and vomit upon herbs, but chiefly upon Strawberries, the which they are reported greatly to affect. Hence many suddenly and ignorantly catch their deaths.

I heard from a man of very good credit,* 1.2 that there were two Merchants not far from the City Tholous, who whilest dinner was providing, walked into the Garden that belonged to the Inn, where they gathered some sage leaves, and unwashed as they were, put them into their wine.* 1.3 They had not as yet dined, when being taken with a sudden Vertigo, the whole Inn seemed to run round, then losing their sight, they fell into a swound, intermixed now and then with convulsions. But they sta∣mered with their lips and tongues becomming black; a froward and horrid look, with continual vomiting, and a cold sweat, the fore-runner of death, which presently seized upon them, their bo∣dies becoming exceedingly much swoln. But the Justices of the place suspecting that they were poisoned, made the Inn-keeper and the Guests to be apprehended, being examined, they all con∣stantly and with one voice answered, That the dead parties ate of the same meat and drink which the rest did, but only they put sage into their wine. A Physician was asked the question whether sage might be poisoned; he answered it might: but to come to the purpose, it must appear whether any venomous creature hath poisoned the plant with her spittle or venomous sanies. This which was lightly pronounced, and only by conjecture, was by the eie found to be true. For at

the root thereof there was found a hole in the ground full of Toads, who got out by putting in of warm water, made it credible that the plant was poysoned by their spittle and urine, where∣by you may understand how unwisely they do, who devour herbs and fruits newly gathered with∣out washing. Also we must take heed lest falling asleep in the fields, we lie not near the holes which toads or other venomous beasts of the same nature, have made their habitation. For thence a venomous or deadly air may be drawn into the lungs.* 1.4 For the same cause we must abstain from eating of frogs in the month of May, because then they engender with toads. Oxen in feeding somtimes lick up smalltoads together with the grass, which presently will breed their great harm, for thereupon the Oxen swell so big, that they often burst withall. Neither is the venom of toads deadly only being taken inwardly, but even sprinkled upon the skin, unless they forthwith wipe the place, and wash it with urine, water and salt. Such as are poysoned by a toad turn yellow, swell over all their bodies, are taken with an Asthmatick difficulty of breathing, a Vertigo, con∣vulsion, swounding, and lastly by death it self. These so horrid symptoms are judged inherent in the poyson of toads, not only by reason of the elementary qualities thereof, coldness and moi∣sture, which are chiefly predominant therein; but much rather by the occult property which is apt to putrefie the humors of that body whereto it shall happen.* 1.5 Therefore it will be convenient to procure vomit, especially if the poyson be taken by the mouth, to give glysters, and to wea∣ken the strength of the poyson by hot and attenuating Antidotes, as treacle and mithridate dis∣solved in good wine; but in conclusion to digest it by baths, stoves, and much and great exercise. Rondeletius in his book de piscibus, affirms the same things of the cursed venom of toads, as we have formerly delivered: yet that they seldom bite, but that they cast forth either their urine, the which they gather in a great quantity in a large bladder, or else their venomous spittle or breath against such as they meet withall, or assail; besides the herbs which are tainted by their poysonous breath, but much more such as are sprinkled with their spittle or urine, are sufficient to kill such as eat them.* 1.6 The Antidotes are juice of betony, plantane, mug-wort, as also the blood of Tor∣toises made with flower into pils, and forthwith dissolved in wine, and drunken. Plinye writes, that the hearts and spleens of Toads resist poyson. The vulgar opinion is false, who think that the Toad-stone is found in their heads, which is good against poyson.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The bites of Toads how harmful.
• * 1.2

  An history.
• * 1.3

  The symptoms occasioned by the poison of Toads.
• * 1.4

  May frogs.
• * 1.5

  The cure.
• * 1.6

  Antidotes a∣gainst the poy∣son of Toads: