Page 515
CHAP. XXIX. Of Hors-leeches.
HOrs-leeches are also venomous, especially such as live in muddy stinking ditches,* 1.1 for these are less hurtful which reside in clear and pure waters. Wherefore, before they are to be used in cases of physick, they must be kept for some daies space in clean water, that so they may purge themselves; otherwise they may chance to leave ulcers hard to cure in the pla∣ces whereto they shall be applied, and the rather, if they be violently plucked off, because they by that means leave their teeth fastned in the part. Now he which by chance hath swallowed a Hors-leech, must be asked in what part he feeleth her, that is, the sense of her sucking.* 1.2 For if she stick in the top of the throat or gullet, or in the midst thereof, the part shall be often washed with mustard dissolved in vinegar. If she be near the orifice of the ventricle, it is fit that the pati∣ent by little and little swallow down oil with a little vinegar. But if she fasten to the stomach, or the bottom of the ventricle, the patient, by the plucking oft the part, shall perceive a certain sense of sucking, the patient will spit blood, and will for fear, become melancholik. To force her thence, he shall drink warm water with oil; but if she cannot so be loosed, then shall you mix aloes therewith, or some thing endued with the like bitterness, for she will by that means leave her hold, and so be cast forth by vomit. You may perceive this by such as are applied to the skin, on the external parts, for by the aspersion of bitter things, whether they be full or empty, they will forsake their hold. Then shall the patient take astringent things, which may stop the blood flow∣ing forth of the bitten part, such is Conserve of Roses, with terra sigillata, Bole-Armenick, and other more astringent things, if need so require. For if they shall adhere to some greater branch of some vein or artery, it will be more difficult to stop the flowing blood.
But for that not the earth only, but the sea also produceth venomous creatures, we will in like fort treat of them, as we have already done of the other, beginning with the Lampron.