CHAP. IX. The Effects of poisons from particular venemous things, and what Prognosticks may thence be made.
IT is the opinion of Cornelius Celsus, and almost of all the Antients, that the bite of every beast hath some virulency, but yet some more then other-some. They are most virulent that are inflicted by venemous beasts, Asps, Vipers, Watersnakes, and all kinds of Serpents, Ba∣silisks,* 1.1 Dragons, Toads, mad Dogs, Scorpions, Spiders, Bees, Wasps, and the like. They are less malign, which are of creatures wanting venom, as of Horses, Apes, Cats, Dogs not mad, and ma∣ny other things, which though of their own nature they are without poison, yet in their bites there is something more dolorifick and ill natured, then in common wounds inflicted by other occasi∣ons: I believe, that in their slaver or sanies, there is something, I know not how to term it, con∣trary to our nature,* 1.2 which imprints a malign quality in the ulcer, which also you may observe in the tearings and scratchings of such creatures as have sharp claws, as Lions and Cats. Moreover ma∣ny affirm, that they have found by experience, that the bites of men are not altogether without virulency, especially of such as are red-haired and freckled, chiefly when as they are angred; it is probable that the bites of other persons want this malignity, seeing that their spittle will cure small ulcerations. Wherefore, if there shall happen difficultie of cure in a wound, caused by a mans biteing, which is neither red haired nor freckled, neither angry; this happens not by means of the spittle, nor by any malign quality, but by reason of the contusion, caused by the bluntness of the teeth, not cutting, but bruising the part, for being not sharp, they cannot so easily enter the flesh, unless by bruising and tearing, after the manner of heavy and blunt strokes and weapons, wounds being occasioned by such, are more hard to be cured, then such as are made by cutting and sharp weapons.* 1.3 But of the fore-said bitings of venemous creatures, there are few which do not kill in a short space, and almost in a moment, but principally if the poison be sent into the body by a live creature, for in such poison there is much heat; also there is therein a greater tenuity, which serves as vehicles thereto, into what place or part soever of the body they tend, the which the poy∣sons taken from dead creatures are defective of. Wherefore some of these kill a man in the space of an hour, as the poison Asps, Basilisks and Toads; others not unless in two or three dayes space, as of water-Snakes; a Spider, and Scorpion require more time to kill, yet all of them admitted but in the least quantity, do in a short space cause great and deadly mutations in the body, as if they had breathed in a pestiferous air, and with the like violence, taint and change in their own nature all the members and bowels, by which these same members do in the time of perfect health change laudable meats into their nature and substance. The place whereas these poisonous creatures live, and the time, conduce to the perniciousness of the poyson, for such as live in drie, mountains and sun-burnt places kill more speedily then such as be in moist and marish grounds; also they are more hurtful in winter then in summer; and the poyson is more deadly which proceeds from hun∣gry, angry and fasting creatures, then that which comes from such as are full and quiet; as also that which proceeds from young things, chiefly when as they are stimulated to venery, is more powerful then that which comes from old and decrepit; from females worse then from males; from such as hve fed upon other venomous things, rather then from such as have abstained from them, as from snakes which have devoured toads, vipers which have fed upon scorpions, spiders and Caterpillers. Yet the reason of the efficacy of poisons depends from their proper, that is, their subtil or gross consistence, and the greater or less aptness of the affected body to suffer. For hot men that have larger and more open veins and arteries, yield the poison freer passage to the heart: Therefore they which have more cold and strait vessels, are longer ete they die of the like poison; such as are full, are not so soon harmed as those that are fasting: for meats, besides that by filling the vessels, they give not the poison so free passage, they also strengthen the heart by the multiplication of spirits, so that it more powerfully resists pernicious venom. If the poyson work by an occult and specifick property, it causeth the cure and prognostick to be diffcult, and then must we have recourse to Antidotes,* 1.4 as these which have their whole substance resist poy∣sons; but principally to treacle, because there enter into the composition thereof, medicines which are hot, cold, moist and dry: whence it is, that it retunds and withstands all poysons, chiefly such as consist of a simple nature, such as these which come from venemous creatures, plants and mi∣nerals; and which are not prepared by the detestable art of empoisoners.