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.

The ONE and TVVENTIETH BOOK: Of Poysons, and of the Biting of a mad Dog, and the Bitings and Stingings of other venomous Creatures.

CHAP. I. The cause of writing this treatise of Poysons.

FIve reasons have principally moved me to undertake to write this Treatise of poysons, ac∣according to the opinion of the antients, The first is, that I might instruct the Surgeon what remedies must presently be used to such as are hurt by poysons, in the interim whilst greater means may be expected from a Physician. The second is, that he may know by certain signs and notes such as are Poysoned or hurt by poysonous meats, and so make report thereof to the judges, or to such as it may concern. The third is, that those Gentlemen and others who live in the country, and far from Cities, and store of greater means, may learn somthing by my labour, by which they may help their friends bitten by an Adder, mad Dog, or other poysonous creature, in so dangerous, sudden and unusual a case. The fourth is, that every one may beware of poysons, and know their symptoms when present, that being known, they may speedily seek for a remedy. The fifth is, that by this my labour all men may know what my good will is, and now well minded I am towards the common-wealth in general, and each man in particular, to the glory of God. I do not here so much arm malicious and wicked persons to hurt, as Surgeons to provide to help and defend each mans life against poyson; which they did not understand, or at least seemed not so to do, which taking this my labour in evil part, have maliciously interpre∣ted my meaning.

But now at length, that we may come to the matter; I will begin at the general division of poy∣sons, and then handle each species thereof severally; but first let us give this Rule, That poyson is that which either outwardly applied or struck in, or inwardly taken into the body, hath power to kill it, no otherwise, then meat well drest is apt to nourish it. For Conciliator writes, that the pro∣perties of poyson are contrary to nourishments in their whole substance; for as nourishment is turned into blood, & in each part of the body whereto it is applied to nourish, by perfect assimila∣tion substituted in the place of that portion which flows away each moment. Thus on the contrary poyson turns our bodies into a nature like it self and venenate, for as every agent imprints the force and qualities thereof in the subject patient, thus poyson by the immoderation of faculties in their whole nature conttary to us, changeth our substance into its nature, no otherwise then fire turneth chaff in a moment into its own nature, and so consumes it. Therefore it is truly delivered by the Antients, who have diligently pried into the faculties of natural things, that it is poyson that may kill men by destroying and corrupting their temper, and the composure and conformation of the body. Now all poysons are said to proceed either from the corrupt air, or from living crea∣tures, plants and minerals, or by any artificial malignity in distilling, subliming and diversly mix∣ing of poysonous and fuming things. Hence arise sundry differences of poysons; neither do they all work after the same manner; for some corrupt onr nature by the unmeasureableness of the manifest and elementary qualities whereof they consist, others from a specifick and occult proper∣ty. Hence it is that some kill sooner then other some; neither is it true, that all of them present∣ly assail the heart, but others are naturally at deadly strife with other parts of the body; as Cantha∣rides with the bladder, the sea-Hare with the lungs the Torpedo with the hands, which it stupe∣fieth, though the fishers rod be betwixt them. Thus of medicines, there are some which are apt pre∣sently to comfort and strengthen the heart; others the brain, as stoechas; others the stomach, as cinna∣mon: Also there are some poysons which work both wayes, that is, by manifest and occult quali∣ties, as Euphorbium; for that both by the excessive heat and the whole substance, or the discotd of the whole substance with ours, corrupts our nature. An argument hereof is, that Treacle, which by its quality is manifestly hot, infringeth the force thereof, as also of all others of an occult pro∣petry. Poysons which work by an occult and specifick property, do not therefore do it, because they are too immoderately hot, cold dry, moist; but for that they are absolutely such, and have that essence from the starrs and celestial influence, which is apt to dissolve and destroy the strength of mans body, because being taken, but even in a small quantity, yet are they of so pernici¦ous a quality••; that they kill almost in a moment. Now poysons do not only kill being taken into the body but some being put or applied outwardly; neither do venomous creatures onely harm by their stinging and biting, but also by their excrements, as spittle, blood, the touch and breath.

CHAP. II How poysons being small in quantity, may by their only touch cause so great alterations.

IT seemeth strange to many, how it may come to pass, that poyson taken or admitted in small quantity, may almost in a moment produce so pernicious effects over all the body, and all the parts, faculties, and actions; so that being admitted but in a little quantity, it swells up the body into a great bigness. Neither ought it to seem less strange, how Antidotes and Counter-poysons, which are opposed to poyson, can so suddenly break and weaken the great and pernici∣ous effects thereof, being it is not so likely that so small a particle of poyson or Antidote can divide it self into so many, and so far severed particles of our body, There are some (saith Galen) who think, that some things by touth onely, by the power of their quality, may alter those things which are next to them; and that this appears plainly in the fish Torpedo, as that which hath so powerful a quality, that it can send it alongst the fishers rod to the hand, and so make it become torped or numb. But on the contrary, Philosophers teach that accidents, such as qualities are, cannot without their subjects remove and diffuse themselves into other subjects. Therefore Galens other answer is more agreeable to reason, that so many and great affects of poysons, and reme∣dies arise either from a eertain spirit or subtil humidity; not truly, for that this spirit and subtil hu∣midity may be dispersed over the whole body and all the parts thereof which it affects, but that little which is entred the body, as cast in by the stroak of a Spider, or the sting of a Scorpion, in∣fects, and corrupts all the next parts by contagion with the like quality, these other that are next to them, until from an exceeding small portion of the blood, if the stroke shall light into the veins, it shall spread over the whole mass of blood; or of phlegm, if the poyson shall chance to come to the stomach, and so the force thereof shall be propagated and diffused over all the humors and bowels. The doubt of Antidotes is less, for these being taken in greater quantity, when they shall come into the stomach, warmed by the heat of the place, they become hot, and send forth vapors, which suddenly diffused over the body by the subtility of their substance, do by their contrary forces dull and weaken the malignity of the poyson: Wherefore you may often see, when as Antidotes are given in less quantity then is fit, that they are less prevalent, neither do they answer to our expectation in overcoming the malignity of the poyson; so that ir must necessarily follow thar these must not onely in qualities, but also in quantity be superior to poysons.

CHAP. III. Whether there be any such poysons as will kill at a set time?

TO the propounded question; whether there may be poysons which within a certain and definite time (put case a mouth or year) may kill men. Theophrastus thus answers; of poysons, some more speedily perform their parts, others more slowly; yet may you find no such as will kill in set limits of time, according to the will and desire of men; For that some kill sooner or later then others; they do not this of their own or proper nature, as Physicians right∣ly judg, but because the subject upon which they light, doth more or less resist or yield to their efficacy. Experience sheweth the truth hereof; for the same sort of poyson in the same weight and measure, given to sundry men of different tempers and complexions, will kill one in an hour, another in six hours, or in a day, and on the contrary will not so much as hurt some third man. You may also observe the same in purging medicines. For the sume purge given to diverse men in the same proportion, will purge some sooner, some later, some more sparingly, others more plentifully, and othersome not at all; also with some it will work gently, with othersome with pain and gripings. Of which diversity, there can no other cause be assigned, then mens different natures in complexion and temper, which no man can so exactly know and comprehend, as to have certain knowledg thereof, how much and bow long the native heat can resist and labour a∣gainst the strength of poyson, or how pervious or open the passages of the body may be, whereby the poyson may arrive at the heart and principal parts. For in such (for example sake) as have the passages of their arteries more large, the poyson may more readily and speedily enter into the heart, together with the air that is continually drawn into the body.

CHAP. IV. Whether such creatures as feed upon poysonous things be also poysonous; and whether they may be eaten safely and without harm.

DUcks, Storks, Herns, Peacocks, Turkies, and other birds, feed upon Toads, Vipers, Asps, Snakes, Scorpions, Spiders, Caterpillers, and other venomous things: Wherefore it is worthy the questioning, whether such like creatures nourished with such food, can kill or poyson such persons as shall afterward eat them? Matthiolus writes, that all late Au∣thors, who have treated of poysons, to be absolutely of this opinion; That men may safe∣ly and without any danger feed upon such creatures, for that they convert the beasts into their

nature after they have eaten them, and on the contrary are not changed by them. This reason though very probable, yet doth it not make these beasts to be wholly harmeless, especially if they be often eaten or fed upon. Dioscorides and Galen seem to maintain this opinion, whereas they write, that the milk, which is nothing else then the relented blood of such beasts as feed up∣on scammony, hellebore and spurge, purgeth violently. Therefore Physicians, desirous to purge a sucking child, give purges to the nurses, whence the milk becoming purging, becomes both meat and medicine to the child. The flesh of thrushes, which feed upon Juniper-berries, savors of Juniper. Birds that are fed with worm-wood or garlick, either tast bitter, or have the strong sent of garlick, Whitings taken with garlick, so smell thereof, that they will not forego that smell or tast by any salting, frying or boyling; for which sole reason, many who hate garlick, are forced to abstain from these fishes. The flesh of Rabbits that feed upon penny-royal and Ju∣niper, savor of them; Physicians wish that Goats, Cows and Asses, whose milke they would use for Consumptions or other diseases, should be fed some space before, and every day with these or these herbs which they deem fit for the curing of this or that disease: For Galen affirms that he doubts not, but that in success of time the flesh of creatures will be changed by the meats whereon they feed, and at length savor thereof. Therefore I do not allow that the flesh of such things as feed upon venemous things, should be eaten for food, unless it be some long space after they have disused such repast, and that all the venom be digested and overcome by the effica∣cy of their proper heat, so that nothing thereof may remain in tast, smell or substance, but be all vanished away. For many die suddenly, the cause of whose deaths are unknown, which per∣adventure was from nothing else, but the sympathy and antipathy of bodyes, for that these things cause death and disease to some, that nourish othersome (according to our vulgar English pro∣verb; That which is one mans meat, is another mans poyson.)

CHAP. V. The general signs of such as are poysoned.

WEe will first declare what the general signs of poyson are, and then wee will descend to particulars, whereby we may pronounce that one is poysoned with this or that poy∣son. We certainly know that a man is poysoned, when as he complains, of a great heaviness of his whole body; so that he is weary of himself; when as some horrid and loathsome tast sweats out from the orifice of the stomach to the mouth and tongue, wholly different from that tast: that meat, howsoever corrupted, can send up: when as the colour of the face changeth suddenly, somewhiles to black, sometimes to yellow, or any other colour, much differing from the common custom of man; when nauseousness with frequent vomiting, troubleth the patient, and that he is molested with so great unquietness, that all things may seem to be turned upside down. We know that the poyson works by the proper, and from the whole substance, when as without any manifest sence of great heat or coldness, the patient swounds often with cold sweats, for usually such poysons have no certain and distinct part wherewith they are at enmity, as cantharides have with the bladder. But as they work by their whole substance, and an occult propriety of form; so do they presently and directly assail the heart, our essence and life, and the fortress and begining of the vital faculty. Now will wee shew the signs whereby poysons, that work by ma∣nifest and elementary qualities, may be known. Those who exceed in heat, burn or make an impressi∣on of heat in the tongue, the mouth, throat, stomach, guts, and all the inner parts, with great thirst, unquietness, and perpetual sweats. But if to their excess of heat they be accompanied with a corroding and putrefying quality, as Arsenick, Sublimate, Rose-ager or Rats-bane, Verdegreace, Orpiment; and the like, they then cause in the stomach and guts intolerable pricking pains, rum∣blings in the belly, and continual and intolerable thirst. These are succeeded by vomitings, with sweats somwhiles hot, somwhiles cold, with swoundings, whence sudden death ensues. Poysons that kill by too great coldness, induce a dull or heavy sleep, or drowziness, from which you can∣not easily rouze or waken them; somtimes they so trouble the brain that the patients perform many undecent gestures and antick tricks with their mouths, eies, arms and legs, like as such as are frantick; they are troubled with cold sweats, their faces become blackish or yellowish, alwaies ghastly, all their bodies are benummed, and they die in a short time, unless they be helped; poysons of this kinde are Hemlock, Poppy, Night-shade, Henbane, Mandrag. Dry poysons are usually ac∣companyed by heat with moisture, for although sulphur be hot and dry, yet hath it moisture, to hold the parts together, as all things which have a consistence have; yet are they called dry, by reason that dryness is predominant in them: such things make the tongue and throat dry & rough, with unquenchable thirst; the belly is so bound, that somuch as the urine cannot have free passage forth; all the members grow squalid by driness, the patients cannot sleep: poysons of this kinde are Ly∣tharge, ceruss, lime, scales of brass, fileings of lead, prepared antimony. On the contrary, moist poy∣sons induce a perpetual sleep, a flux or scouring, the resolution of all the nerves & joynts, so that not so much as the eies may be faithfully contained in their orbs but will hang as ready to fall out; the extreme parts, at the hands, feet, nose, & ears corrupt & putrifie, at which time they are also troubled with thirst by reason of their strong heat, alwaies the companion of putrefaction, & oftimes the author thereof: now when this cometh to pass, death is at hand. Very many deny that there can be any moist poysons found, that is, such as may kill by the efficacy of their humidity, because there are no such things to be found, as may come to the fourth degree of moisture. Yet there is an exam∣ple

that averts the contrary, which was of one, who sleeping on the night, was bitten by a Serpent, as Gilbertus Anglicus affirmeth; for dying thereof, when as his servant, desirous to awake his Ma∣ster out of his sleep, took him by the arm, all the flesh being putrefied, fell off, and presently the bones also fell asunder, being deprived of their flesh, which could not happen, unless by ex∣cess of the venemous humidity which lay hidden in the teeth and spittle of the serpent. Also we have found it noted by Hippocrates, that in a rainy, humid and southerly constitution of the year, it happened by the malign violence of the venenate and putrefying humidity, that the flesh of the arms and legs becoming rotten, fell away by piece-meal, and the bones remained bare; yea al∣so and the bones themselvs in some putrified and fell away; neither doth the Lues Venerea kil•• by any other means, then by a fretting and putrefying force of humidity, by whose efficacy the ••o∣lidity of the bones is dissolved; then much more the flesh may be tainted and consumed by putrefaction.

To these and such poysons which worke by a manifest and elementary faculty, when as they shall be received into the body after what manner soever, you shall forthwith oppose their con∣traries, and if by chance it be not manifest, what, and of what distinct kind of poison that is, you must know, that such poysons as work by occult properties, it is not by reason as yet found out how they will affect the body, but onely by experience. Therefore to these you must oppose their like antidotes, which may by their whole substance strengthen the heart and vital faculty, and withstand the strength of the poyson. But to this our distinction of poysons, work∣ing by a manifest and elementary quality, their opinion is contrary, who affirm that the venom of all poysonous beasts are therefore cold, for that such as are bitten or stung with them, are forthwith felt to be colder then a stone. And that serpents for fear of cold, when as winter is at hand, keep themselves in holes and dens under ground, or else, as vipers use to do, lie under stones; under which, you may often find them stiff and numb, and so unapt for motion, that you may easily take them up in your hand. But the coldness that is perceived or felt in such as are bitten or stung, is not occasioned by the coldness of poyson, but by the absence of the na∣tural heat, withdrawing it selfe in the very instant of the stroak, from the surface into the cen∣ter of the body, both for the defence of the heart, as the principal parts, as also for that there is nothing which so much dissipates, or so much oppugns the vital heat, as poyson, of what kinde soever it be, doth.

CHAP. VI. How, or by what means to shun, or eschew Poysons.

IT is a matter of much difficulty to avoid poysons, because such as at this time temper them, are so throughly prepared for deceit and mischief, that they will deceive even the most wary and quick-sighted; for they so qualifie the ingrate tast and smell, by the admixture of sweet and well smelling things, that they cannot easily be perceived even by the skilful. Therefore such as fear poysoning, ought to take heed of meats cooked with much art, very sweet, salt, sower, or notably endued with any other taste. And when they are opprest with hunger or thirst, they must not eat nor drink too greedily, but have a diligent regard to the tast of such things as they eat or drinke; besides, before meat let them take such things as may weaken the strength of the poy∣sons; such as is the fat broth of good nourishing flesh-meat; in the morning let them arm them∣selves with treacle or mithridate, and conserve of roses, or the leaves of rue, a walnut and dry figs; besides, let him presently drink a little draught of muskadine or some other good wine; when one suspects he hath taken any poyson in meat or drink, let him forbear sleeping. For besides, that the force of poyson is oft times so rapid, that it consumes our life in a short space, as fire doth stubble, as also for that it is drawn more inwardly into the secret passages of the body by sleep. Wherefore in such a case, it is better to procure vomit by drinking Hydraeleum warm, or butter dis∣solved in warm oil, or a decoction of line, or fenugreek-seeds, or fat broth, for thus the received poyson is also cast forth therewith, or else the acrimony thereof retunded, and the belly loosed.

You may see this by daily experience; for causticks, vesicatories, and the like acrid things being applyed to an anointed part, will not blyster nor exulcerate the part. Neither doth the vomit conduce onely in this, that it excludeth the poyson, but it shews either by the tast, smell or colour, the kind of the taken-poyson: so that then by using the proper Antidote, it may be the more ea∣sily & speedily resisted, yet notwithstanding if you conceive that the poyson have descended deeper in the guts, you may with a glyster draw away the rest thereof which adheres to the coats of the guts. But if the patient cannot vomit, then shall some purging medicine be given him forthwith, & such as are thought more particularly to resist poyson, such as are agarick, aloes, the lesser centaury, ru∣barb and other things, according to the direction of the learned physician. Then shall you admini∣ster glysters made with Cassia, fatty decoctions, sheep-suet, or butter or Cows-milk, with the mucilages of Line-seed, psilium-seeds, quince-seeds, and other things; as are usually given in a Dy∣sentery, or bloody flux, that such things may hinder the adhesion of the poyson to the coats of the Guts, and by their unctuousness retund the acrimony of the poyson, and mitigate, it any thing shall already be ulcerated, & absolutely defend the found parts from the malign effects of the poy∣son. But let this be a perpetual Rule, That the poyson be speedily drawn back by the same way

it entered into the body; as if it entered by smelling, in at the nostrils, let it be drawn back by sneezing, if by the mouth into the stomach, let it be excluded by vomit; if by the fundament in∣to the belly then by glyster; if by the privities into the womb, then by metrenchites or injections made thereinto; if by a bite, sting or wound, let revulsion be made by such things as have a pow∣erful attractive faculty; for thus we make diversions, that by these we may not only hinder the poyson from assailing the heart, but also that by this means we may draw it from within outwards. Wherefore strong ligatures cast about the armes, thighs and legs, are good in this case. Also large cupping glasses applied with flame to sundry parts of the body are good. Also baths of warme water, with a decoction of such things as resist poyson, southern-wood, calamint, rue, betony, horehound, penny-royal, bayes, scordium, smallage, scabious, mints, valerian, and the like, are good in this case. Also sweats are good, being provoked so much as the strength of the pa∣tient can endure. But if he be very wealthie, whom we suspect poysoned, it will be safer to put him into the belly of an Ox, Horse or Mule, and then presently into another assoon as the former is colde, that so the poyson may be drawn forth by the gentle and vaporous heat of the new kill∣ed beast; yet do none of these things without the advice of a Physician, if it may conveniently be had

CHAP. VII. How the corrupt or venemous Air may kill a Man.

THE air is infected and corrupted by the admixture of malign vapors, either arising from the unburied bodies of such as are slain in great conflicts, or exhaling out of the earth after earth-quakes; for the air, long pent up in the cavities and bowels of the earth, and deprived of the freedom and commerce of the open air, is corrupted, and acquires a malign quality, which it presently transferreth unto such as meet therewith. Also there is a certain malignity of the air, which accompanieth thunders, and lightnings, which savors of a sulphureous virulency, so that whatsoever wilde beasts shall devour the creatures killed therewith, they become mad, and die immediately; for the fire of lightning hath a far more rapid, subtil, and greater force then other fires, so that it may rightly be termed a Fire of Fires.

An argument hereof is, that it melteth the head of a spear, not harming the wood, and silver and gold, not hurting the purse wherein it is contained. Also the air is infected by fumigations which presently admitted into the body and bowels by the mouth and nose in respiration, by the skin and arteries in perspiration, doth easily kill the spirits and humors being first infected, and then within a short space after, the solid substance of the principal parts, and chiefly of the heart being turned into their nature, unless the man be first provided for by sneezing, vomiting, sweating, purgeing by the belly, or some other excretion. For that poyson which is carried into the body by smell, is the most rapid and effectuall, by so much as a vapor or exhalation is of more subtil and quicklyer-pierceing essence then an humor. Yet notwithstanding, wilt thou say, it is not cre∣dible, that any be killed by any vapor raised by the force of fire, as of a torch, or warming-pan, for that the venenate quality of the thing that is burnt, is dissipated and consumed by thr force of the fire, purging and cleansing all things. This reason is falsly feigned to the destruction of the lives of careless people; for sulphureous brands kindled at a clear fire, do notwithstanding cast forth a sulpherous vapot. Whether do not Lignum aloes and juniper, when they are burnt in a flame, smell less sweetly?

Pope Clement, the seventh of that name, the unkle of our Kings mother, was poysoned by the fume of a poysonous torch that was carried lighted before him, and died thereof. Mathiolus telleth, that there were two Mountebanks in the market-place of Sienna, the one of which but smelling to a poisoned gillie-flower given him by the other, fell down dead presently.

A certain man not long ago, when he had put to his nose, and smelled a little unto a poman∣der, which was secretly poysoned, was presently taken with a Vertigo, and all his face swelled, and unless that he had gotten speedy help by sternutatories and other means, he had died shortly af∣ter of the same kinde of death that Pope Clement did.

The safest preservative against such poysons is, not to smell to them: moreover, some affirm, that there are prepared some poysons of such force, that being annointed but on the saddle, they will kill the rider; and others, that if you but annoint the stirrups therewith, they will send so deadly poysonous a quality into the rider, through his boots, that he shall die thereof within a short time after: which things, though they be scarce credible, because such poysons touch not the naked skin, yet have they an example in nature, whereby they may defend themselves: For the Torpedo sends a narcotick, and certainly deadly force into the arm, and so into the body of the fisher, the cords of the net being between them.

CHAP. VIII. That every kinde of poyson hath its proper and peculiar Signs and Effects.

AS poysons are distinct in species, so each species differs in their signs and effects; neither is it possible to find any one kind of poyson, which may be accompanied or produce all the signs and effects of all poysons, otherwise Physicians should in vain have written of

the signs and effects of each of them, as also of their proper remedies and attidotes. For what kinde of poison shall that be, which shall cause a burning heat in the stomach, belly, liver, blad∣der and kidneys, which shall cause a hicketting, which shall cause the whole body to tremble and shake, which shall take away the voice and speech, which shall cause convulsions, shall weaken the pulsifick faculty, which shall intercept the freedome of breathing, which shall stupifie and cast into a dead sleep, which shall together and at once, cause a Vertigo in the head, dimness in the sight; a strangling, or stoppage of the breath, thirst bleeding, fever, stoppage of the urine, per∣petual vomitting, redness, lividness, and paleness of the face, resolutions of the powers, and ma∣ny other things, all which are caused hy all sorts of poison. Lastly, no body will deny but that hot poisons may kill more speedily then cold, for that they are more speedily actuated by the native heat.

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, 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, 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. 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, 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.

CHAP. X. What cure must be used to the biteings and stingings of venomous beasts,

CUre must speedily be used without any delay to the bites and stingings of venemous beasts which may by all means disperse the poyson, and keep it from entring into the body; for when the principal parts are possessed, it boots nothing to use medicines afterwards. Therefore the Antients have propounded a double indication to lead us to the finding out of me∣dicines in such a case, to wit, the evacuation of the virulent and venenate humor, and the chang or alteration of the same and the affected body. But seeing evacuation is of two sorts, to wit, universal, which is by the inner parts; and particular; which is by the outward parts. Wee must begin at the particular, by such to pick medicines as are fit to draw out, and retund the venom; for we must not alwaies begin a cure with generall things, as some think; especially in external di∣seases, as wounds. fractures, dislocations, venomous bites and punctures. Wherefore hereto as spee∣dily as you may, you shall apply remedies fit for the bites and punctures of venomous beasts; as for, example the wounds shall be presently washed with urine, with sea-water, aqua vitae, or wine or vinegar wherein old treacle or mustard shall be dissolved. Let such washing be performed ve∣ry hot, and strongly chafed in, and then leave upon the wound and round about it, linnen rags, or lint steeped in the same liquor. There be some who thinke it not fit to lay treacle thereto because, as they say, it drives the poyson in. But the authority of Galen convinceth that opinion; for he writeth that if the treacle be applied to this kind of wounds before that the venom shal arrive at the noble parts, it much conduceth, Also reason confutes it; for vipers flesh enters the compo∣sition of treacle which attracts the venom by the similitude of substance, as the Load-stone draw∣eth iron, or Amber straws. Moreover, the other simple medicines which enter this composition, resolve and consume the virulency and venom, and being inwardly taken, it defendeth the heart and other noble parts, and corroqorateth the spirits. Experience teacheth that mithridate fitly given in the stead of treacle worketh the like effect. The medicines that are taken inwardly and applied outwardly for evacuation, must be of subtil parts, that they may quickly insinuate them∣selves into every part to retund the malignity of the poyson; wherefore garlick, onions, leeks are very good in this case, for that they are vaporous; also scordium, Rue, dictamnus, the lesser Cen∣taury, hore-hound, Rocket, the milke juice of unripe figs, and the like, are good; there is a kinde of wild buglosse amongst all other plants, which hath a singular force against venomous bites, whence it is termed Echium and viperium, and that for two causes; the first is, because in the purple flowers that grow amongst the leaves, there is a resemblance to the head of a viper or adder. Another reason is, because it heals the biting of a viper not onely applied outwardly, but also helpeth such as are bitten, being drunk in wine, yea, and will not suffer those that have lately drunk thereof to be bitten at all. Wilde Time hath the like affect; though these oftimes agree with the poyson in quality as in heat, yet do they help in discussing and resolving it; yet, as much as we may, we must labor to have evacuation and alteration together. It is most conve∣nient, if the part affected will permit, to apply large cupping-glasses with much flame and horns; also sucking is good, the mouth being first washed in wine wherein some treacle is dissolved, and with oil, lest any thing should adhere thereto, for it will hinder it, if so be the mouth be no where ulcerated. It is good also to apply horse-leeches; some wish to apply to the wound, the funda∣ments of hens or turkies that lay egs, for that such are opener behind, first putting salt upon them that they may gape the wider, shutting their beaks and opening them now and then lest they should be stifled, and ever and anon to substitute others instead of such as die or are suffocated; for thus it is thought the poyson is drawn forth, and passeth into the bird by the fundament. There be others which had rather apply to the wound live birds cut a sunder in the midst, and so laid to hot, for that they guess these resist poyson by a natural discord. But certainly it is by their heat, whereby they do not only digest to••ds, asps, vipers, scorpions and other venomous things, but also wear asunder and soften sand, stones, and most dry and stony seeds in their gizzards; wherefore we must thinke them very good to draw out the poyson and dissipate it. But nothing is so for∣cible to disperse and retund the venom, as the impression of cauteries, especially actual, for a hot iron works more effectually and speedily, and causeth an ulcer which will remain open a longer time. Wherefore to cause the speedier falling away of the Eschar, you shall scarifie it to the quick, and then plentifully annoint the place. For thus the poyson will the sooner pass forth; But this must be done before the poyson enters far into the body, for otherwise Cauteries will not only do no good, but further torment the patient, and weaken him to no purpose. Let draw∣ing plasters be laid to the wound and neighboring parts, made of Galbanum, turpentine, black p••tch, and other gummy and resinous things. After the falling away of the Eschar, basilicon shall be applyed, quickned with a little Precipitate, for it is very effectual in these cases, for that it draweth forth the virulent sanies out of the bottom of the wound, neither doth it suffer the wound to be closed speedily, To which purpose they put in a piece of a spunge, or a root of Gentian or Hermodactly, or some acrid medicine, as aegyptiacum, or Precipitate mixed with the powder of A∣lum, or a caustick beaten to powder. But you must alwaies observe this, that with your oint∣ments you must alwayes mix some Treacle or Mithridate, or the juice of hypericon, or the like, which have power to attract and disperse the poyson, and cleanse the ulcer; yet if too vehement heat shall cause such pain as is likely to bring a grangrene by the dissiparion of the spirits, then neglecting the cure of the proper disease for a time, we must labor to correct the symptom. But in this case you must observe this rule, that you let no blood, give no purging medicine nor

glyster, nor vomit, nor use no bath, nor other thing that may procure sweat, untill three daies be past after the bite or sting. In the mean space let the patient shun all manner of labor, but chief∣ly venery, lest by causing an agitation of the humors, the poison get sooner to the heart. Therefore then it is time to use universal evacuations, when as you shall suspect that the poison is diffused over the veins and whole inner part of the body besides. Before you shall give nothing, unless medicines of Treacle or Mithridate and the like things, which have a faculty to resist poison, and strengthen the whole body by their benign and vitall vapor, although their substance go no further then the stomach. Thus pils when they are swallowed, though they go no further then the sto∣mach, yet do they draw matter out of the joints and head; and strong glysters, though they pass no further then the guts, yet by their quality diffused further with the vapor, they draw from the most distant parts; yet you must give an Antidote, not only more powerful then the poison in quali∣ty, but also greater in quantity, that so it may the more easily overcome and expell the poison. Wherefore you must give it twice in a day, and continue it so long untill you shall know that the strength of the poison is weakned and overcome by the remission and decay of the malign symp∣toms. Yet in the mean while, you must not neglect the distemper caused in the part by the poi∣son, but must rather correct it by the application of the remedies contrary to the distemper, as by cold things, if great heat afflict the affected part and whole body; by hot things on the contrary, if it seem as cold as a stone, which oft-times happens. And let thus much suffice for the general cure of poisons: now will we come to their particular cure.

CHAP. XI. Why dogs sooner become mad then other creatures, and what be the signs thereof.

DOgs become mad sooner then any other creatures, because naturally they enjoy that tem∣per and condition of humors which hath an easie inclination to that kind of disease, and as it were a certain disposition, because they feed upon carrion and corrupt, putrid and stinking things, and lap water of the like condition; besides the trouble and vexation of losing their masters, makes them to run every way, painfully searching and smelling to every thing, and neglecting their meat. An heating of the blood ensues upon this pain, and by this heat it is turned into a melancholy, whence they become mad. But yet dogs do not alwaies become mad by means of heat, but also by occasion of cold, that is, by contrary causes; for they fall into this disease not only in the dog-daies, but also in the depth of winter. For dogs abound with melancholick hu∣mors, to wit cold and dry. But such humors as in the summer through excess of heat, so in the depth of winter by constipation and the suppression of fuliginous excrements, they easily turn into melancholy. Hence follows a very burning and continual fever, which causeth or bringeth with it a madness. Add hereto, that in the depth of winter the heat which is contained within is re∣doubled, and in like manner as the scorching heat in summer, it breeds and turns the humors into melancholy. Also dogs become mad by contagion, as such as are bitten by another mad dog. A mad dog hath sparkling and fiery eies, with a fixed look, cruel and a squint, he carries his head hea∣vily, hanging down towards the ground, and somewhat on one side, he gapes, and thrusts forth his tongue, which is livid and blackish; and being short breathed, casts forth much filth at his nose, and much foaming matter at his mouth; in his gate, as if he suspected and feared all things, he keepeth no one or certain path, but runs one while to this side, another while to that, and stum∣bling like one that is drunk, he oft-times falleth down on the ground; he violently assails what∣soever he meets withal, whether it be man, tree, wall, dog, or any thing else; other dogs shun and presently sent him afar off. But if another unawares chance to fall foul upon him, he yields himself to his mercy, fawns upon him, and privily labors to get from him, though he be the stron∣ger and greater. He is unmindful of eating and drinking, he barks not, yet bites he all he meets, without any difference, not sparing his master, as who at this time he knows not from a stranger or enemy. For it is the property of melancholy to disturb the understanding, so that such persons as are melancholick, do not only rage against, and use violence to their friends and parents, but also upon themselves. But when as he sees water, he trembles and shakes, and his hairs stand up on end.

CHAP. XII. By what signs we may know a man is bitten by a mad Dog.

IT is not so easie at the first to know that a man is bitten with a mad dog; and principally for this reason, because the wound made by his teeth causeth no more pain then other wounds usually do; contrary to the wounds made by the sting or bite of other poisonous creatures, as those which presently after they are inflicted, cause sharp pain, great heat, swelling and abundance of other malign accidents, according to the nature of the poison; but the malignity of the bite of a mad dog appears not before that the venom shall invade the noble parts. Yet when you are sus∣picious of such a wound, you may acquire a certain knowledge and experience thereof by putting a piece of bread into the quitture that comes from the wound. For if a hungry dog neglect, yea more flie from it, and dare not so much as smell thereto, it is thought to be a certain sign that the

wound was inflicted by a mad dog. Others add, That if any give this piece of bread to hens, that they will die the same day they have eaten it; yet this later, I making experiment thereof, fai∣led, for devouring this virulent bread, they became not a jot the worse. Wherefore I think the former sign to be the more certain, for dogs have a wonderful and sure smelling faculty, whereby they sent and perceive the malignity of the like creature. But when as the raging virulency hath invaded the noble parts, then the patients, becoming silent and sorrowful, think of many things, and at the begining make a noise with their teeth; they make no answer to the purpose, they are more testy then ordinary, and in their sleeps they are troubled with dreams, and strange phantasies, and fearful visions: and lastly, they become affraid of the water. But after that the poison hath fixed it self into the substance of the noble parts, then all their faculties are disturbed, all the light of their memory, senses, reason and judgment, is extinguished. Wherefore becom∣ming stark mad, they know not such as stand by them, nor their friends, no nor themselves, fal∣ling upon such as they meet withall and themselves with their teeth, and nails, and feet. Often twitchings like convulsions, do suddenly rise in their limbs; I judg them occasioned by extraordi∣nary driness, which hath as it were, wholly drunk up all the humidity of the nervous parts; there is a great driness of the mouth with intollerable thirst, yet without any desire of drink, because the mind being troubled, they become unmindful and negligent of such things as corcern them, and are needful for them; the eies look fiery and red, and all the face is of the same colour; they still think of dogs, and seem to see them, yea and desire to bark and bite just after the manner of dogs: I conjecture, that the virulent humor hath changed all the humors and the whole body into the like nature, so that they think themselves also dogs; whence their voice becomes hoarse by much endeavoring to bark, having forgot all decency, like impudent dogs, to the great horror of the beholders. For their voice grows hoarse by reason of the great driness of the aspera arteria; they shun the light, as that which is enemy to melancholy, wherewith the whole substance of the brain is replenished: on the contrary, they desire darkness, as that which is like and friendly to them. But they are affraid of the water (though good to mitigate their great distemper of heat and driness) and they flie from looking-glasses, because they imagin they see dogs in them, where∣of they are much affraid, by reason whereof they shun the water, and all polite and clear bodies which may supply the use of a looking-glass; so that they throw themselves on the ground, as if they would hide themselves therein, lest they should be bitten again: for they affirm, that he which is bitten by a mad dog, alwaies hath a dog in his mind, and so remains fixed in that sad cogi∣tation: Wherefore thinking that he sees him in the water, he trembles for fear, and therefore shuns the water. Others write, that the body by madness becometh wondrous dry, wherefore they hate the water, as that which is contrary thereto, being absolutely the moistest element, and so they say, that this is the reason of their fearing the water. Ruffus writes, that madness is a kind of melancholy, and that fear is the proper symptom thereof, according to Hippocrates; wherefore this or that kind of melancholy begets a fear of these or these things, but chiefly of bright things, such as looking-glasses and water, by reason that melancholick persons seek darkness and solita∣riness; by reason of the black corruption of the humor wherewith they abound. They fall into cold sweats, a foamy, stinking and greenish matter flows from the ulcer, by reason of the heat of the antecedent cause and ulcerated part. The urine most commonly appears watrish, by reason that the strainers, as it were, of the kidnies, are straitned by the heat and driness of the venome. Yet sometimes also it appears more thick and black, as when nature powerfully using the expul∣sive faculty, attempts to drive forth by urine, the melancholick humor, the seat of the venom. Al∣so sometimes it is wholly supprest, being either incrassated by hot driness, or else the mind be∣ing carried other-waies, and forgetful of its own duty, untill at length the patients, vexed by the cruelty of so many symptoms, and overcome by the bitterness of pain, die frantick, by reason that medicines have not been speedily and fitly applied. For few of those who have used remedies in time, have perished of this disease.

CHAP. XIII. Prognosticks.

WEe cannot so easily shun the danger we are incident to by mad dogs, as that of other beasts, by reason he is a domestick creature, and housed under the same roof with us. The virulency that resides in his foam or slaver is hot and dry, malign, venenate and contagious, so that it causeth a distemper like to it self, in the body whereto it shall apply it self, and spread it self over the whole body by the arteries; for it doth not only hurt, when as it is ta∣ken in by a bite or puncture, but even applied to the skin, unless it be forthwith washed away with salt water or urine. Neither doth this venome hurt equally, or at all times alike, for it harms more or less, according to the inclination of the air to heat or cold, the depth of the wound, the strength of the patients body, and the ill humors thereof, and their disposition to putrefaction, the free∣dom and largeness of the passages. Now malign symptoms happen sooner or later, as in some a∣bout the fortieth day, in others about six months, and in others a year after. There be some who thereupon are troubled with the falling-sicknes, and at length grow mad: such as fall into a fear of the water, never recover. Yet Avicen thinks their case is not desperate, if as yet, they can know their face in a glass; for hence you may gather, that all the animal faculties are not yet

overthrown, but that they stand in need of strong purgations, as wee shal shew hereafter. Aetius tells that there was a certain Philosopher, who taken with this disease, and a fear of water, when as he descended with a great courage unto the bath, and in the water beholding the shape of the dog that bit him, he made a stand, but ashamed thereof, he forthwith cried out, Quid cani cum Balneo? i. e. What hath a dog to do with a Bath? which words being uttered, he threw himself forcibly into the Bath, and fearlesly drank of the water thereof, and so was freed from his disease together with his erroneous opinion. It is a deadly sign to tumble themselves on the ground, to have an hoars voice, for that is an argument that the weazon is become rough, by reason of too excessive driness. Finally, the principal parts being possessed, there is no recovery or life to be hoped for. Men may well fall mad, though they be not bit by a mad dog. For as the humors are often inflamed of themselves, and cause a Cancer or Leprosie, so do they also madness in melan∣cholick persons. The bites of vipers and other venomous creatures cause not like symptoms to these that come by the biteing of a mad deg; because they die before such can come forth or shew themselves. Great wounds made by mad dogs are not equally so dangerous as little, for from the former, great plenty of venemous matter flows out; but in the later, it is almost all kept in.

CHAP. XIV. What cure must be used to such as are bitten by a mad Dog.

THis 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, 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. 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, 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; 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

the sanies of a mad dog, viper, toad, or any other such like venemous creature, if so be that it be presently wiped or washed clean away.

CHAP. XV. What cure must be used to such as fear the water, but yet are able to know themselves in a glass.

SUch as have not their animal faculty as yet orecome by the malignity of the rageing venom must have strong purgations given them. Wherefore, if in any case Antimony be useful, then is it in this, as that which causeth sweats, looseth the belly, and procures vomiting: For it is a part of extreme and dangerous madness to hope to overcome the cruel malignity of this poison already admitted into the bowels, by gentle purging medicines. Assuredly, such and so great danger is never overcome without danger. Baths also conduce, which may disperse and draw forth the poison by causing sweats. Also many and frequent treacle-potions are good to retund the venom, and strengthen the bowels; also it will be fitting to give them water and all other liquid things, which they so much abhor, in a cup with a cover. Alwaies let such as are poi∣soned, or stung, or bitten by a mad dog or other venomous beast, keep themselves in some warm and light place, that the poison which by coldness is forced in, may be the readil yet drawn out by the means of heat, and the spirits be recreated by the brightness of the air, and therefore move from the center to the circumference of the body, and let the room be perfumed with sweet things. To eat very hot and salt things presently at the beginning, as onions, leeks, all spiced meats, and strong wine not allaied, seem not to be besides reason; because such things by their spirituous heat hinder the diffusion of the poison over the body, and strengthen the filled entrails. There be some also that would have them to feed upon gross and viscous meats, which by ob∣structing the vessels, may hinder the passage of the poison to the heart and other parts; and by the same reason it will be better to fill themselves with meat to satiety then otherwise; because the malignity of humors is encreased by hunger, then which nothing can be more harmful to veno∣mous wounds. Yet within a short while after, as within five or six daies, they must return to a mediocrity, and use all things temperate, boiled meats rather then rosted, and that in a decoction of opening things, so to move urine. Lastly, they must keep such a diet as melancholick persons ought to do; neither shall they let blood, left so the poison should be further drawn into the veins; but it is good that the patients body be soluble from the very first. Let their drink be wine indif∣ferently allaied with water, oxymel simplex, or the syrup of the juice of Citron with boiled water; or else this following Julip. ℞ succi limonum, & malorum citri, an. ℥ ss. suc. gran. acid. ℥ii. aquae acetosae, min & ros. an. ℥i. aq. font. coct. quantum sufficit, fiat Julep, ut artis est. Sleep is to be avoided untill the force of the poison is abated, for by sleep the humors flow back into the bowels. All things that resist poison must be given any way whatsoever, as lemons, oranges, angelica-roots gen∣tian, tormentil, burnet, vervain, cardus benedictus, borage, bugloss, and the like. Let all things that are afterwards set before the patient, be meats of good juice, such as ate veal, kid, mutton, patridg, pullets, capons, and the like.

CHAP. XVI. Of the biting of a Viper or Adder, and the symptoms and cure thereof.

THe remedies that were formerly mentioned against the bitings of mad dogs, the same may be used against all venomous bites and stings, yet nevertheless each poison hath his peculiar antidote. Vipers or Adders (as we vulgarly term them) have in their gums, or the spaces between their teeth, little bladders filled with a virulent sanies, which is pressed out into the part that they bite with their teeth. There forthwith ariseth a pricking pain, the part at the first is much swollen, and then the whole body, unless it be hindred: gross and bloody filth sweats out of the wound, little blisters rise round about it, as if it were burnt, the wound gnaws, and as it were feeds upon the flesh, great inflammation possesseth the liver and the guts, and the whole body becomes very dry, becoming of a pale or yellowish colour, with thirst unquencha∣ble; the belly is griped by fits, a cholerick vomiting molesteth them, the stomach is troubled with a hicketting, the patients are taken with often swoundings, with cold sweat, the fore-runner of death, unless you provide by fit medicines for the noble parts, before the poison shall invade them. Matthiolus tells, that he saw a country-man, who, as he was mowing a meadow, by chance cut an Adder in two with his sithe, which when he thought it was dead, he took the one half, whereon the head remained, without any fear in his hand, but the enraged creature, turning a∣bout her head, cruelly bit him by one of his fingers which finger; as men usually do (especially when as they think of no such thing) he put into his mouth, and sucked out the blood and poison, and presently fell down dead.

When as Charls the ninth was at Montpelier, I went into the shop of one Farges an Apotheca∣ry, who then made a solemn dispensation of Treacle, where not satisfying my self with the loo∣king upon the Vipers which were there in a glass, ready for the composition, I thought to take one of them in my hands, but whilst that I too curiously and securely handled her teeth which were in her upper jaw, covered with a skin, as it were a case to keep the poison in, the beast catched hold

of the very end of my fore-finger, and bit me in the space which is between the nail and the flesh; whence presently there arose great pain, both by reason of the part endued with most exqui∣site sense, as also by the malignity of the poison: forthwith I exceeding straitly bound my finger above the wound, that so I might press forth the blood and poison, lest they should diffuse them∣selves further over the body. I dissolved old Treacle in aqua vitae, wherein I dipped and moistned cotton, and so put it to the wound, and within a few daies I throwly recovered by this only me∣dicine. You may use in stead of Treacle, Mithridate and sundry other things, which by reason of their heat are powerful drawers, as a quill rosted in hot embers, garlick and leeks beaten and ap∣plied, barly-flowr tempered with vinegar, hony, and goats-dung, and so applied like a pult is. Some think it sufficient forthwith to wash and foment the wound with vinegar, salt, and a little honey. Galen writes that the poison inflicted by the bite of a viper, may be drawn forth by applying to the wound the head of a viper, but othersome apply the whole viper beaten to mash.

CHAP. XVII. Of the Serpent called Haemorrhous.

THe Serpent Haemorrhous is so called, because by biting he causeth blood to drop out of all the passages of the wounded body; he is of a small body, of the bigness of a viper, with eies burning with a certain fiery brightness, and a most beautiful skin. The back of him (as Avicen writes) is spotted with many black spots, his neck little, and his tail very small: the part which he bites forthwith grows blackish, by reason of the extinction of the native heat, which is extinguished by such poison which is contrary thereto in its whole substance. Then fol∣lows a pain of the stomach and heart, these parts being touched with the pestiferous quality of the poison. These pains are seconded by vomiting, the orifice of the ventricle being relaxed by a Diarrhaea, the retentive faculty of all the parts of the belly being weakned, and the veins which a••e spread through the guts, not being able to retain the blood contained in them. For the blood is seen to slow out, as in streams, from the nose, mouth, ears, fundament, privities, corners of the eies, roots of the nails, and gums, which putrefie, the teeth falling out of them. Moreover there happens a difficulty of breathing, and stoppage of the urine, with a deadly convulsion.

The cure is forthwith to scarisie, and burn the bitten part, or else to cut it quite off, if that it may be done without danger of life, and then to use powerfully drawing Antidotes.

[illustration]

The figure of the Serpent Haemorrhous.

CHAP. XVIIII. Of the Serpent called Seps.

THe Serpent Seps is so called, because it causeth the part which it bites, forthwith to putre∣fie, by reason of the cruel malignity of its poison. It is not much unlike the Haemorrhous but that it curls or twines up the tail in divers circles. Pausanias writes that this serpent is of an ash colour, a broad head, small neck, big belly, writhen tail, and as he goes, he runs aside like a crab; But his skin is variegated and spotted with several colours, like to Tapistry. By the cruelty of his caustick and putrefying venom, he burns the part which he hath bit, with most bitter pain; he causeth the shedding of the hairs, and as Aetius addeth, the wound at the first casteth forth manifest blood, but within a little while after, stinking filth. The putrefied affected parts wax white, and the body all over becomes of the colour of that scurf, which is termed Alphos so that by the wickedness of this putrefactive poison, not only the spirits are resolved, but also the whole bo∣dy consumed, as by fire, a pestilent carbuncle. and other putrid tumors, arising from an hot and hu∣mid or suffocating constitution of the air. Now for the remedies, they must be such as are for∣merly prescribed against the bitings of a viper.

[illustration]

The figure of the Serpent Seps.

CHAP. XIX. Of the Basiliske or Cockatrice.

THe Basilisk far exceeds all kinds of Serpents in the curstness of its poyson. Therefore it is affirmed by Nicander, that into what place soever he comes, other venomous creatures do forthwith flie thence, for that none of them can so much as endure his hissing; for he is thought to kill all things even with this, and not with his biting and touch only; besides, if any of them hasten to get any meat or drink, and perceive that the Basilisk is not far from thence, he flies back, and neglects the getting of nourishment necessary for life. Galen writes, that the Basilisk is a yellowish Serpent, with a sharp head, and three risings distinguished with white spots, and rising up in form of a Crown, by reason whereof he is stilled the King of Serpents. Cer∣tainly the violence of his poyson in killing men is so great, that he is therefore thought to kill men, and other creatures by his sight only. Solinus affirms, that the body of a Basilisk hath won∣drous faculties. Wherefore the inhabitants of Pergamum, in ancient times, gave a mighty price for one, to hang upon the joists of the temple of Apollo, so to drive away the Spiders and Birds, lest they should weave their webs, or the other build their nests in that sacred place. Verily no ra∣venous creature will touch their carkcass; but if constrained by hunger, they do touch it, then they forthwith fall down dead in the same place: and this happens not only by eating their body, but also by devouring of the bodies of such beasts as are killed by their bitings. They kill the trees and shrubs by which they pass, not only by their touch, but even with their breath. Among the we∣stern Aethiopians is the fountain Nigris, near which there is a Serpent called Catablepas, small in body, and slow, having a great head; which it scarce can carry, but that it lies alwaies upon the ground, otherwise it would kill abundance of people, for it forthwith kills all that sees the eies thereof, the Basilisk hath the same force; he is bred in the province of Cyrene, of the length of some twelve fingers, with a white spot in his head, resembling a crown; he chaseth away all serpents with his hiss: Weasels are the destruction of such monsters: th••s it pleased nature, that nothing should be without its equal; they assail them in their dens, being easily known by the bar∣renness or consumption of the soil. These kill them also by their sent, and they die, and the sight of nature is ended: thus nature to the magnanimous Lion, lest there should be nothing which he might fear, hath opposed the weak creature the Cock, by whose crowing only he is terrified and put to flight. Erasistratus writes, that a golden yellowness affects the bitten part of such as are hurt by a Basilisk, but a blackness and tumor possesseth the rest of the body, all the flesh of the muscles within a while after falling away piece-meal. An antidote against this must be made of a dram of Castoreum, dissolved in wine and drunken, or in the juice of poppy. But Aetius thinks it super∣flous to write remedies against the Basilisk, when as the sight and hearing only kills such as either see or hear her.

[illustration]

The figure of a Basilisk.

CHAP. XX. Of the Salamander.

THe Salamander kills not only such as it bites, by making a venomous impression, but it also infects the fruits and herbs over which it creeps, with a spittle or gross moisture which sweats out of all the body, to the great danger of the health and life of such as eat these things at unawares: wherefore it need not seem strange, which is received by some late wri∣ters, that some families have all died by drinking water out of the pits, whereinto a Salamander by accident was fallen. For if it shall creep upon a tree, it infects all the fruit with the qualities of cold and moist poison, wherein it yields not to Aconite.

Aetius writes, that such as are infected with the poison of a Salamander, certain parts of their body grow livid, so that they fall away often, being putrefied. At the first there appear white spots, over the body, then red, after wards black with putrefaction; and the falling away of the hairs

The cure is, to procure vomit, to loose the belly with a glyster, and to give them Treacle and Mithridate in potions. Avicen prescribes the same things against this kind of poison as against o∣pium, by reason of the cold nature of them both; the proper antidote is turpentine, styrax, net∣tle seeds, and cypress-leaves. Dioscorides writes, that the Salamander is a kind of Lizard, dull, va∣riegated, and which is falsly reputed not to be burnt by fire. But Pliny saith she is so cold, that she extinguisheth the fire by her touch only, being laied upon hot coles. On the contrary, Mat∣thiolus saith, that cast into a great flame, they are quickly consumed. It is easie out of Actiu•• to reconcile these disagreeing opinions. This creature, saith he, passeth through a burning flame, and is not hurt, the flame dividing it self, and giving her way, but if she continue any time in the fire, the cold humor being consumed in her, she is burnt. Now the Salamander is black, variega∣ted, with yellow spots, star-fashion.

[illustration]

The figure of a Salamander.

CHAP. XXI. Of the Torpedo.

THe Torpedo hath his name from the effect, by reason that by his touch and power the mem∣bers become torpid and numme; in muddy shoars it lives upon fish, which the catcheth by craft. For lying in the mud, she so stupefies those that are nigh her, that she easily preys upon them; she hath the same power over men, for she sends a numness not only into the arm of the fisher-man, but also over all his body, although his fishers pole be between them.

[illustration]

The effigies of a Torpedo.

CHAP. XXII. Of the bitings of Asps.

THe 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, 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: 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, 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, 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. 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, 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.

CHAP. XXIII. Of the biting of a Snake.

I Have thought good in a true history to deliver the virulent malignity of the bite of a Snake, and the remedies thereof. When as King Charls the ninth was at Moulins, Mounsieur le Feure the Kings Physician, and I were called to cure the Cook of the Lady of Castelophers. Who gathering hops in a hedg to make a sallet, was bit on the hand by a snake that there lay hid, he putting his hand to his mouth; sucked the wound to ease the pain by sucking forth the venom: But his tongue forthwith swelled so big, that he could not speak his mind: besides, his whole arm, even to his shoulder, was in like sort much swelled, his pain was so vehement, that it hath made him swound twice in my presence, his face was wan and livid like to a dead body; and though I despai∣red of his recovery, yet not suffering him to be quite forsaken, I washed his mouth with Treacle dissolved in white wine, and gave him some thereof to drink, adding thereto some aqua vitae. I opened his swoln arm with many and deep scarifications, especially in the place where he was hurt I suffered the blood which was wholly serous and sanious, to slow more plentifully, I washed the wounds with treacle and mithridate dissolved in aqua vitae, and then I put him exceeding warm in bed, procuring sweat, and making him to lie awake, lest sleep should draw the poison inwards to the entrails. I by these means so far prevailed, that on the day after he was freed from all his ma∣lign symptoms. Therefore I judged, it only remained for a perfect cure, that the wound should be long kept open and washed with treacle; neither was I deceived, for within a few daies he was perfectly recovered.

CHAP. XXIV. Of the bitings of Toads.

THough Toads want teeth, 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, 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. 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. 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. 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. 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.

CHAP. XXV. Of the Stinging of a Scorpion.

A Scorpion is a small creature with a round body in form of an egg, with many feet, and a long tail consisting of many joynts, the last whereof is thicker, and a little longer then the rest, at the very end thereof is a sting it casts, in some two, hollow and replete with cold poyson, the which by the sting, it casts into the obvious body; it hath five legs on each side for∣ked with strong claws not unlike to a Crab or Lobster, but the two foremost are bigger then the rest; they are of a blackish or sooy colour, they go aside, aside; and oft-times fasten themselves with their mouths and feet so fast to them, that they can scarce be plucked there-hence. There be some who have wings like the wings of Locusts, wasting the corn, and all green things with their biting and burning. Such are unknown in France. These flie in divers countries, like winged Ants. This is likely to be true by that which Matthiolus writes, that the husband-men in Castile in Spain, in digging the earth oft-times finde a swarm of Scorpions, which betake themselves thi∣ther against winter. Plinie writes, that Scorpions laid waste a certain part of Ethiopia, by cha∣sing away the inhabitants. The Antients made divers kinds of Scorpions, according to their va∣riety or difference of colours, some being yellow, others brown, reddish, ash-coloured, green, whitish black, dusky; some have wings, and some are without. They are more or lesse deadly, accor∣ding to the countries they inhabit. In Tuscany and Scithia they are absolutely deadly, but at Trent, and in the Iland Pharos their stinging is harmless. The place stung by a Scorpion presently be∣gins to be inflamed, it waxeth red, grows hard, and swells, and the patient is again pained; he is one while hot, another while cold; labour presently wearies him, and his pain is some-whiles more, and som-whiles less, he sweats and shakes as if he had an Ague, his hair stands upright, pale∣ness dis-colours his members, and he feels a pain, as if he were pricked with needles over all his skin, winde flieth out backwards; he strives to vomit and go to stool, but doth nothing; he is mo∣lested with a continual fever and swounding, which at length proves deadly, unless it be remedied. Dioscorides writes, that a Scorpion beaten and laid to the place where he is stung, is a remedy thereto; as also eaten rosted to the same purpose. It is an usual, but certain remedy to annoint the stung place with the oil of Scorpions. There be some who drop into the wound the milky juice of figs; others apply calamint beaten, other-some use barly-meal mixed with a decoction of Rue. Snails beaten together with their shells, and laid thereon, presently asswage pain. Sulphur vivum mixed with Turpentine, and applied plaster-wise, is good; as also the leaves of Rue beaten, and laid thereto. In like sort also the herb Scorpioides, which thence took its name, is convenient, as also a briony-root boiled and mixed with a little sulphur and old oil. Dioscorides affirms, Agarick in powder, or taken in wine, to be an Antidote against poysons; verily it is exceeding good against the stingings or bitings of Serpents. Yet the continual use of a bath stands in stead of all these, as also sweat, and drinking wine some-what allaid. Now Scorpions may be chased away by a fumi∣gation of Sulphur and Galbanum; also oil of Scorpions dropped into their holes, hinders then

coming forth. Juice of raddish doth the same. For they will never touch one that is besmear∣ed with the juice of radish or garlick, yea verily, they will not dare to come near him.

CHAP. XXVI. Of the stinging of Bees, Wasps, &c.

BEes, Wasps, Hornets, and such like, cause great pain in the skin wounded by their stinging, by reason of the curstness of the venom which they send into the body by the wound, yet are they seldom deadly, but yet if they set upon a man by multitudes, they may come to kill him. For thus they have sometimes been the death of horses: Wherefore because such as are stung by these, by reason of the cruelty of pain, may think they are wounded by a more virulent and deadly creature, I think it not amiss to set down what signs follow upon their stingings. Great pain presently ariseth, which continueth untill the sting left in the part is taken forth, the part becomes red and swoln, and there riseth a push or little blister. The cure is, forthwith to suck the wound very hard, and thereby to draw forth the stings, which if they cannot thus be gotten out, the place, if nothing hinder, is to be cut, or else temper ashes with leven or oil, and so ap∣ply them: the part also may be very conveniently put into hot water, and there fomented for an hours space, and at length washed in sea-water. Cresses beaten and applied, asswage the pain and discuss the humor causing the tumor. Ox-dung macerated in oil and vineger, and applied hot, doth the same. There are some who apply to the part the same creatures beaten, as we formerly said of Scorpions; beans chawed and laid to the part asswage pain. Vinegar, hony and salt appli∣ed exceeding hot, are good, if besides, you dip a cloth therein, and lay it upon the place; sul∣phur vivum tempered with spittle hath the same effect. The milky juice of unripe figs incorpora∣ted with hony, is judged very effectual, but it is much the better, mixed with treacle. Wasps will not sting nor bite such as anoint their bodies with the juice of mallows mixed with oil. They may be quickly chased away with the fume of brimstone and such like things. A wasp is said, if she find a viper dead, to dip her sting in the others poison, and thence men learned to empoison the heads of their arrows. The rough and hairy worms, which are commonly called Bear-worms, especially those which breed about a Pine-tree, cause great itching, redness and swelling in the part which they bite, touch, or grate upon very hard. A remedy hereof is onions beaten with vi∣negar, and the rest of the things formerly mentioned.

CHAP. XXVII. Of the bite of a Spider.

SPiders weave webs with various art, yet in these they alwaies make a lurking hole, to lie in wait to catch the intrapped flies, and so to prey upon them. There are many sorts of Spiders; one is termed Rhagium, round, and like a black-berry, whence it taketh the name; it hath a very small mouth under the midst of the belly, and most short feet, as if they were imperfect, her bite is as painful as the sting of a Scorpion. Another is called Lupus, or the Wolf-Spider, because she doth not only lie in wait to catch Flies, but also Bees and Wasps, and all such things as may flee into her Web. The third is named Myrmecion, it is larger then an Ant, but headed like one, the body thereof is black, and hath white spots or streaks running towards the back. The fourth kinde may be called Vesparium, in other things resembling a Wasp, but that it wants the wings; of a reddish colour, and living only on herbs. The Antients have thought their bitings to be venomous. Now their poison is therefore thought to be cold, because the symp∣toms thence arisiing are winde in the belly, refrigerations of the extreme parts of the body, numness in the bitten part, with sense of cold and shaking. The wound must forthwith be wa∣shed with very hot vineger; then must you lay thereto Onions, and such like things beaten, then procure sweat by art, as by baths and stoves; yet nothing is more effectual then treacle and mithridate.

CHAP. XXVIII. Of Cantharides and Buprestes.

CAntharides shine as it were with a golden colour, acceptable to the eie, by reason of the commixture of a blewish or greenish colour therewith, yet their smell is ungrateful. They are hot and dry in the fourth degree, and so caustick, corrosive and venomous, not only by reason of their caustick quality, but because of a secret antipathy, which they naturally have against the urinary parts; which effects they produce not only if they be taken by the mouth into the body but even applied outwardly to raise blisters. Such as have taken them inwardly, have the taste of pitch, or some thing like cedria, or rosin of Cedars in their mouths; it is likely that this tast proceeds from the humors dissolved by the putredinous heat in the stomach, guts, and liver, and the vapors that there-hence arise; for taken inwardly, they gnaw, exulcerate and burn all parts from the mouth even to the belly, whence ensueth a bloody-flux, excrements flowing out, which resemble the

washings of new-killed flesh. Then follows a burning fever, vertigo, madness, restlesness, the bram being disturbed by the plenty of vapors lifted up from the corroded and burnt parts and humors, which therefore when as they appear, you may know the affect is uncurable. In the parts ap∣pointed for the receiving and conveyance of the urine they cause a burning inflammation, excoria∣tion, strong and continual erection of the yard, whence ensues a bloody and painful strangury, in stead of which there oftimes happens or succeeds an Ischurie, or stoppage of the water, whence a gangrene and mortification of the part, and so in conclusion of the whole body besides. When as Cantharides are taken inwardly, the remedy is vomiting, drinking of Cows-milk to correct the heat and driness, good also to mitigate the ulcers, and stay the dysenterie; it is good also to inject it into the guts by glister. In stead thereof salle••-oil, or oil of sweet almonds is convenient to retund the acrimony of the poison fastned to the sides of the stomach. The rest and whole cure of this poison you may learn by the following history. A certain whore, the better to enjoy the company of a young Abbot who loved her, entertained him with a banquet, and sprinkled divers of their cakes with the powder of Cantharides, to incite him the more to venery. The next day, when as the Abbot cast forth pure blood at his fundament and yard which stood very stiffe, he cal∣led some Physicians, who presently by the fore-mentioned symptoms, which were all very appa∣rent in him, understood that he had Cantharides given him: wherefore they purged him upwards with vomits, and downwards by glisters made with French-barly, Rice, a decoction of mallows, seeds of line and faenugreek, oil of lillies, goats-suet: then presently after they gave him a little treacle with a good quantity of conserve of violets, which might draw the poison outwards, they gave him milk to drink, and caused him to use injections into the urinary passage and guts made of refrigerating things, as the juice of lettuce, pu••slain, cucumbers, gourds, melons; of tough and viscid things; that so they might stick the more easily and longer to the ulcerated parts, as the mucilages of psilium, mallows, quince-seeds, syrup of water-lillies, poppies and violets, fresh butter, and oil of sweet almonds; and they made him drink only barly-water, or the common ptisan; they let him feed on veal, kid, and pork boiled with lettuce, purslain, barly and violet leaves, the which by their humidity, might relax the belly, and by their toughnesse lenifie the roughness of asperity; they applied also refrigerating things to the loins, share and perinoeum to asswage the heat of the urine. At length they put him into a warm bath, and to conclude, they left nothing unattempted to draw forth or weaken the poison. But all their endeavors were in vain for the Abbot died, not being destitute of remedies conveniently prescribed, but overcome by the contumacious malignity of the poison. The Physicians pains had far better success in a cer∣tain Gentlewoman against this kind of affect; her whole face was deformed with red, fiery and filthy pullies, so that all shunned her company as if she had been troubled with a Leprosie, and were ready to forbid her the society of men; she came to Paris, and calling Hollerius and Greal∣mus Physicians, me and Caballus being Surgeons, she made a grievous complaint, and besought us earnestly for some remedy against so great a deformity of her face; having diligently considered her case, we pronounced her free from a Leprosie; but we judged it fit to apply to her whole face a veficatory of Cantharides, three or four hours after the application whereof, the medicine being come to work its effect, her bladder began to burn exceedingly, and the neck of her womb to swell with gripings, continual vomitings, making of water and scowring, a troublesome agi∣tation of the body and members, a burning and absolutely fiery fever. I forthwith called the Phi∣sicians, it was decreed that she should drink wine plentifully, and that it should be injected by the fundament into the guts, and by the urinary passage into the bladder and the neck of the womb, and that she should keep her self, untill the pain were mitigated, in a warm bath made of the decoction of Line-seeds, the roots and leavs of mallows, marsh-mallows, violets, he••bane, purslain and lettuce; and her loins and genitals should be anointed with unguentum rosatum and populeon stirred and incorporated with oxyorate. By these means, all the symptoms were mitiga∣ted. Her face in the interim rose all in a blister, and much purulent matter came out thereof, and so the deformity, wherewith she was formerly troubled, vanished away for ever, so that within a while after she was married, and had many children, and is yet living in perfect health.

Buprestes also are of the kind of Cantharides, being like unto them in shape and faculty. If an Ox or sheep or any other creature shall in feeding devour one of them, he will presently swell up like a Tun; whence also they take their name: if a man take them inwardly, he shall endure the like symptoms as in taking Cantharides, and over and besides, both his stomach and his whole belly shall be wonderfully puffed up, as if he had a Dropsie. It is probable that this inflation like a tympany happeneth by humors diffused and resolved into vapors by the fiery acrimony of the venom: They are to be cured after the same manner as such as have drunk Cantharides, Lastly, as in all other poisons which are taken into the body, so also here, if the poison taken by the mouth be thought as yet to be in the stomach, you must then procure vomit. If it be gotten into the guts, then must it be drawn away by glisters; if diffused over all the body, then must you make use of such things as may drive the poison forth from the center to the circumference, such as are baths and stoves.

CHAP. XXIX. Of Hors-leeches.

HOrs-leeches are also venomous, especially such as live in muddy stinking ditches, 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. 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.

CHAP. XXX. Of the Lampron.

THe Lampron, called in Latine Muraena, is a sea-fish something in shape, resembling a Lamprey, but she is bigger and thicker, and hath a larger mouth, with teeth long, sharp and bending inwards, she is of a dusky colour, distinguished with whitish spots, and some two cubits length: the Antients had them in great esteem, because they yield good nourishment and may be kept long alive, in pools or ponds, and so taken as the owners please, to serve their ta∣ble, as it is sufficiently known by the history of the Roman Crassus. She by her biting induceth the same symptoms as the viper, and it may be helped by the same means. Verily the Lampron hath such familiarity with the Viper, that leaving her natural element the sea, she leapeth ashoar, and seeketh out the Viper in her den to join with her in copulation, as it is written by Aelian and Nicander.

CHAP. XXXI. Of the Draco-marinus, or sea-Dragon.

THe sea-Dragon, called by the French viva, for his vivacity (and by the English a Viver, or as some say, a Qua-viver) because being taken in fishing, and drawn out of the sea, she is said long to survive. Her pricks are poisonous, but chiefly those that are at the edges of her gills. Which is the reason that Cooks cut off their heads before they serve them up to the table; and at Roven the fishermen lay them not upon their stalls to sell before they have cut off their head. The wounded part of such as are hurt, pains them much with inaflmmation, a fever swouning, gangrene and deadly mortification, unless it be quickly withstood. Not very long ago the wife of Mounsieur Fromaget, Secretary of the requests, was wounded with a prick of this fish in her middle finger, there followed a swelling and redness of the part, without much pain; but perceiving the swelling to encrease, being made more wary by the mischance of her neighbor the wife of Mounsieur Bargelonne, Lieutenant particular in the Chastelet of Paris, who died not long before by the like accident being neglected, sent for me; I understanding the cause of her disease, laid to her pained finger and her whole hand, besides a pultis made of a great Onion rosted under the coles, leaven, and a little treacle. The next day I wished her to dip her whole hand into warm water, so to draw forth the poison, then I divided the skin about it with much scarification but only superficiarily; to the gashes I applied Leeches, which by sucking drawing a sufficient quantity of blood, I put thereto treacle dissolved in aqua vitae. The next day the swelling was asswaged, and the pain eased, and within a few daies she was perfectly well. Dioscorides writes, that this fish divided in the midst, and applied to the wound, will cure it.

CHAP. XXXII. Of the Paffinaca marina, or Sting-Ray, which some call the Fierce-claw.

SUch as are stung by a Sting-Ray (as Aetius hath written) the place of the wound doth ma∣nifestly appear; there ensues thereon lasting pain and the numness of the whole body. And seeing that it hath a sharp and firm sting, whereby the nerves by the deepness of the stroke may be wounded, it so happens that some die forthwith, their whole bodies suffering convulsions. Moreover, it will kill even the very trees into whose roots it is fastned. Yet Pliny affirms, that it is good against the pain of the teeth, if the gums be scarified therewith, yea, and it being made into powder with white Hellebore, or of it self, will cause teeth to fall out with∣out any pain, or any violence offered to them. This fish is good meat, the head and tail excepted; some of them have two stings, other-some but one; these stings are sharp like a saw with the teeth turned towards their heads. Oppianns writes, that their stings are more poisonous then the Persians arrows, for the force of the poison remaineth, the fish being dead; which will kill not only living creatures, but plants also. Fisher-men, when they catch this fish, presently spoil him of his sting, lest they should be hurt therewith. But if by chance they be hurt therewith, then take they forth his liver, and lay it to the wound; furthermore, the fish being burnt and made into powder, is the true Antidote of his wound. The Sting-Ray lives in muddy places near the shoar, upon the fishes that he hunteth and catcheth with his sting, having the teeth thereof turned towards his head for the same purpose. He is not unlike a Ray, and I have here given you his figure.

[illustration]

The figure of a Sting-Ray.

CHAP. XXXIII. Of the Lepus Marinus, or Sea-hare.

PLiny calls the Sea-hare, a mass or deformed piece of flesh. Galen saith it is like a Snail ta∣ken forth of the shell. It is exceedingly poisonous in the judgment of the Antients, wherefore it is not amiss to set down the description of it, lest we might eat it at una∣wares, too earnestly view it, or smell thereto, as also that we may use it against the poison there∣of; it is an inhabitant not only of the sea, but also of lakes of sea-water, especially such as are mud∣dy; it is of the same colour as the hair of the land-hare is, it hath a hole in the head, out of which he putteth a certain piece of flesh, and plucks it back again when as he is seen, Paulus, Aetius, Pli∣ny, Galen and Nicander are of one opinion, and agree in this, that if a woman big with child do too earnestly look upon one, she will vomit, and presently after abort. They which have drunk this poison, saith Dioscorides, are troubled with pain in the belly, and their urine is stopped. If they do make water, then is it bloody; they run down with stinking sweat, which smells of fish; a chole∣rick vomiting sometimes mixed with blood ensues thereon.

Aetius writes, that all their bodies turn yellow, their faces swell, and their feet, but chiefly their genital member, which is the cause they cannot make water freely. Galen writes, that it is the property of the Sea-hare to exulcerate the lungs. Their antidote is Asses-milk, muskadine, or honied-wine continually drunken, or a decoction of the roots and leavs of Mallows. It is good for the falling away of the hair. I have here given you the figure thereof out of Rendeletius his book of Fishes.

[illustration]

The figure of a Sea-Hare.

CHAP. XXXIV. Of the poyson of Cats.

NOt only the brain of a Cat, being eaten, is poysonous and deadly to man, but also their hair, their breath, yea and their very presence to some prove deadly. For although any hair devoured unawares, may be enough to choak one, by stopping the instru∣ments or respiration; yet the hairs of a Cat by a certain occult property, are judged most dange∣rous in this case: besides also, their breath is infected with a certain hurtful malignity. For Mat∣thiolus saith, that he knew some, who being so delighted with Cats, that they would never go to bed without them have by so often drawing in the air with their breath, fallen into a consum∣ption of the lungs, which occasioned their death. Moreover, it is manifest that the very sight of their eies is hurtful, which appears by this, that some but seeing or hearing them, presently fall down in a swound; yet I would not judge that to happen by the malicious virulency of the Cat, but also by the peculiar nature of the party, and a quality generated with him, and sent from hea∣ven. When as, saith Matthiolus, a certain German in winter-time, came with us into a stove to supper, whereas were divers of our acquaintance, a certain woman, knowing this mans nature, lest that he should see her kitling which she kept, and so should go away in chafe, she shut her up in a cup-board in the same chamber: But for all that he did not see her, neither heard her cry, yet within a little space, when he had drawn in the air, infected with the breath of the Cat, that quality of temperament, contrary, or enemy to Cats, being provoked, he began to sweat, to look pale, und to crie out (all of us admiring it) Here lies a Cat in some corner or other; neither could he be quiet till the Cat was taken away. But such as have eaten the brains of a Cat, are taken with often Vertigoes, and now and then become foolish and mad: they are helped by procuring vomit, and taking the Antidote against this poyson, that is, half a scruple of Musk, dissolved and drunk in wine. There be some who prescribe the confection Diamoscum to be taken every morning four hours before meat. By this you may gather, that it is not so fabulous that the com∣mon sort report, that Cats will kill or harm children; for lying to their mouths with the weight of their whole bodies, they hinder the passage forth of the fuliginous vapors, and the motion of the chest, and infect and stifle the spirits of tender infants, by the pestiferous air and exhalation which they send forth.

CHAP. XXXV. Of certain Poysonous Plants.

HAving described the poysons that come from living creatures, I come to speak of such as are from Plants, beginning with the Sardonian herb, which is also called Apium risus: this is a kinde of Ranunculus, or Crow-foot: (and, as it is thought, the round-leaved water Crow foot, called Marsh-crow-foot, or Spear-wort) it taketh away the understanding of such as have eaten thereof, and by a certain distention of the nerves, contracts the cheeks, so that it makes them look as if they laughed; from this affect came that proverbial speech of the Sar∣donian laughter, taken in evil part. His Bezoar, as one may term it, is the juice of Balm.

The juice, fruit, and substance of Napellus taken inwardly, killeth a man the same day, or at the furthest in three dayes: yea, and such as escape the deadly force thereof by the speedy and conve∣nient use of Antidotes, fall into an hectick fever, or consumption, and become subject to the fal∣ling-sickness, as Avicen affirmeth. And hence it is, that barbarous People poyson their arrows therewith: For the lips are forthwith inflamed, and the tongue so swells, that by reason thereof, it cannot be contained in the mouth, but hangs out with great horrour; their eies are inflamed, and stand forth of their head, and they are troubled with a Vertigo and swounding, they become so weak that they cannot stir their legs, they are swoln and puffed in their bodies, the violence of Poyson is so great. The Antidote thereof is a certain little creature like a

Mouse, which is bred, and lives on the root of Napellus, being dried and drunk in ••owcer to the weight of two crams. In want hereof, you may use the seed of Raddish or Turnips to drink, and annoint the body also with oil of Scorpions.

Doricinum and Solanum Manicum, or deadly Night-shade, are not much different in their mor∣tal symptoms or effects. Doricinum being drunk, resembleth milk in taste, it causeth continual hicke••••ing, it troubleth the tongue with the weight of the humor, it causeth blood to be cast forth or the mouth, and certain mucous matter out of the belly, like that which cometh away in the bloody flux. A remedy hereto are all shell-fishes, as well crude as rosted, also Sea-Lob∣t••••s and Crabs, and the broth or liquor wherein they are boyled, being drunk. Now the root of Solanum Manicum drunk in the weight of one dram in wine, causeth vain and not unpleasing ima∣ginations, but double this quantity causes a distraction or alienation of the minde for three dayes; out four times so much kills. The remedies are the same as there prescribed against Do∣ricinum.

Hen-bane drunken, or otherwise taken inwardly by the mouth, causeth an alienation of the minde of like drunkenness; this also is accompanied with an agitation of the body, and exsoluti∣tion of the spirits like swounding. But amongst others, this is a notable symptom, that the pa∣tients so dote, that they think themselvs to be whipped: whence their voice becomes so various, that somtimes they bray like an Ass or Mule, neigh like an Horse, as Avicen writes. The Anti∣dote is pistick nuts eaten in great plenty, treacle also and mithridate dissolved in sack, also worm∣wood, rue and milk.

Of mushroms, some are deadly and hurtful of their own kinde and nature, as those, which bro∣ken presently become of divers colours, and putrefie: (such, as Avicen saith, those are which be found of a grayish or blewish colour) others though not hurtfull in quality, yet eaten in greater mea∣sure then is fitting, become deadly; for seeing by nature they are very cold and moist, and conse∣quently abound with no small viscosity, as the excrementitious phlegm of the earth or trees where∣on they grow, they suffocate and extinguish the heat of the body, as overcome by their quantity, and strangle as if one were hanged, and lastly kill. Verily I cannot ch••se, but pitty Gour∣mondizers, who though they know that Mushroms are the seminary and gate of death, yet do they with a greet deal of do, most greadily devour them; I say, pittying them, I will shew them, and teach them the art, how they may feed upon this so much defited dish, without the endan∣gering of their health. Know therefore that Mushroms may be eaten without danger, if that they be first boyled with wild pears: but if you have no wilde pears, you may supply that defect with others which are the most harsh, either newly gathered, or dried in the sun. The leaves, as also the bark of the same tree, are good, especially of the wilde; for pears are their Antidote: yet Conciliator gives another, to wit, garlick eaten crude, whereunto in like sort vinegar may be fitly added, so to cut and attenuate the tough, viscous and gross humors, heaped up, and in danger to stran∣gle one by the too plentiful eating of Mushroms, as it is delivered by Galen.

Ephemerum, which some call Colchicum or Bulbus sylvestris, that is, medow saffron, being taken inwardly, causeth an itching over all the body, no otherwise then those that are nettled, or rub∣bed with the juice of a Squill. Inwardly they feel gnawings, their stomach is troubled with a great heaviness, and in the disease encreasing, there are strakes of blood mixed with the excre∣ments. The Antidote thereof is womans milk, Asses or Cows-milke drunken warm, and in a large quantity,

Mandrag taken in great quantity, either the root or fruit causeth great sleepines, sadness, reso∣lution and languishing of the body, so that after many scritches and gripings, that patient falls asleep in the same posture as he was in, just as if he was in a Lethargy. Wherefore in times past they gave Mandrag to such as were to be dismembred. The apples, when as they are ripe, and their seeds taken forth, may be safely eaten, for being green and with their seeds in them, they are deadly. For there ariseth an intolerable heat, which burns the whole surface of the body, the tongue and mouth wax dry, by reason whereof they gape continually, so take it in the cold air; and in which case unless they be presently helped, they die with convulsions. But they may easily be helped, if they shall presently drink such things as are convenient therefore. Amongst which, in Conciliator•• opinion, excell raddishseeds eaten with salt and bread for the space of three dayes. Sreesing shall be procured, if the former remedy do not quickly refresh them, and a decoction of Coriander or Pennie-roy all in fair water shall be given them to drink warm.

The ungrateful taste of the juice of black poppy, which is termed Opium, as also of Mandrag, ea∣sily hinders them from being put into meat or drink, but that they may be discerned, and chiefly for that neither of them can kill, unless they be taken in a good quantity. But because there is danger, lest they be given in greater quantity then is fitting by the ignorance of Physicians, or A∣pothecaries, you may by these signs finde the error.

There ensues heavy sleep, with a vehement itching, so that the patient oft-times is forced there∣by to cast off his dull sleep wherein he lay, yet he keeps his eie-lids shut being unable to open them. By this agitation there flows out sweat, which smells of ••ri••m, the body waxeth pale the

lips burn, the jawbone is relaxed. they breath little and seldom. When as their eies wax livid, unless they be drawn aside, and that they are depressed from their orb, we must know that death is at hand. The remedy against this is two drams of the powder of Castoreum given in wine.

Hemlock drunken, causeth Vertigos, troubleth the minde, so that the patients may be taken for mad men; it darkneth the sight, causeth hicketting, and benums the extreme parts, & lastly strangles with convulsions, by suppressing or stopping the breath of the Artery. Whereof at the first, as in other poysons. you must endeavor to expell it by vomit; then inject glysters, to expell that which is got into the guts; then use wine without mixture, which is very powerful in this case. Peter Aponensis thinks the Bezoar or Antidote thereof, to be a potion of two drams of Treacle, with a decoction of Dictamnus or Gentian in wine. He which further desires to inform himself of the effects of Hemlock. let him read Matthiolus his commentary upon Dioscorides, where he treats of the same subject.

Aconitum called of Aconis a town of the Periendines, whereas it plentifully grows, According to Matthiolus, it kills Wolves, Foxes, Dogs, Cats, Swine, Panthers, Leopards, and all wilde beasts, mixed with flesh, and so devoured by them, but it kills mice by onely smelling thereto. Scor∣pions, if touched by the root of Aconite, grow numme and torpid, and so die thereof; arrows or darts dipped therein, make incureable wounds. Those who have drunk Aconite, their tongue forthwith waxeth, sweet with a certain astriction, which within a while turneth to bitterness; it causeth a Vertigo, and shedding of tears, and a heaviness or straitness of the chest and parts about the heart; it makes them break wind downwards, and makes a••l the body to tremble. Pliny attri∣butes so great celerity and violence to this poyson, that if the genitals of female creatures bee touched therewith, it will kill the same day; there is no presenter remedy then speedy vomiting after the poyson is taken. But Conciliator thinks Aristolochia to be the Antidote thereof. Yet some have made it useful for man by experimenting it against the stinging of Scorpions, being gi∣ven warm in wine. For it is of such a nature, that it killeth the party unless it finde something in him to kill, for then it strives therewith as if it had found an adversary. But this fight is onely when as it finds poyson in the body; and this is marvelous that both the poysons being of their own nature deadly, should die together, that man may by that means live. There are divers sorts thereof, one whereof hath a flower like an helmet, as if it were armed to mans destruction; but the other here delineated hath leavs like to sows-bread, or a cucumber, and a root like the tail of a Scorpion.

[illustration]

The figure of a Certain kind of Aconite.

Trees also are not without poyson, as the Yew and Walnut tree may witness; Cattle if they feed on the leaves of Yew, are killed therewith. But men, if they sleep under it, or sit under the sha∣dow thereof, are hurt therewith, and oft-times die thereof. But if they eat it, they are taken with a bloody flux, and a coldness over all their bodies, and a kind of strangling or stoppage of their breath. All which things the Yew causeth. not so much by an elementary and cold quality, as by a certain occult malignity, whereby it cor∣rupteth the humors, and shaveth the guts. The same things are good against this, as we have set down against Hemlock; Nicander affirms, that good wine being drunken, is a remedy thereto. There is also malignity in a Wall-nut-tree, which Grevinus affirms that he found by experience, whilst he unawares sate under one, and slept there in the midst of Summer; For waking, he had a sence of cold over all his body, a heaviness of his head, and pain that lasted six dayes. The remedies are the same as against the Yew.

CHAP. XXXVI. Of Bezoar, and Bezoartick medicines.

FOR that we have made mention of Bezoar, in treating of the remedies of poysons, I judge I shall not do amiss, If I shall explain, what the word means, and the reason thereof. Poy∣son absolutely taken is that which kills by a certain specifick antipathy contrary to our nature. So an Antidote or Counter-poyson is by the Arabians in their mother tongue, termed Bedezahar, as the preservers of life. This word is unknown to the Greeks and Latines, and in use on∣ly with the Arabians and Persians, because the thing it self first came from them, as it is plainly shewed by Garcias ab horto, Physician to the vice-roy of the Indies, in his history of the Spices and Simples of the East-Indies. In Persia (saith he) and a certain part of India is a certain kinde of Goat called Pazain (wherefore in proper speaking, the stone should be termed Pazar, or the word Pazain, that signifies a Goat: but we corruptly term it Bezar or Bezoar) the colour of this beast is commonly reddish, the height thereof indifferent, in whose stomach concretes the ho••e called Bezoar; it grows by little and little about a straw or some such like substance in scales like to the scales of an onion, so that when as the first scale is taken off, the next appears more smooth and shining as you still take them away, the which amongst others, is the sign of good Bezoar and not adulterate. This stone is found in sundry shapes, but commonly it resembles an A••orn or Date-stone; it is sometimes of a sanguin colour, and otherwhiles of a honie-like or yel∣lowish colour, but most frequently of a blackish or dark green, resembling the colour of mad apples, or else of a Civet-Cat. This stone hath no heart nor kernel in the midst, but powder in the cavi∣ty thereof, which is also of the same faculty. Now this stone is light and not very hard, but so that it may easily be scraped or rasped like Alablaster, so that it will dissolve, being long macera∣ted in water; at first it was common amongst us, and of no very great price, because our people who trafficked in Persia, bought it at an easie rate. But after that the faculties thereof were found out, it began to be more rare and dear, and it was prohibited by an Edict from the King of the Country, that nobody should sell a Goat to the stranger-Merchants, unless he first killed him and took forth the stone, and brought it to the King. Of the notes by which the stone is tried, (for there are many counterfeit, brought hither) the first is already declared; the other is, it may be blown up by the breath, like an Oxes hide; for if the winde break through, and do not stay in the density thereof, it is accounted counterfeit. They use it, induced thereto by our example, not onely against poysons, but also against the bites of venomous beasts. The richer sort of the Coun∣try purge twice a year, to wit in March and September; and then, five daies together they take the powder of this stone macerated in Rose-water, the weight of ten grains at a time: for by this remedy they think their youth is preserved, as also the strength of their members. There be some who take the weight of thirty Grains; yet the more wary exceed not twelve grains. The same Author addeth that he useth it with very good success in inveterate melancholick diseases, as the itch, scab, tetters and leprosie; therefore by the same reason it may well be given against a quartane fever. Besides he affirmeth for certain that the powder contained in the midst of the stone, put upon the bites of venomous beasts, presently freeth the patient from the danger of the poyson, as also applied to the pestilent Carbuncles when they are opened, it draws forth the venom. But because the small pox and meazles are familiar in the Indies, and oftimes dange∣rous, it is there given with good success, two grains each day in Rose-water. Matthiolus sub∣scribeth to this opinion of Garcis, witnessing that he hath found it by frequent experience that this stone by much exceeds not onely other simple medicines of this kinde, but also such as are termed theriacalia, and what other Antidotes soever, Hereto also consents Abdanalarach; Wee (saith he) have seen the stone which they call Bezahar, with the sons of Almirama the observer of the Law of the God; with which stone he bought a starely and almost princely house at Corduba.

Some years ago, a certain Gentleman who had one of these stones which he brought out of Spain, bragged before King Charles then being at Clermount in Avern, of the most certain effica∣cy of this stone against all manner of poysons. Then the King asked of mee, whether there were any Antidote which was equally and in like manner prevalent against all poysons? I an∣swered, that nature could not admit it; for neither have all poysons the like effects, neither do they arise from one cause; for some work from an occule and specifick property of their whole nature, others from some elementary quality which is predominant. Wherefore each must be withstood with its proper and contrary Antidote; as to the hot, that which is cold, and to that which assails by an occult propriety of form, another which by the same force may oppugn it, and that it was an easie matter to make trial hereof on such as were condemned to be hanged. The motion pleased the King, there was a Cook brought by the Jailor who was to have been hanged with in a while after for stealing two silver-dishes out of his masters house. Yet the King desired first to know of him, whether he would take the poyson on this condition, that if the Antidote which was predicated to have singular power against all manner of poysons, which should be presently given him after the Poyson, should free him from death, that then he should have his life saved. The Cook answered chearfully, that he was wiling to undergo the hazard, yea, & greater matters, not onely to save his life, but to shun the infamy of the death he was like to be adjudged to: Therefore he then had poyson given him by the Apothecary that then waited, & presently after

the poyson, some of the Bedezahar brought from Spain, which being taken down, within a while after he began to vomit, and to avoid much by stool with grievous torments, and to cry out that his inward parts were burnt with fire. Wherefore being thirsty, and desiring water, they gave it him; an hour after, with the good leave of the Jaylor, I was admitted to him; I find him on the ground going like a beast upon hands and feet, with his tongue thrust forth of his mouth, his eies fiery, vomiting, with store of cold sweats, and lastly, the blood flowing forth by his ears, nose, mouth, fundament and yard. I gave him eight ounces of oil to drink, but it did him no good, for it came too late. Wherefore at length he died with great torment and exclamation, the seventh hour from the time that he took the poyson being scarcely passed. I opened his body in the pre∣sence of the Jaylor and four others, and I found the bottom of his stomach black and dry, as if it had been burnt with a Cauterie; whereby I understood he had sublimate given him; whose force the Spanish Bedezahar could not repress, wherefore the King commanded to burn it.

CHAP. XXXVII. Of Mineral Poysons.

MInerals or metals are either so taken forth of the bowels of the earth, or else from for∣naces. Of these many are poisonous, as arsenick, sublimate, plaster, ceruss, litharge, ver∣degrease, orpiment, filings of Iron, brass, the load-stone, lime and the like. Such as have taken sublimate, the tongue and jaws become straitned and rough, as if they had drunk the juice of unripe services: you cannot amend this asperity with lenitive gargarisms but with labour and time; for assoon as it descends into the stomach, it sticketh to it. Therefore presently after it, frets and exulcerates; it causeth unquenchable thirst, and unexplicable torments; the tongue is swoln, the heart faints, the urine is supprest, the chest can scarce perform the office of breathing, the bel∣ly is griped, and so great pains happen to other extreme parts, that unless they be helped, the patient will die; for presently will grow upon them, unless it be speedily hindered, the devouring and fiery fury of the poyson, rending or eating into the guts and stomach, as if they were feared with an hot iron, and blood floweth out of the ears, nose, mouth, urinary passage and fundament, and then their case is desperate. These and who else soever shall take any corroding poyson, shall be cured with the same remedies, as those that have taken Caentharides.

Verdegreas so stops the instruments of respiration that it strangles such as have taken it. The cure is performed by the same remedies as help those that have taken Arsenick.

Litharge causeth a heaviness in the stomach, suppresseth urine, makes the body swelled and li∣vid. We remedy this, by giving a vomit presently, then after it pigeons-dung mixed in strong wine and so drunken. Peter Aponensis wisheth, to give oil of sweet almonds and figs. Also it is good to give relaxing and humecting glysters, and to annoint the belly with fresh butter, or oil of lillies.

The scales of Brass drunk, by troubling the stomach, cause a casting and scouring. The remedy is, if the patient forthwith vomit, if he enter into a bath made of the decoction of Snails, if he an∣noint his belly and brest with butter or oil of lillies, and inject laxative and humecting glysters.

The Load-stone makes them mad that take it inwardly. The Antidote thereof is the powder of gold and an emerald drunk in strong wine, and glysters of milk and oil of sweet almonds.

The filings of Lead, and the scales or refuse of Iron, cause great torment to such as take them down. The which we help with much milk and fresh butter dissolved therein, or with oil of sweet almonds drawn without fire, with relaxing and humecting glysters used untill the pain be per∣fectly asswaged.

Risagallum, Rose-aker or Rats-bane, because it is of a most hot and dry nature, induces thirst and heat over all the body, and so great colliquation of all the humors, that although the patients by medicines speedily given escape death, yet can they not during the residue of their lives, use their members as they formerly did, being destitute of their strength, by reason of the great driness and contraction of the joints. The Antidote thereof is oil of Pine-kernels speedily given, and that to the quantity of half a pinte; then procure vomit, then give much milk to drink, and glysters of the same, and let them sup up fat broths.

Unquencht. Lime and Auripigmentum, or Orpiment drunk, gnaw the stomach and guts with great tormenting pain, and cause unquenchable thirst, an asperity of the jaws and throat, difficulty of breathing, stopping of the urine, and a bloody flux. They may be helped by oil, fat, humecting, and relaxing things which retund the acrimony by lenitive potions, and such as lubricate the belly; as also by creams, and the mucilages of some seeds, as with a decoction of the seeds of Line, mal∣lows, marsh-mallows and other such things set down at large in the cure of Cantharides.

These exceeding acrid and strong waters wherewith Gold-smiths and Chymists separate gold from silver, being taken into the body, are hard to cure, because they are forthwith diffused over all the body, first burning the throat and stomach. Yet it may be helped by the means prescribed against unquenched Lime and Orpiment.

Ceruss causeth hicketting and a cough, makes the tongue dry, and the extreme parts of the bo∣dy numme with cold, the eies heavy to sleep. The patients very often in the midst of the day see some vain phantasie or apparition, which indeed is nothing; they make a black and oftentimes bloody water, they die strangled unless they be helped. The Antidote, in the opinion of Aetius and Avicen, is Scammony drunk in new wine, or hony and wine, and other diuretick things, and such things as procure vomit, and purge by stool.

Plaster, because it concreteth and becommeth stony in the stomach, causeth strangulation, by straitning and stopping the instruments that serve for breathing. The patients receive cure by the same remedies, as those who have eaten mushroms, or drunk Ceruss: you must add Goos-grease in glysters, and annoint the belly with oil of lillies and butter.

CHAP. XXXVIII. Of Quick silver.

QUick-silver is so called because it resembleth silver in the colour, and is in perpetual mo∣tion, as if it had a spirit or living soul. There is a great controversie amongst authors concerning it. For most of them affirm it hot, among whom is Galen, Halyabas, Rha∣sis, Aristotle, Constantine, Isaac, Plattarius, Nicholas Massa: they maintain their opinion by an argument drawn from things helping and hurting; besides from this, that it is of such subtill parts, that it penetrates, dissolves and performeth all the actions of heat upon dense and hard me∣talls; to wit, it attenuateth, incideth, drieth, causeth salivation by the mouth, purgeth by the stool, moveth urine and sweat over all the body; neither doth it stir up the thinner humors only, but in like sort the gross, tough and viscous, as those which have the Lues Venerea find by experi∣ence, using it either in ointments or Plasters.

Others affirm it very cold and moist, for that put into emplasters and so applied, it asswageth pain by stupefaction, hindering the acrimony of pustles and cholerick inflammations. But by its humidity it softneth scirrhous tumors, dissolveth and dissipateth knots and tophous knobs, besides, it causeth the breath of such as are annointed therewith to stink, by no other reason, then that it putrefies the obvious humor by its great humidity. Avicens experiment confirms this opinion, who affirmeth, that the blood of an Ape that drunk Quick-silver, was found concrete about the heart, the carcass being opened. Matthiolus moved by these reasons, writes that Quick-silver killeth men by the excessive cold and humid quality, if taken in a large quantity, because it congeals the blood and vital spirits, and at length the very substance of the heart, as may be understood by the history of a certain Apothecary, set down by Conciliator; who, for to quench his severish heat, in stead of water, drunk of a glass of Quick-silver, (for that came first to his hands;) he died with∣in a few hours after, but first he evacuated a good quantity of the Quick-silver by stool, the residue was found in his stomach being opened, and that to the weight of one pound; besides, the blood was found concrete about his heart. Others use another argument to prove it cold, and that is drawn from the composition thereof, because it consists of Lead and other cold metals. But this argument is very weak. For unquencht Lime is made of flints and stony matter, which is cold, yet nevertheless it exceeds in heat. Paracelsus affirmeth, that Quick-silver is hot in the interior substance, but cold in the exterior, that is, cold as it comes forth of the Mine. But that coldness to be lost as it is prepared by art, and heat only to appear and be left therein, so that it may serve in∣stead of a tincture in the trans-mutation of metals. And verily it is taken for a Rule amongst Chy∣mists, that all metals are outwardly cold, by reason of the watery substance that is predominant in them, but that inwardly they are very hot, which then appears when as the coldness toge∣ther with the moisture is segregated; for by calcination they become caustick. Moreover many ac∣count quick-silver poison, yet experience denies it. For Marianus Sanctus Boralitanus tells that he saw a woman, who for certain causes and effects, would at several times drink one pound and a half of quicksilver, which came from her again by stool without any harm. Moreover he affirmeth that he hath known sundry who in a desperate Colick (which they commonly call miserere mei) have been freed from imminent death, by drinking three pounds of quick-silver with water only: For by the weight it opens and unfolds the twined or bound up gut, nnd thrusts forth the hard and stopping excrements; he addeth that others have found this medicine effectual against the colick, drunk in the quantity of three ounces. Antonius Musa writes, that he usually giueth Quick-silver to children ready to die of the worms. Avicen confirmeth this, averring that many have drunk Quick-silver without any harm, wherefore he mixeth it in his ointments against scales and scabs in little children; whence came that common medicine amongst country people to kill lice by an∣nointing the head with Quick-silver mixed with butter or axungia. Matthiolus affirmeth that many think it the last and chiefest remedy to give to women in travel that cannot be delivered. I protest to satisfie my self concerning this matter, I gave to a whelp a pound of Quick-silver, which being drunk down, it voided without any harm by the belly. Whereby you may understand that it is wholly without any venomous quality. Verily it is the only and true Antidote of the Lues Vene∣rea, and also a very fit medicine for all malign ulcers, as that which more powerfully impugns their malignity then any other medicines that work only by their first qualities. Besides, against that con∣tumacious scab, which is vulgarly called Malum sancti manis, there is not any more speedy or cer∣tain remedy. Moreover Guido writes, that if a plate of lead be besmeared or rubbed there with, and then for some space laid upon an ulcer, and conveniently fastned, that it will soften the callous hardness of the lips thereof, and bring it to cicatrization, which thing I my self have often times found true by experience.

Certainly before Guido, Galen much commended Quick-silver against malign ulcers and cancers: Neither doth Galen affirm that lead is poisonous (which many affirm poisonous, becaus it consists of much Quick-silver) but he only saith thus much, that water too long kept in leaden pipes & cisterns

by reason of the drossiness that it useth to gather in lead, causeth bloody fluxes, which also is fa∣miliar to brass and copper. Otherwise many could not without danger bear in their bodies leaden bullets during the space of so many years, as usually they do. It is reported. It is declared by Theodoret Herey in the following histories, how powerful Quick-silver is to resolve and asswage pain and inflamations. Not long since, (saith he) a certain Doctor of Physick his boy was troubled with parotides, with great swelling, heat, pain and beating; to him by the common consent of the Physicians there present, I applied an Anodine medicine, whose force was so great, that the tumor manifestly subsided at the first dressing, and the pain was much asswaged. At the second dressing all the symptoms were more mitigated. At the third dressing, I wondring, at the so great effect of an Anodine Cataplasm, observed that there was Quick-silver mixed therewith, and this hap∣pened through the negligence of the Apothecary, who mixed the simple Anodine medicine pre∣scribed by us, in a mortar wherein but a while before he had mixed an ointment whereinto Quick-silver entred, whose reliques, and some part thereof yet remained therein. This which once by chance succeeded well, I afterwards wittingly and willingly used to a certain Gentle∣woman troubled with the like disease, possessing all the region behind the ears, much of the throat, and a great part of the cheek, when as nature helped by common remedies, could not eva∣cuate neither by resolution nor suppuration, the contained matter greatly vexing her with pain and pulsation; I to the medicine formerly used, by the consent of the Physicians, put some Quick-silver, so within a few daies, the tumor was digested and resolved. But some will say, it resolves the strength of the nerves and limbs, as you may see by such as have been anointed therewith for the Lues Venerea, who tremble in all their limbs during the rest of their lives. This is true, if any use it too intemperately without measure, and a disease that may require so great a remedy; for thus we see the Gilders, Plumbers and such as dig in mines, by the continual ascent of the vapors of Quick-silver to the brain, the fountain of the nerves, by resolving the spirits, and dissipating the radicall and substantifick moisture, maketh them subject to the trembling of their joints. Verily, if it be killed and incorporate with hogs-grease, and a list be smeared therewith, which may encom∣pass the body like a girdle, it will drive away lice, sleas and cimices; and anointed about the na∣vel, it kills the worms in the guts. There are two sorts of Quick-silver, the one natural, the other artificial. The natural is found running or flowing in the veins and bowels of the earth, and amongst metals, and in the fornaces of silver-mines. The Artificial is made of minium (as it is in Vitruvius) and of the powder of Ivory. Also it is probable that by art it may be extracted out of all metals, but chiefly out of Lead and Cinnabaris. You may easily distinguish these kinds by the dull and blackish colour, tough and gross substance, which as it runs, leaves an impression like melted grease, being as it were the excrement of lead. The best Quick-silver of all is pure, clear, thin, and very white: it may be cleansed with the dross of lead, and becomes more then being boiled in sharp vinegar, with sage, rosemary, time, lavender. Or else give it by a pound at a time to a whelp to drink down, and being cast forth by it, boil it again in vinegar, for thus it hath wondrous faculties, and fitly given produceth marvellous effects; nothing is more contrary thereto then fire. For Quick-silver, though of its own nature ponderous, flieth upwards by the force of the fire, and for∣saketh gold by that means, then which nothing is more friendly to it.

CHAP. XXXIX. Of the Ʋnicorns Horn.

THere are very many at this day who think themselves excellently well armed against poy∣son and all contagion, if they be provided with some powder of Unicorns-horn, or some infusion made therewith. Therefore I have thought it good to examine more diligently how much truth this inveterate, and grounded opinion hath. The better to perform this task, I will propound three heads, whereto I will direct my whole discourse. The first shall be of the sig∣nification of this word Ʋnicorn. The second, whether there be any such thing really and truly so called, or whether it be not rather imaginary; like as the Chimera and Tragelaphus? The third, whether that which is said to be the horn of such a beast, hath any force or faculty against poysons? For the first, that is, the name, it is somewhat more obscure what the word (being Li∣corn) in French may signifie, then what the Latin or Greek word is. For the French name is further from the word and signification; but it is so cleer and manifest, that this word Ʋnicornis amongst the Latines signifieth a beast having but one horn, as it is vulgarly known; the same thing is meant by the Greek word Monoceros. But now for the second, I think that beast that is vulgarly called and taken for an Unicorn, is rather a thing imaginary then really in the world. I am chiefly induced to believe thus, by these conjectures. Because of those who have tra∣velled over the world, there is not one that professeth that ever he did see that creature. Cer∣tainly the Romans conquered the world, and being most diligent searchers after all things which were rare and so excellent, if any where in any corner of the world this beast could have been found, they would have found it out, and engraven it upon their coins, or arms, as they did Cro∣codiles, Elephants, Eagles, Panthers, Lions, Tigers, and other creatures unknown to these countries. For these that have written of the Unicorn, either that they have heard, or that hath been de∣livered by tradition, or what they in their own minds and fancies have conceived, you shall scarce find two that agree together, either in the description of the body, or in the nature and

condition of her. Pliny writes, that Unicorns are for the fashion of their bodies like to an Horse; that is, as Cardane interprets it, of the bigness of an Horse, with the head of an Hart, the feet of an Elephant, the tail of a Bore, with one black horn in the midst of his fore-head, of the length of two cubits. Munster, who (as Matthiolus jests) never saw Unicorns besides painted ones, doth on the contrary affirm them not to be of the bigness of an Hors, but of an Hinde-calf of three months old, not with feet like an Elephant, but cleft like those of Goats, with an horn not only of two, but oft-times of three cubits long, of a Weazle-colour, with a neck not very long, nor very hairy, but having few and short hairs hanging to the one side of the neck, the legs are lean and small, the buttocks high, but very hairy. Cardane dissenting from both these, writes that he hath an horn in the midst of his fore-head, but that it is only of the length of three fingers. Andrew Thevet menti∣ons an Unicorn seen by a certain Turkish Sangjach, which was of the bigness of a Bull, of five or six months old, and had one horn, but that not, in the midst of the fore-head, but upon the top of the crown of the head; he was legged and footed like an Ass, but longer haired, and had ears not much unlike the Rangifer, a beast not unknown in the subpolare or northern countries.

Thus various therefore is the report concerning the shape of this Beast. Neither is there less di∣ference concerning her nature and conditions. For Pliny writes, that the Unicorn is a most fierce beast, and hath a great bellowing voi••e, and that she cannot therefore be taken alive. Cardane ten∣ders a reason of this fierceness, Because (saith he) it inhabits the deserts of Aethiopia, a regten squa∣lid, and filthy, abounding with Toads, and such like venomous creatures. Others on the contrary af∣firm her to be of a most milde, amiable, and gentle nature of all others, unless one purposely of∣fend her, or use her too harshly: for seeing she seeds not by hooping her head to the ground, be∣cause she is hindred there-from by the length of her born, she must necessarily feed upon the fruit that hangeth upon trees; out of cratches or mans hand she fearlesly and harmlesly takes all man∣ner of fruits, herbs, sheaves of corn, apples, pears, oranges and pulf. And herein they have procee∣ded so far, that they feign they will love Virgins, entised by their beauty, so that staied in the con∣templation of them, and allured by their entisements, they by this means are often taken by hun∣ters. In this opinion is Lewis Vartoman, who denies that Unicorns are wild or fierce; for he saith, that he saw two, which were sent out of Ethiopia to the Sultan, who kept them shut up in Penne, in Mecha, a city of Arabia Felix, renowned by the Sepulcher of Mahomet. Thevet travelling thi∣ther, tells that he diligently inquired of the inhabitants, what their opinion was of such a beast, yet could he never hear any tidings thereof. Whence it is easie to discern, that such beasts have nei∣ther been in our, not in Vartomans times. The so great variety of dissenting opinions, easily indu∣ceth me to believe that this word, Ʋnicorn, is not the proper name of any beast in the world, and that it is a thing only feigned by Painters, and Writers of natural things, to delight the rea∣ders and beholders. For as there is but one right way, but many by waies, and windings, so the speech of truth is but one, and that alwaies simple and like it self; but that of a lie is diverse, and which may easily refel it self, by the repugnancy and incongruity of opinions, if one should say nothing. What therefore (will some say of what creatures) are these horns, which we see wholly different from others, if they be not of Unicorns? Thevet thinks them nothing else then Elephants bones turned and made into the fashion that we see them, for thus in the Eastern Countries, some crafty merchants and cunning companions turn, hollow, and being softned, draw to what length these please the teeth of the fish Rohard, which lives in the Red and Ethiopian Sea, and being so handled, they sell them for Unicorns horn. Verily that which is termed Unicorns horn, being burnt, sends forth a smell like to Ivory. Now Cardanus affirms that the teeth and bones of Ele∣phants made soft by art, may be drawn forth, and brought into what form you please like as Ox∣bones are. For what is there in the world which the thirsting desire of gold will not make men to adulterate and counterfeit? But it is time that we come to the third scope. Grant there be Unicorns; must it therefore follow that their horns must be of such efficacy against poysons? If we judg by e∣vents, and the experience of things, I can protest thus much, that I have often made trial thereof, yet could I never find any good success in the use thereof against poysons, in such as I have had in cure. If the matter must be tried by witnesses and authorities, a great part of the Physicians of better note have long since bid it adieu, and have detracted from the divine and admirable vertues for which it formerly was so much desired. And this they have done, moved thereto by many just, but two es∣pecial reasons. The first is of Rondoletius, who in this case affirms that horns are endued with no taste nor smell; and therefore have no effect in physick, unless it be to dry: Neither (saith he) am I ignorant that such as have them, much predicate their worth, so to make the greater benefit and gain by them, as of the shavings or scrapings of Unicorns horn, which they sell for the weight in gold, as that which is singular good against poysons & worms; which things, I think, Harts-horn and Ivory do no less effectually perform; which is the cause why, for the same disease, and with the like success, I prescribe Ivory to such as are poor, and Unicorns horn to the rich, as that they so much desire. This is the opinion of Rondoletius, who, without any difference, was wont, for Unicorns horn, to prescribe not only Harts horn or Ivory, but also the bones of Horses and Dogs, and the stones of Myrabalanes, Another reason is, that whatsoever resists poyson is cordial, that is, fit to strengthen the heat, which is chiefly assailed by poysons; but nothing is convenient to strengthen the heart, unless it be by laudable blood or spirit, which two are only familiar to the heart, as being the work-house of the arterious blood and vital spirits: For all things are preserved by their like: as they are destroied by their contraries, for all things that generate, generate things like themselvs. But Unicorns horn, as it contains no smell, so neither hath it any aery parts, but is wholly earthy and dry; neither can

it be converted into blood by the digestive faculty, for as it is without juice, so is it without flesh: For as it cannot be turned into Chylus, so neither is it fit to become Chymus, that is, juice or blood. Therefore it is joyned to the heart by no similitude, nor familiarity. Furthermore, there is not a word in Hippocrates and Galen corcerning the Unicorns horn, who notwithstanding have in so ma∣ny places commended Harts-horn. Therefore D. Chapelain, the chief Physician of King Charls the ninth, often used to say, that he would very willingly take away that custom of dipping a piece of Unicorns horn in the Kings cup, but that he knew that opinion to be so deeply ingraffed in the minds of men, that he feared, that it would scarce be impugned by reason. Besides (he said) if such a superstitious medicine do no good, so certainly it doth no harm, unless it be to their estates that buy it with gold; or else by accident, because Princes, whilst they relie more then is fitting upon the magnified virtues of this horn, neglect to arm themselves against poysons by other more convenient means, so that death oft-times takes them at unawares. When as upon a time I inqui∣red of Lewis Duret the Kings Physician and Professor (by reason of the great opinion that all learned men justly had of his learning and judgment) what he thought of this horn; He answered, that he attributed no faculties thereto; for the confirmation whereof he rendred the second rea∣son I have formerly given, but more largely and elegantly; neither feared he to affirm it aloud, and in plain words to his auditory of learned men, coming from all parts to hear him. But if at any time (ore'come by the fault of the times and place) he prescribed this horn; that he did it for no other intent, then to help faintings or swoundings that happen by the abundance of se∣rous humors, floating in the orifice of the ventricle, which makes men ill disposed, because this mixed with other things endued with the like faculty, hath power to drink up the waterish humi∣dity by its earthy driness. But some will reply, that neither the Lemnian, nor Armenian earth, have any juice in them, neither any smell, nor aiery spirit. It is granted; neither truly are such things truly and properly called cordial, but only by event and accident, for that by the ex∣cellent and astrictive faculty they have, and stopping the passages of the vessels, they hinder the poison from entring into the heart. This is my opinion of Unicorns horn, which if any do not approve of, he shall do me a favour, if for the publick good, he shall freely oppose his; but in he interim take this in good part which I have done.

The end of the one and twentieth Book.

Notes

• What is to be accounted poyson
• The differen∣ces of poyson.
• All poysons have not a pe∣culiar antipa∣thy with the hea••r.
• Cap. 5. lib. 6. de loc. affect.
• The true rea∣son of the won∣drous effects of poysons.
• No poysons kill in a set time.
• H w poysons come to kill sooner or later
• Such things as feed upon poy∣son may be eaten without danger.
• Lib. de simp▪ facult.
• The occasion of sudden, death in many.
• Common signs of such as are poysoned.
• Signs of hot poysons.
• Sgins of cold Poysons.
• Signs of the dry poysons.
• Signs of moist poysons.
• An history.
• Sect. 3. Lib. 3 epid.
• The Lues Ve∣ne••••a kills by excess of moi¦sture.
• All poisons are not cold.
• Why such, as are poysoned or stung, are c ld.
• What, such as fear poysoning must observe in their diet.
• Why sleep is hurtful.
• When and how vomit must be procured.
• When and wherewith they shall be pur••ed.
• The cure of poysoned wounds.
• By how many, and what means the air may be in∣fected.
• How thunders and lightnings may infect the air.
• Whether the vapor that a∣r seth from a burnt thing may poyson one.
• An history.
• Hot poisons kill sooner then cold.
• Lib. 2. cap. 27. The bites of all wilde beasts are viru∣lent.
• The bites of a red-haired man virulent.
• Contuled wounds harder to heal then such as are cut.
• Why treacle retunds the force of all simple poy∣sons.
• A double in∣dication in the cure of vene∣mous bites.
• Lotions fit for venemous bites.
• Lib. de therica.
• Treacle out∣wardly applied and inwardly taken good a∣gainst veno∣mous bites.
• The force of Echium.
• The efficacy of Cauteries a∣gainst vene∣mous bites.
• The force of Precipitate a∣gainst vene∣mous wounds.
• When not things are not convenient for poysoned wounds.
• Antidotes must be given in great quanti∣ties.
• Dogs naturally subject to mad∣ness.
• Dogs become mad, not only in the heat of summer, but al∣so in the depth of winter.
• Why melan∣cholick persons hurt them∣selves.
• The bite of a mad dog not very painful at the first.
• Signs of the bite of a mad dog.
• Signs, by which you may gather that the noble parts. are tainted.
• Why men be∣coming mad bark like dogs.
• Why they shun the light,
• Why they are affraid of the water.
• Aphor. 25. sec. 6.
• The bite of a mad dog taken in hand in time, is for the m••st part cur∣able.
• The venom of a mad dog ap∣plied outward∣ly only may cause madness.
• Whether the Hidrephebia o•• fear of water be incureable.
• An history.
• An history.
• An history.
• The force of Sorrel.
• The force of Docks.
• An history.
• Leaping into the sea no cer∣tain remedy a∣gainst madness
• The force of Antimony a∣gainst madness
• Why sleep is hurtful to such as are bitten by a mad dog, and all such as are poisoned.
• The bites of vipers how vi∣rulent.
• The sympto••
• An history.
• An history.
• Remedies for the bite of a viper.
• Lib. de theriac.
• The Haemor∣rhous why so called.
• Wonderful bleedings.
• The reason of the name, and description of the Seps.
• The symptoms
• The efficacie of the poyson of the Basilisk.
• Lib. de Theriac.
• Why the Basi∣lisk is thought to kill by his onely sight.
• Plin. lib. 8. c. 21.
• The Catablepas
• Nothing in nature without its equal.
• Symptoms.
• Cure.
• The malignity of a Salaman∣der.
• The temper of her.
• Symptoms.
• The cure.
• Lib. 2 cap. 54.
• How a Sala∣mander may be said to live in the fire.
• The craft of the Torpedo.
• His stupefying force.
• Symptoms.
• Cu cing.
• An history.
• By what means Asps may be made less hurt∣ful.
• Gal. lib. de Ther. ad pisonem.
• Against the bites of what serpents treacle doth no good.
• A certain re∣medy against the biting of Asps.
• An history.
• The cure.
• The bites of Toads how harmful.
• An history.
• The symptoms occasioned by the poison of Toads.
• May frogs.
• The cure.
• Antidotes a∣gainst the poy∣son of Toads:
• The descripti∣on of a Scor∣pion. His tail.
• Winged Scor∣pions.
• Symptoms.
• Lib. 2. cap. 44. & lib 6. ca. 10.
• Lib. 3. cap. 1.
• Symptoms.
• The cure.
• The bites of Bear-worms.
• Differences of Spiders.
• The descripti∣on of Canthari∣des.
• Enemies to the Bladder. Symptoms.
• An History.
• The Cure.
• An history.
• Cantharides applied to the head, ulcerate the bladder.
• A remedy a∣gainst Leprous pustles.
• The reason of the name.
• What hors-leeches mos•• virulent.
• Divers reme∣dies according to the diversity of the parts.
• The descripti∣on of the Lam∣pron.
• The natural friendship of the Lampron and Viper.
• Symptoms.
• An history.
• The cure.
• The symptoms
• Lib. 9. cap. 48.
• The virulency of her sting.
• The descripti∣on of the Sea-hare.
• The earnest be∣holding of a Sea-hare will cause abortion.
• The symptoms
• The antidote.
• A Cats hair most subject to choak.
• The breath of a Cat most hurtful to the lungs.
• An history.
• A wonderful antipathy be∣tween a man and a Cat.
• The Antidote against the brains of a Cat.
• Cats dan∣gerous for children.
• Apium risus.
• His Antidote Napellus, or Monks-hood.
• Our author deceived by the Arabians, who (it may be) mistock the greek word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 and in stead thereof read 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 for a Flie, a Mouse: for there is no Mouse to be found, but whole swarms of Flies, which feed thereon, you may ••••••de the de••••••p•••••••• of an Antidote made with 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in Lebels S••••p 〈◊〉〈◊〉. pag. 3••••.
• Doricinum and Solanum Mani∣cum, or deadly Night-shade.
• The symp∣toms.
• Hen-bane.
• The antidote.
• Mushroms:
• Their Anti∣dote.
• I•• 5. epidemy.
• Colchicum, or Medow-Saff∣ron.
• The Antidote.
• Mandrag.
• The cure.
• Opium. Why not used in poysonings.
• Thes••m•• to 〈◊〉〈◊〉
• Hemlock. The symptom.
• The Antidote.
• In lib. 6. diosc.
• Aconitum.
• Lib. 27. cap. 2.
• Aconite good against the poison of Scorpions.
• The differen∣ces.
• The Yew.
• This is true in some coun∣tries, as in pro∣vence, Italy, Greece, &c. but it is not so here with us in England, as both Lobe•• and daily ex∣perience can testifie.
• The Antidote.
• The Wall-nut tree.
• What poyson is.
• A sign of true Bezoar.
• The use of Bezoar.
• Lib. 5 in Diosc. cap. 73.
• An history
• No one thing can be an An∣tidote against all poysons.
• The caustick force of subli∣mate.
• The symptoms of such as have taken sublimate
• Verdegreas.
• Litharge.
• The scales of Brass.
• The Loadstone
• Filings of Lead and scales of Iron.
• Arsenick, Rose-aker or Rats-bane.
• Unquenched Lime and Or∣piment.
• Aqua fori••.
• Ceruss.
• Plaster.
• The reason why it is so cal∣led.
• Lib 4. simp. in. 2 practic. c. 148. 3 ad alman. 4. Meteor.
• In l. 6 Dios. c. 28
• An history.
• Lib. 4. de nat. rerum.
• Tract. de casu & offen.
• Quick-silver good for wo∣men in travel.
• For the disease called Malum sancti manis.
• Lib. de comp. med socurd. loc. Against ma∣lign ulcers.
• Against the Parotides.
• Against lice and flies, &c. The kinds thereof.
• How to purifie it.
• What the name imports
• That there is no such beast as an Ʋnicorn.
• Lib. 8. cap. 2••.
• Lib. 8. cap. 21.
• Munsters opi∣nion concern∣ing Ʋnicorns.
• Tom. 1. lib. 5. Cap. 5. cosmeg••.
• Vartoman ••. opinion of the nature of the Ʋnicorn
• What the ordi∣nary unicorns horns are.
• The Unicorns born is not ef∣fectual against poyson.
• Lib. de ponder. cap. 19. Horns and bones not effectual unless to d••ie.
• In what cases good.