Chirurgorum comes, or, The whole practice of chirurgery begun by the learned Dr. Read ; continued and completed by a Member of the College of physicians in London.

CHAP. XIV.

Of a Wound made by the biting of an Adder.

I Have told you, how Wounds made by the biting of mad Beasts were to be dealt withall: In this Chapter I will shew how Wounds caused by the bitings and stingings of Serpents are to be cured. God hath created a strange variety of them: who, as they serve for the perfecting of the Ʋniver∣s••n or frame of the World; so they are employed by God for the punishing of sinners. Read a me∣morable Example of this, Numb. 21. vers. 5. ad. 9. where it is set down, that for the murmuring of the People of Israel, God sent a∣gainst them fiery Serpents, by the biting of which much People died, untill at last Moses set upon a Pole the brasen Serpent, by the com∣mandment of God; by behold∣ing of which, the bitten persons were kept alive: This brasen Ser∣pent was a figure of Christ cruci∣fied, as he himself testifies, John 14.15. in these words, vers. 14. As Moses lifted up the Serpent in the wilderness: Even so must the Sin of man be lifted up; vers. 15. That whosever believed in him s••ould not perish but have eternal life; for according to Isaiah, c. 53.••.5. He was wounded for our trans∣gressions; he was bruised for our iniquities: The chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed: Lucan the Poet in the ninth Book of his Pharsalia sets down the journey∣ing of Cato and his Souldiers through the desart of Lybia, where, out of Nicander the anci∣ent Greet Poet and Physician in his Theriaca, he makes mention of sundry Serpents. Lucan's Verses are thus turned into English Metre by Mr. Thomas May, an eminent English Poet of his Age.

First from that dust so mixt with poison, bred Rose the sleep-causing Aspe, with swelling head, Made of the thickest drop of Gor∣gon's goar, Which in no Serpent is compacted more. In scaly folds the great Haemorrhous lies; Whose bite from all parts draws the flowing blood. Cherfydros then, that both in land flood Of doubtful Syrtis lives; Chelydrt too, That make a reeking slime where are they go.

The Cenchrys creeping in a tract direct, Whose speckled belly with moe spotts is deckt, Than ere the various Theban mar∣ble takes. Sand coloured Ammodites: the horned Snakes, That creep in winding tracks: The Scytale, No Snake in Winter casts her skin but she: The double-headed Dipsas, that thirsty makes; The water spoiling Newt, the dart-like Snakes. The Pareas, whose way his tail doth guide: The Prester too, whose sting distend∣eth wide The wounded's foamy mouth; The Seps, whose bite Consumes the bones, dissolves the body quite. The Basilisk, whose hiss all Snakes doth scare, You Dragons too, &c.

O, fearful Brood armed against the sinful sons of Adam! We who are born in these parts ought to glorifie God, who hath freed the Soil of such mischievous Creatures. I mean not to insist on the de∣scription of every one of these Ser∣pents, the Symptoms which ensue after the Biting, and the manner of Cure, because it would be a fruit∣less labour, the Land being free from them, and so from their harm. In this Country only the Adder, and the Slow-worm are found, which oftentimes do great hurt. Of these then I will dis∣course, as also of the Toad, be∣cause here is great store of them, and their Poison is able to procure Death.

I will first deal with the Adder. It is called Coluber in Latin, either quia colit umbras, because it haunts shadowy places, or à lubricis tra∣ctibus, from her winding pace or path. It is long like an Eel, black on the Back, having yellow spots on the Belly: the Head is more flat than the Snake's Head. It is a crafty and venemous Serpent, bi∣ting suddenly those that pass by: whereupon Jacob in his Testament, or last Will, Gen. 49. v. 17. calls Dan, by reason of Sampson, who was of that Tribe, coluber in vià, an Adder in the way.

When the Adder hath bitten a Man, the part becomes of a leaden colour, and very painful, and if it be not presently cured, much black and stinking Quittour doth issue out from the Sore, like to that which flowes from Ʋlcus depascens, a fretting Ulcer. If it bite any Cat∣tel, very often they die.

When I was in the City of Bathe in Sommerset-shire, nine years ago, a little Land-Spaniel bitch belonging to one Mr. Lloyd who dwelt three Miles from thence, being bitten by an Adder by the way, died the next day, having in∣tolerable pain and swelling of the whole Body.

The Poison of it is hot, for an Adder is more hot than a Snake; which is not poisonable here with us, though it be in hot Coun∣tries, as Italy. The Adder hisse•• and most nimbly moves the fork∣ed Tongue, as the Snake doth.

As for the cure of the biting of an Adder, the Ancients have set down many Medicaments, both

Simple and Compound for the cure of Wounds inflicted by vene∣mous Beasts: you shall find great store of Simples in Dioscorides, throughout the whole seventh Book, and Nicander in his Theria∣c••, and Alexipbarmaca. Grevinus, l. 1. de Venenis, c. 36. and 37. hath gathered them together, whom you may peruse. Petrus de Abano in l. de Venenis, c. 4. sets down seven Herbs effectual against Poison, and the bitings of vene∣mous Beasts, which are these, Hy∣pericum, V••ncetoxicum, Enula cam∣pana, Raphanus, Dictamnus, Ari∣st••••••chia longa & rotunda. He af∣firms these to have equal faculty with Treacle it self against Poison. The Ancient Physicians only used these and such like, before Trea∣cle and Mithridate were invented. The Juices or the Powders of the Herbs they gave inwardly, to the Wounds or Sores they applied al∣so the Herbs. As for compound Medicaments, you may use Mi∣th••••date, Theriaca Andromachi; Theriaca magna Esdrae, Diatessa∣ren, Electuarium Orvietani.

If you be called to cure one bit by an Adder: First, apply Ligatures three or four inches above the bit∣ten place; hold up the Member as high as may be, scarifie the part, and apply Cupping-Glasses: If you cannot apply them, apply defen∣sives above the part.

Dress the Wound with Treacle dissolved in the Oyl of Scorpions, inwardly minister Treacle it self in Carduus, and Treacle Water, or Theriaca magna Esdrae, which he is said to have brought from Ba∣b••lon, when he returned from his exile with other Jews to their na∣tive Country; Electuarium Orvie∣tiani. The Juice and Leaves of the Ash are highly commended.

It is a very strange thing, that if a Viper be compassed with the Leaves of the Ash on the one side, and Fire on the other side, she will rather go towards the Fire than the Leaves of the Ash. Such an antipathy is between the Viper and the Ash.

Ambros. Pareus, lib. 20. c. 23. shews how he cured one bitten by an Adder: because the History is memorable, I thought good to set it down.

At what time (saith he) Charles the Ninth lay at Melines, I and Doctor le Fure, the Kings Physician, were sent for to cure a Cook of the Lady of Gastroperses, who was bitten by an Adder, as he was gathering wild Hops in a Hedge. The Cook as soon as he was bitten in the Hand, sucked the Wound with his Mouth, think∣ing thereby to mitigate the pain, and draw out again the Poison. But as soon as the Tongue touched the Wound, presently it so swelled that he could not speak. Besides this his Arm even to the Shoulder blade did swell, and caused such sharp pain, that he swooned twice while I was by him, his countenance becoming yellowish, and of a livid colour like to a dead man: and al∣though I did despair of the re∣covery of the man, yet I for∣sook him not, but washed his Mouth with Treacle dissolved in white Wine, and ministred it to him, adding Aqua Vitae. I sca∣rified the Arm with many and deep scarifications I suffered the

Blood which was waterish and sanious to flow plentifully from the parts about the sore; I wash∣ed the scarifications with Mi∣thridate and Treacle, dissolved in Aqua Vitae: the sick Person I laid in his warm bed, and caused him to sweat, but forbade him to sleep, lest the Poison should have been drawn to the inner parts. By these means I so pre∣vailed, that the next day all the malign Symptoms ceased. Where∣fore to finish the Cure I thought good that the Wound should be long kept open and washed with Treacle: Neither was I deceived, for within a few days he recover∣ed. By it you may observe, that whether Poison be inwardly ta∣ken, or externally impressed, it is good to watch untill the force of the Poison be abated, lest it seise upon the inward part.

They who catch Adders, apply the Powder of them to the part affected, if they be bitten, and take this same Powder inwardly; as they who catch Vipers use the Powder and Trochiscs of Vipers. Others commend the Powder of Tin, and commend it as a secret and specifical Medicament. But the Method set down by me is the safest way to cure: If you would make trial of the Powders of Adders, or Tin, I would advise you to mingle them with Theriaca. Now a days the Adder and Viper-Wines are in great request: But a Question may be moved, whether they be wholesome.

Nicolaus Florentin. 1. de Venen. following Rabbi Moses, and others, writes that Viper-Wine being of∣ten drunk, is effectual against Poi∣son. Galen also Sect. 6.6. Epid. Text. 5. affirms both Wine, and Viper the Flesh to be good against Poi∣son: So that Viper-Wine by these Mens Judgments, cannot but be good for healthful persons. When I travelled in Bohemia, I observed that the Earl of Rosenberg the younger, during the Summer time did eat the flesh of Adders, for preserving the sight, and staying of old Age: But Dioscorides and others give advice that care be had, that Serpents be not suffered to have access to Wine Vessels, lest they poison the Wine; which if they do, then surely the Wine is like to make a speedy way for the Poison to assault the principal parts.

This doubt I think may be thus resolved; If by chance Vipers or Adders be drowned in the Wine; because the whole Body lieth in the Wine, neither Head, Tail, Guts nor Gall being taken away: and no time of fermenta∣tion being granted, undoubtedly the Wine must be venomous: But if it be made by Art, these parts being taken away, and the flesh well prepared, and fermentation permitted; such a Wine must be wholesome, if a skilful Physician, unto whom Diseases and Complexi∣ons are known, do order the man∣ner of taking it.

It is now time to come to the Slow-worm: it is called in Latin Coecilia and Coecula, because it is blind; and by Nicander 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.

It is a little slender Serpent, it hath a hard Skin of divers co∣lours, For it is partly of a blewish, partly yellowish, partly of a light

purple between these: It hath small Eyes, and covered with a thin Skin. It hath very small Teeth, but more to be seen in the lower than upper Gum. Its Tongue is cloven: It hath a chink in the Belly, which being opened it layeth Eggs: after the Eggs are laid, the chink doth con∣solidate again. They are in length about a span, and about the thick∣ness of a Mans Finger; towards the Tail it is more slender: The Female is more black than the Male: The passage of the Excre∣ments, and place of conception, is transverse: It comes abroad in July: It is harmless, unless it be hurt: It is seen most often in hilly places: In the Winter it lies in the cliffs of Rocks, and cavities of the Ground. Storks do much prey upon them.

It is very venomous, the bitings of it are very small, and scarce ap∣pear. The place bitten is red, and the whole Body becomes en∣flamed.

As for the Cure, you are to scarifie the part, and to apply a Ventose. Then you are to apply Mithridate, Treacle, or Terra sigi••∣lata, mingled with Oyl made of Vipers or Scorpions. Platerns affirms, that a Treacle made of the Trochiscs of it, instead of the Trochiscs of Vipers is effectual a∣gainst the Plague.

I will conclude this Chapter with setting down of the Cure of the Poison of a Toad. In Latin it is called Bufo: The colour of it is blackish, mingled of black and a dark yellow; the black is bunched and full of knobs; the Skin is very thick; the Head is broad and thick, and the colour thereof about the Neck is some∣what pale; the Heart is in the Neck, and therefore it is not quick∣ly to be killed, unless the Neck be cut asunder, or deeply pierced: Its Eyes are of a flaming yellow colour, like those of a Goshauk: It leaps not as Frogs, but creeps slowly, partly by reason of its short Legs, partly by reason of its sluggish Body; it is altoge∣ther dumb; it couples not only with Toads of its own kind, but Frogs also; it delights in dry places, as in Stables, Dung, Beds in Gardens, and Caves of the Earth; it feeds upon the Slime of the Earth, Earthworms and Bees, which it draws out of the Hives by its venomous Breath: It delights much to be in places where Sage is planted. It not only infects all things over which it passes by its poisonous pis∣sing, but by bespattering He••bs with its venomous slaver. Where∣fore, it is not to be wondred if Men die, who have eaten un∣awares Herbs, Strawberries, and Mushroms infected by Toads: If one do move it, it Swells, and looks ugly with flaming red Eyes, expecting opportunity to dart out virulent pissing, and a white Juice out of the Mouth; yea, if it can touch one, it doth bite by the hard brims of the Lips: Being pricked thorow the middle, it will live some days; and from it will drop a bloody Poison mingled with a yellow Water.

The Enemies of the Toad are the Cat, the Polecat and Viper.

If one be infected with the Poi∣son of a Toad, these Symptoms ensue. First, the colour of the Body is changed to an ugly pale colour, which is seen in Box Wood; the Party hath difficul∣ty of breathing, the Breath stinks, the Seed flows sometimes against the will, the Hicket is trouble∣some: Caspar Schwenck feldius, in Theriotrophio Siles. tractat. d. Reptilibus adds a sudden Gid∣diness, Convulsions now and then, blackness of the Lips and Tongue, a froward Countenance, much Vomiting, dimness of the Sight, a Dysentery, loathing of Meat, raving, the falling out of the Teeth, a numbness of the whole Body, a deep sleeping, a cold Sweat, and at the last Death.

As for the Cure, Diosc. loco citato commends Vomiting, the drinking of strong Wine, run∣ning, and quick walking, and two drachms of the Root of the Reed or Cane; whereby we may gather, that both the tempera∣ment of the Toad and the Poison is cold. Schwenckfeldius loco ci∣tato, commends Womens Milk, Treacle, Mithridate, Harts-horn, Aqua Theriacalis; Oyl of Vi∣triol, Turbith Mineral, the infu∣sion of Stibium. The Body is to be washed with such a Laxi∣vium as is prescribed against Gan∣grenes: Often bathing is good, made of Sea-water, wherein Scor∣dium, Hypericum, Art••misia, Worm-wood, Germander, Lavan∣der, Thyme, Sage, Tansey, and such like have been boiled. It is not amiss to apply dried Toads to the Arm-pits, the region of the Heart, and to the Wrists. Ma∣ny think the wearing of the Toad∣stone, and rubbing of venomous Wounds with it to be very effe∣ctual.