Zoologia: or, The history of animals as they are useful in physick and chirurgery.: Divided into four parts; the [brace] first treateth of the more perfect terrestrial creatures. Second third fourth of birds. fishes. insects. / By John Schroder, Dr. of physick.

Preparat.

1. The powder.

The powders of Serpents are of so many composi∣ons that every Mountibank imagines something pro∣per to himself. But what need is there of any compo∣sition, for Serpents unbowelled neither need to be corrected nor acuated, their force and vertue being sufficient, their fleshy and bony substance safe enough (the heart, liver, tongue, flesh, bones no whit ve∣nomous) if the whole Serpent be burnt, it exhales out the venomous quality (I would cast away the head) neverthelesse I will add one or two prepara∣tions.

1. Take a Serpent cased (the bowels, head and tail cast away) wash and dry him, then powder him with the vertebres of the back, keep the powder for your use.

The Dose from half to a dram.

2. Take living Serpents (neither bowelled nor flayed) cast them into a pot covered, and boyl them at an easie fire, that all the fat and moisture may be wasted (without burning) then let them be made into powder.

N. The former is the better, for in this there is fear lest the venomous parts have not sufficiently ex∣haled.

Of this is made 2 An Animall compound Bezo∣artick.

Take the powder of Serpents two ounces, root of Valerian, Angelica, Pimpinell, Rue, of each one dram, make them into powder, and mingle them with it.

The Dose from one to two scruples or more.

N. 1. The only powder is good against quick Spi∣ders, and arsnick, but not to cure the Plague by the experiment of Ʋntzer.

N. 2. Out of the dryed flesh, is extracted the tincture with spirit of Wine, or with spirit of Juniper which is better.