Book III

20 A
ten by a mad dogge , to the Sea, and alfo bruit Beads,- and plunge them ('even times m,n©t luperftuioully obferving that number, but that the venome may be wafhed out the better, whereby they get jitad people fear thusmuch, that all fear of the water, called Hydrophobia, which i be water i js thaC troubles them extreamly , is wholly taken away. For thole that are fo affeded , both third after water, and are fright¬ ed by reafon of the elienation of their minds, and bccaufethey want reafon , whence it comes to paffe , that without making any difference or choice of things that are good, they refufe what is p mk»»ttobe wholfomc for them , and chofe things hurcfull; for if they drink with-held from abundantly they are cured : Wherefore though they abhorrwa- r oanng people* ^ an(} afl liquid matter , yet they mull be forced to drink, that fo the venome may be wafhed away , and not have oportunity to run fo faft to the internall parts. But it is wonderfull that poy- fons, not onely given inwardly will prove deadly, but bitingsand ftingingsofvenemous Creatures outwardly , do infenfibly by de¬ grees lay hold on the vital parts , and will make way to the heart t he danger of the Fountain of Life ^ and other principal! parts. So the fpittle fpttie. of thofc that are Tick of the Elephantiafis or Leprolie , and the fomealfo of a cnadDogg , being but fprinkled , the skin will pe¬ netrate and become pernicious, uul.effe they be prcfently wiped off, and the part rubbed with Salt, fothat if the nervous parts, orthofe through which the Arteries are derived , chance to be bit or torn , or infected with fuch foul filthy may dure and froth , the venome is communicated to t e Heart and £rain , fo that the Heart , the *1* drawn vital $Pirit being infeded , falls into fwounings, and deliquiums, mte hnrnalh alio the brain by reafon of thcNerves affeded that proceed irom it, is laid hold on, 'from whence arifeth fury and madnefle, and alienation of the mind. But if it happen that the flefhy parts are affeded , which are nourifhed by the blood out of the veins, or are bitten , the mortal venome pafleth through the Channels of the Veins to the Heart and Liver, and other principall parts, and about the 40th day day or a little before, the fick grow mad and rhofe that are abhor che water, flue remember, that you may rightly and with bit are mid a- good fuccefle undertake the cure , that you do not rafhly fuffer the bout the 40 day Wound to clofe together , and come to cicatrice , which alfo mud be acurately obferved in Carbuncles and £ubos , and other pefti- lentiall tumours , for if thelealf fparkof the contagion day with- Yn lacs bit *n ? wdl gr°w again, and come on with more vio-
lotL bedofed lenec. Wherefore you mu If purge the venome with a fynapifme up presently : 0r powder of precipitate ; for that will keep the wound that lyeth
precipitate pow- open d°m cdifing, an der goad for mean time by intervals and gently, and melancholy humours
tbebik- muff be purged away , that the madnefle may be driven out, or grow more mild : for which purpofe you may conveniently give in a decodionor infufion , Sena , Polypod , Epit.hym , Hellebour , Harts-rongue , Walfern , Fumetary , buglofle , and efpecially confedio Hamech , with fyriipofEpi'thymand Fumetory, which
alio
Chap .6.
01 the Na‘urey and force of Gold,
205
alfo may be given tor the bmngs ot otntr Crcacures, whereof fome are more dangerous than ochers are.
CHAP. VI.
Of the Nature , and force of Gold , and what efjeft it hath , if it be at any time ufed for the health and defence of Man's Body,
AMongftall thofe things thar by Man’s care and induftry are ManUafegttd.
dug torth of the bowels of the earth, Man’s mind defires no- ’’things.** thing more grecdely, which leeks not (olid matters but frail, unccr- The mat hnn- tain , fugitive tranlitory things , than Gold : yet with Gold can ger *fter Gold * he never be filled nor fatisfied , though he do obtain it by heaps in abundance. Now the principall ule of Gold and Silver confifts in ™jjityofMo»0 this, (for the Commonwealth is held together by the benefit of Money, as the body is by the Nerves, and with it are ail contracts,
"Bargains, Fairs, Meetings, agreements and negotiations ac¬ complished) to fcrveforneceflicy , and that by it we may provide luch things for our felves , that the nature of Mortal! men fubfifts by 3 and may want none of them; namely cloths, Houles, whereby we defend our felves from the winds and injuries of the Ayre, all things belonging to houlholding , moderate diet, and many fuch like things , whereby we live not lelfe convenient ly , than healthfully. Horace recalls men to this tranquillity of mind, £.«. Semxuu and moderate ufe of things , for he was an excellent corrector of *» vice, and he warnes us what fpecially we fhould take care for, who commonly hide the fault of covetoufnefle under the cover of necefliry.
what mil it pro fit -thee for fear of Dearth ,
Or Thieves , to hide. great T reaf ure in the Sarth }
Thou know ft no worth nor ufe ofCMoney , buy Tread , herbs , and wine and what may [at is fie Nature , which craves but for necefsity .
*
Whereby he fhews that all fhould be referred to necefiary ufes, and convenience of living; and if to this, we have fulficient to tbLtuobz re* adorn our bodies handfomly , and to go decently and cleanly , as garded. men ought to do , and women likewife may be gracefully decked according to their fix ; I (hall not be againft it , fo it exceed not and our apparell be not toocoftly , and incline too much to Lux¬ ury and voluptioufncfic ; but that all things maybe bounded by ^lufalaetd frugality and temperance , and ferve for honelty and decency, ed man things* For men. for the moft part arc fo given that they delight in no¬ thing but fumptuous and magnificent things , whereas nature can be contented witn fmall matter eafily to be had and that coft but A l'~
little. But to let pafle thefe things, I (hall difeourfe of the nature of this mettal , that is endowed with many and great virtues. For
Gold
20 6 of the Mature and force of Gold . Book III.
Gold is one of the moft effectual! things, and hath the moft pre- fent venue to drive forth the moft cruel difeafes, and to reftore health, where it is decayed, and needs repairing. For fuch as are tainted with the venerious difeafe from foul copulation, and have any contagion in their fecrets, are manifeftly helped by the nfe of it.
Alfo it purgeth the Elephantiafis which is held to be the com-
ihluS- mon LcProlV’ or at lcaft ic aflwagi. tii it ; It fallneth loofc teeth and ' J fuch as are weak, or vitiated by filthy moifture, and it corrc&s all ulcers and puihes in the mouth : Aifo thofe that have a link¬ ing breath that imells filthily j I ule to give them counfel that they fliould commonly carry in their mouths. Rings made of the pureft and unmixed. Gold ; efpecially thofe that have been anointed for the French Pox, and have ulcers in their lips and Gums. For of Goldin this purgeth the venome and dries up the fores. And ifyoupleafe meat. to boyi with your meats, Plates, or pieces of leaves of Gold, and
fuch as are fick to drink the broth, it can hardly be faid what re- freihment their vital fpirits lliall receive thereby. Wherefore I ufe to reftore and recreate fuch as are confumed and waited in their flefh, or exhaufted and wearied by immoderate venery with fuch Gold lofeth no- deco&ions : and the Gold is never the worfc for it, nor doth,itlofe thing by boyiing. any patt, or is in the leaft diminiftied thereby. Sometimes I bid them caft into a round topt veftel! which men call an Alembeck fet upon a hot fire, a Capon chopt in final! pieces, or calfs flefh, and fome yelks of Egs, pouring thereon three or four fextaries of a^dlnd* CowsMilk> mingling therewith fome rafpings of the moft pure ihm. Gold, called Obriium, or a Gold Chain, and the moft effe&ual hearbs, as Eringo roots, Hartichokes,Parfnips,Skirrots, Carlinum, Garden-Thiftle, and chat hearb which ftioots forth with a Molly concretion, and from its yellow glittering colour , and golden fpeck* that ftick upon it, is called Sun-dew, or Rof-folis, alfo Dates, and Ray fins taking out the ftones, and fwcet Apples, with all thefe things together at a gentle fire, a liquor drawn forth by drops, and let in the Sun for three dayes, maybe kept for many ufes; fork will reftore fuch as are fallen into a fwound, and whofe fpirits fainr, and ic will repair thofe that are bloudldle, h nmdy for lean, confumed, but in the pain of the heart, and Brittifhfweat it l he bean! 0f is a Prcfenr remedy, and in reftoring thc forces of the heart, it is very effectual and healthfull, if a jfpoonfullor more be given at a time to thofe that arein that cafe 5 nor is Gold applyed outward¬ ly with Idle profit and convenience, where the heart is endange- Goid cbten the red by any outward or inward difeafe growing on. For befides the hexfU afpedf of Golden pieces, and rings, which oft-times are fet with fome pretious ftone, that delights the eyes, if the finger of the left hand which is next to the little finger, be rubbed with Gold and a little Saffron for diftafes of the heart, it will recover a man 5 though he be fallen down, and his animall and vitall fpirits be Tfoeffettsof ftoPr^° that he is fpecch-Iefte and almoft dead, and no figns of Goldred hot , life appear 5 alio red hoc Gold plunged into wine to quench will - s - procure
Chap.7.
Of the Me a fils of Hogs.
207
procure great torce to the parts, and corroborats the natural facul- ties. For if any ill matter cleave to the internal parts, it purgeth it away, confumes and devoures, and it gives vigour to the affe&cd part, and fills it with vitall fpirit. Alfa this liquor applyed out¬ wardly, will kill Tetters, Ring-worms, Leprolies, Scabs, Scurf,
Ozena, Polypus, and ail filthy fores ofthe Nofc, Morphew, and all freckles that deform the skin,, and will reflrain, and correct them, cfpecially if you mingle with this liquid painting fluff, a little Tartar which is a ftony matter that grows together from the wbat Tmar ^ wine in the veffels. For this will take away all fpots though ne¬ ver fo fowl, and will adorn and beautify, red warty Noftrills,
Chin, Cheeks, Face, forehead (in which parts fuch eruptions are leen to come forth oft-times very ill- favoured! y and ug-
*yO -1 l ' ‘ ‘ .■ av - . ■ •
CHAP. VII.
Dfthe Meafils of Hogs, and other difeafes of this creature, that are next kin to the Leprofy , and are commonly called Orighans; or con¬ tagions from the unwholefome and fckly habit of the body. And how this d/feafe may be cured in men .
BEcaufe Gentlemen alfo do commonly eat Hogs fiefh, and tvbat tfteats are there is fcarfeany Family butBacon is brought lometimcs to ^^H the Table, and flitches and Gammons that fometimes come from far Countries, and other meats that are made of them, as pud¬ dings, Saufages,and the like; I thought fit to fet down fometning here concerning the nature of this creature. Since therefore a Hog delights in mud and filth, and to wallow in dirt ; the firfl care mull be to provide for him a clean fly and wholefomc food, if you would have the meat of him to be wholefome for you to cat ; for if you feed this creature with husks, and fat him with beaflly food, he will grow Meafly, and full of kernels, and hard fwcllings, fo that his flclh will be unwholefome, and naught and inlc&ious to the whole body. And this was the principal caufe the jews were L(v'lU Tl; forbidden to eat Hogs flefli, and it was a great wickednefls for Df«, 14. them to tafle thereof. But thefe hard fwcllings and kernells come chiefly about their necks, becaufe they are greedy and devouring, and eat all things upon Dung-hills without making any difference.
By the name ot Meafils is meant that difeafe that pollutes the whaththt whole body with a foul matter, becaufe the flefh and inward parts Meafilsin are tainted with little white knots like halftones. For fome Ho-* • kind of whitifh fwcllings are in all parts fcattered here and there, and the certain tokens thereof arc feen under the tongue, when Hogheafds put Irons into their mouths, that they may try whe¬ ther they be found to be killed, and cut forth for meat. Thofe that have the Leprofy do fhew forth fome fuch matter in their fa- Lc^m ^ e* ties, and' all their bodies ; for the pufhes that break forth in the out¬ ward’
2°s Of the (Meafils (f Hogs. Book III.
" ' ' " " ' . "" "" • - ir i
ward skin grow white from melanch'olique burnt to allies. The flefh indeed of this creature when it is Meafly is fweet and well re- 1 xfticd to the taffe j but it is very unwholefome, and next kind » 'he LcPr5y> by reafon of the mixture of melancholly juice. So chilly juice is next the bones is not uhfavoury, or of ill taffe to the Palate,
ftmoKfj. becaufeic partakes of Melancholly juice, for bones are made of
fuch juice, and grow together of it. But what the Leprofy and the French-Pox doth to a tnan,the fame doth the Meafils and fero- phulous tumours, to a hog; for thefe difeafes are of kin and very near aflyed one to the other 5 their names onely are different whatmiMs but the matter is the fame, as alfo o£tm the Phyfitian obferved inhischaP ™ & Mphsxtiafi. Wherefore that men might fuffer - ' no hurt by the ufe of eating this unclean creature, with us there is a The Law offal- wholefome Law provided by the Senate, that no Sow nor Hog % fhaJl be killed unlefTe his Tongue be fir ft pulled forth and fearched
whether he be fick of this difeafe, for if warty ptifhes (hew them-
felves in his Tongue and Jaws, and the veins are of a wan colour, and blackifh, thefe are figns that the mternalls areof an ill confu¬ tation, and therefore it is thought fit not to kill them 5 or if they be killed ignorantly, that they muff be buried under ground. And if no fuch thing appear, they that are appointed Judges of this bu- finefTe, do pronounce that the Hog is found and fit for to be eaten. But becaufe oft-times this creature may be faulty though he be TKebrify sftn found in that refped , Wherefore our Countrey people when eft e Hog is to they mu a Hog, cover him with ft raw, and burn the hide, rathe* fobumt. than fc aid it with water. For if there be any defea or ill matter under the skin, the fire will draw forth the contagion and con- fume ir, which hot water cannot do fo well, and to purge away all filch. This way are polluted Sows cured, ifthc ftyes wherein they lye be daily made clean, and that they may walk up and
mgswndring ^or thofe that wander up and down in woods and
in wood* are Gopfes, and feed on Acorns for the mofi part, are more wholefome ihemfiTtboU- than thofe that ufe no exercife, butarefhut up in their ftyes, for * t^ey are Idle expofed rodifeafes. Moreover they muff have abun¬ dance of water given them to wafh themfejves withall, and fome Sal t mingled therewith, and when they eat Barly or any folid meat Bay-berries bruiied muff be put thereto. And that kind of fhell- fifh, the Dutch call Mojjelen, whereof there are abundance on our fhores, and Sea-coafts, Hogs are wonderfully refrefhed with, if you give them the deco&ion of them in great quantity. Alfo the Lees and dregs of Wine, and the feculent fwillings that are left when the juice is prefled forth of the Grapes, are a prefent reme¬ dy to expcll thisdifeafe, efpecially if Bran and the lump fermen- Jld commonly called 7l try people neither take care of thefe creatures, nor for the health of thofe that mfift eat them : for they give their hogs, the fowre corrupt Lees of Beer and Ale, and ftinking wafh that is at the bot- tome of their Tubs, 2nd all filthy things, as rotten and mouldy Ap¬ ples and Pears, whereby thofe kernels, and Meafils, and inward
contagion
«
Chap. 7. Oj Crabs, and other Sbell-Fijh. 209
contagion is not diflolved , but rather increafeth , and gathers / force. For all very fowr things, are very contrary to melancho- rtneger naught lique difeafes , that here prevail, by reafon of their cooling and^^w’^ thiekning force, and becaufe they compact and thicken the hu- things good for moursmore, and for cholerick people they are as much com- cMmckpeo- mendcd. So Vineger will augments quartan Ague, but itap-^' peafeth and corrects a Tertian, becaufe it tempers the heat of cho- kr, and, as water, allays Wine.
In the Low-Countries, fome live where there is abundance of rhthw mttb fifty, and water-Creaturcs , and they feed their Hoggs with fifh 5 ht their Hoggs and as they will grow wonderfull fat with them, fo is their fat Wlthfilh- and fiefh more flafhy and not fo firme ; yet with this food, Hoggs The eating of will grow great and tall 5 yet the meat ofthefe Hoggs is unwhol- F^sf0r'lvf}0^ fome, andthetaft very ftrange and loathfome. I know that for g°° * memxhat are Tick of theLeprofie,that the eating often of Frogs that arc in fens hath cured them, for this water -Creature mitigates the heat of their blood , and tempers the aduft melancholly : But thofe that creep on the ground and neft amongft fhrubs,and bufhes, and donor leap, but goe (lowly are venemous, our men call rhefe Madden , but theFroggs that have greenbacks and white bellies, roads venem- are called Puyen oflf^orfeben, they ufe to cry in the Spring ; but Toads that creep , make very little noyfe. They therefore that are a&ive and leap frequently , are proper for thefe difeafes : and Things that to ufe them with Capon-broth is principally approved for leandecaid confumed hetftick people , as alfothe broth of Turtles; con(umgiilnsl which from the form of their fhells are called Schelt Padden , and crevis Lobfters , Shrimps , Sea Crabs , Muflfels , Oyfters , Shell- fifh , Cockles , and all thofe that have an outward cruft , do cool and affwage hot aduft humours, but River-Mufcles , and Cre- vifh , are more effe&uall than Sea Shell-fifh are , becaufe w*olve'0jr/bl thefe are faltifh , whereby they caufc appetite , and pleafe w °g°° ‘
the palate , but they dry more : wherefore Sea ihellfifh is better for fome people , but for lick people , thofe that are caught in Brooks and Rivers. But amongft thofe that have fhells or a crufty cover , River Crabs are chiefly to be commended , dt/eriptm which differ not in kind , but in effect from Sea-Crabs , with a acn,da^,tue °* larger and rounder back , having on both (ides, four joynted feet, that have fix joynts or knots upon each to diftinguifh them , and arc fharp at the lower end , which they ftrike intothe hands and '
feet of thofe that hunt after them , as if it were a fpear with a flexible agiliry : for by help hereof , they will turn themfelves to the right and left , when they perceive any fnares laid for them , with a wonderfull faga city ; I fuppofc this is, becaufe they are wonderfull quick of feeing or hearing ; for go into the water ne¬ ver lo fofely and hunt after them , they will prefently perceive it and immediately cover themfelves in the mud, and hide them¬ felves out of fighr. But befides thofe four feet, or armes ftretched forth on both fides , in the former part where their eyes (bine and flick forth , there are two toothed Pincers wherewith they take
G g faft
f
2 10
Of Crabs , and other Shell-Fijh.