before hydrophobie For that hauing once gotten the possession most men are of opinion that all physicke commeth to late Now concerning the gouernement and dyet of the bitten bodie it is thought best to lodge him in a chamber that is hot and very lightsome for the better euocation of the spirits and blood to the outward parts of the body and neuer suffer him to be alone but accompanied if it may bee wâ—â—h such as with pretty pleasing tales and merry iests or instruments of musicke or both are able to giue refreshment to his dulled spirits Let no means be vsed to put him in feare nor to make him sorrowfull His diet must be in a mediocritie neither very plentifull nor slender Emptinesse or want of eating encreaseth the euill qualitie of humours which is a very pernitious thing in any malignant vlcer He may eat of veale mutton hens chickens or capons flesh and such other as breed good iuyce being seasoned with the iuice of orenges limmons citrons which he may eat by themselues also And the powders of tormentill pimpinella mary-golds borrage and such other like herbes very good to strawe or sprinkle vpon his meat Rabbi Moyses forbiddeth the eating of pigeons because saith he they be very exceeding hurtfull for such as be thus affected through a speciall property of substance in them But contrariwise he commendeth the mutton or flesh of rams though it breed but bad iuyce for that it hath a secret property to do good in this infirmitie All writers with one consent approue and counsell the vse and eating of fresh water crabfishes for the natiue inbred propertie they haue against the poyson of this malady as often experience hath proued Creuises also boiled in good wine are approued Paulus Aegineta aduiseth that such meat and drinke should chiefly be vsed as is of force to dull and extinguish the strength and working of the poison and keepe it from spreading it selfe through the bottome of the stomacke both which properties hee saith are performed by drinking of pure wine that is sweet and old or by drinking of milk and eating of garlicke onyons or leekes Aetius approueth the eating of garlicke and such other sharpe and hot meats in the beginning but not after least the poyson thereby might become more forcible but he forbiddeth the drinking of wine Neuerthelesse most writers doe esteeme it very medicinable to drinke strong wine at the very beginning as wel as to eat hot and sharpe meats And some like of grosse and slimie meats also that by encreasing of obstructions may the better hinder the piercing of the poyson to the principall parts But after fiue or fix daies be past from the beginning then will it be best to reduce all to mediocritie as was sayd before and forbeare very hot meats and drinkes Then will it be good to vse drinke of meane strength in which are steeped the leaues of pimpinella that is burnt and the flowers of marygolds A Iulep also made of firupe of cichorie and the decoction of sorrell and barly is good to drinke This Iulep following is very goodalso to vse Take of the iuyce of limmons and citrons each halfe an ounce of the iuice of sower pomgranates two ounces sorrell water and rose water each an ounce spring water boyled as much as will suffice Make heereof a 〈◊〉 according to art of which it is good to drinke often Rost meats are not so good to be vsed as meats boised especially in some liquor that opening simples apt to procure vrine are sod in Their bread should be made of the best wheat and well leuened Of fruits they may vse walnut sigges and almons and some say that chesnuts haue a propertie to doe good Let such as accompanie the sicke at their meat take heed they can not of any meat they haue tasted And some thinke it dangerous also to drinke in the cup or glasse that they drinke in except it be first very well washt The vse of vineger and sower fruits or herbes is thought good Some admonish the bitten body not to touch the cornell tree nor rest within the shadow of it or the tree called Sanguinaria which is the female cornell tree or shrubbe nor to sleepe vnder the sernice tree but to shunne them for the space of a whole yeere because these trees are reported to haue such a kind of propertie in them as will quickly hasten forward their madnes Sleepe especially if it be much is hurtfull till the strength of the poison be well abated or till the sicke be much distempered for want of sleepe Venerious actions should be forborne a yeere together It were very requisite that the sicke body should be kept indifferent loose or soluble all the time of his sickenes or infirmitie and to goe once or twise in a day to stoole and pisse freely if he can Now for the better dilucidation of the manner of curing this kind of maladie I thought it good heere to insert the method and meanes which Franciscus Valleriola a very learned Physitian vsed in curing one far gone toward madnes by the biting of a mad dogge This man was bitten a little aboue one of his ancles Obser lib. 3. Obser 3. and thereupon was carried by his freinds to a village called Les Sainctes Maries which of the vulgar sort is accounted a place sacred or hallowed for the curing of such as are bitten by madde dogges where he was washed bathed in the sea the space of nine daies together after which he was brought home againe to Arles where he dwelt the wound being growne very grieuous He looked with a writhen or warped countenance vsing little speech and seemed full of meditations like such as be troubled with melancholie The wound was of a pale or ashie colour and full of venemous matter and therefore speedily to be taken in hand Finding his body very costiue he caused this clyster to be prepared for him â„ž Malnar althaeae cum suis radicib matrum violar branc vrsin mercurialis melissophylli ana M j. flor chamomel melilot rorismarin ana P j. epithym â„¥ ss furfuris macri P j. Fiat omnium decoctio in iure capitis castrati omasorum ad lib. j. coletur In colutura adde cathol â„¥ j. Confect hamech Ê’ iij. ol violar â„¥ iiij sacchari rub â„¥ j. Fiat Clyster This clyster hauing performed his operation he presently made the wound to be cauterized with a hot iron and for the more speedie remouing of the crust or scabbe caused by the searing he anointed it with a mixture made of fresh butter the yelke of an egge and swines grease and sometime he mixed Vnguentum basilicum with it While these things were in hand he gaue preseruatiues inward for the subducting of the poisonous infection and because he was a plethorike young man and of bad humors also he did both let him blood purge him For he feared not the recoyling or drawing inward of the venemous matter
But yet because I am loth altogether to frustrate their expectation of somewhat from me that may helpe to direct such as be nouices in the practise of physicke for ordring the cure heereof when occasion shal happen to be offred I wil in few words shew them how I would proceed in hope of their helpe if any such came vnder mine hand First therefore if the byting be new and fresh I would binde the bitten member about foure or fiue fingers distance aboue the bitten place if it were in such a part as I might well doe it or lay on some astrictiue plaster such as before hath been set downe for the better restraint of the poysons passage especially in sanguine or cholericke bodies whose waies and passages are large and the heat of their complexions some motine to the speedier working of it the quantitie and qualitie of the venome being considered withall But in bodies of grosse humours and cold complexions the regard of such astriction may bee the lesse for that in such bodies the poyson findeth not his passage or operation so easie This done I would note whether the wound were great or small if great I would suffer it to bleed well if small I would enlarge it and make it bleed sufficiently hauing first washt away the foame or flauer of the dogges mouth with the vrine of a boy or some other good lotion either by circination as hath beene shewed before or scarification or leeches then set on a great cupping glasse with a good flame if the bitten part would receine it or a cupping horne after the remouing heereof I would wash and foment it againe with some strong brine or salt water tempered with the best sort of treacle or with the lotion that Ambrosius Paraus vsed to the Lady Grons daughter and lastof all I would foment it in such maner as Iulian Palmarius hath aduised with a mixture of his powder if I had it in a readinesse and giue of the same powder inward according to his counsell forbearing to torture the bitten body with cauteries as much as I could and rest only vpon the operation of this so much commended Antidote which I would continue for the space of 40. daies at the least still fomenting and bathing the hurt place euery day as I should finde occasion and withall vse meanes to keepe the fore from healing vp al that while though Palmarius affirme it needlesse so to doe But if this powder were not in readinesse then after the binding washing and clensing with such lotions as before are named and cupping with scarification I would seare it either with an actuall or a potential cautery according to the doctrine before deliuered by the learned procuring the fall or comming away of the scabbe or crust with what speed I could and keeping open the sear a sufficient time vsing euacuations by purging bleeding and sweating in their due times and inward corroboratiues and diet c. in such sort as hath beene specified But except I should see the greater occasion I wold in stead of opening a vaine in the arme vse a practise that none of them haue spoken of that I haue read namely the opening of the hemorrhoidall vaines in the fundament For so by all probabilitie the venemous pollution would be drawen downe thither from the princip all parts without detriment to any other If many daies were past before the bitten bodie came to my curing I would deale with him as Doctor Palmarius counselleth if I had his Antidote in a readines or els as Franciscus Valleriola dealt with his patient or like differing from his practise Prognosticke notes ALl that be bitten oâ— a mad dogge if they bee neglected or badly cured wil fall into the passion of fearing water called hydrophobie at one time or other and much the rather if they be repleat with euill humors But all this may easily be preuented if at the first there bee good order taken For fewe haue miscaried thereby that presently haue vsed good meanes to withstand it Petrus Salius saith that in his countrie it hath been long time obserued for truth that if such as be bitten by a mad creature chance to touch the plant or tree called Cornus or Sanguinaria that is the Cornell or dogbery tree within the space of one yeere after his biting he will certainely fall mad And some also affirme that if the bitten doe sleepe vnder the tree called Sorbus which we call a Seruice tree he will doe the like Though the biting be but small and in the vpper part of the skinne yet all speed ought to be vsed for cure thereof For otherwise it wil be a very hard matter to preuent the mischiefe depending thereon The poison conteined in the slauer or spittle of a mad dogge is hot and drie malignant and contagious causing a distemper like it selfe in all such as bee hurt thereby which if it be suffred to lie on the skinne of any part of the body and not quickly washt away with salt water vrine or such like it will infect the whole body though it be not bitten The fome or slauer of a mad dogs mouth touching ones lippes or tongue will so quickly and easilie peirce though those parts that it wil very speedily induce madnes if it be not quickly preuented which is verified by a historie out of Caelius Orlerianus which makes report of a certaine Semster or Sewster that while she was making a shirt a dogge that she no whit suspected to be madde snatcht at the shirt and rent it with his teeth which rent place she afterward held betwixt her teeth to plucke it out streight that she might the better sowe it euen but by this houlding betwixt her teeth she so lickt the bitten rent of the cloth that the third day after she became starke mad and so died That this is like to be true heare what Guiliel Iâ—b Obser Cuâ—at Câ—…rur Obser 86. Fabritius a very excellent and expert Chirurgian of our time reporteth of the like in his chirurgicall obscruations and cures A certaine Matron or ancient woman hapt to be met in the way by a madde dogge who catching hould of one of her coates tare it in two or three places and so went his way without hurting any part of her body at all This woman not knowing or supposing the dogge to be mad at her comming home sowed vp the rents of her coat and when she had done bit of the thred with her teeth without perceiuing any hurt at all thereby till three monthes were past After which she began by little and little to grow melancholike and troubled with imaginations horrible visions and feares and lastly she fell into a great loathing of water wine and liquid things and moreouer to barke like a dog loosing the knowledge of such as were vsually in the house with her and offring to bite them continuing in this state till she died The scratching also with the nailes as well as
night hee began to rage and though tormented with intollerable thirst and a troublesome feuer yet could he not be forced to drinke any kinde of drinke or water which is a common accident in this disease Then was hee strongly bound to a post yet so great was his furie and madnesse that he had almost broken the cords with a desire to runne vpon the by-standers crying away away and sometime howling like a dog gaping wide tormented with thirst and as it were holding his mouth open for drinke but when it was cast into his mouth with a spout hee would tremble and quake for feare continuing in this manner most cruelly vexed with insufferable thirst and hellish heat and burning vntill the second day from the beginning of his madnesse was neere ended and then hee yeelded vp the ghost in wonderfull torture and no lesse terrour and astonishment to the beholders being the 36 day after his biting Iulianus Palmarius also writeth that hee knew a man of the country bitten with a mad dogge who in like maner became mad so furious that he was bound with cordes for restraint of his fury and the hurt he was like to doe vnto others Yet sometime this man found intermission of his fits in such sort as he then would speake and talke sensiblie and would yeld to reason And on a time in such a kinde of intermission and sensiblenesse making account hee should die very shortlie he desired such as were about him that he might take his leaue of his children which being permitted he embraced and kissed them very louingly and very shortly after hee yeelded vp the ghost But about 7 dayes after these his children became as mad as their father and being vexed with the like tortures died within few daies very pitifully tormented Hieronymus Cardanus in like maner sheweth that one Alexander Brasca a nobleman of Venice Lib. 2. Conten Medico Tract 5. hauing a dogge fallen mad that he exceedingly loued which for his madnesse was taken to be hanged this man in a foolish kindnesse would needs kisse his beloued dogge before his execution But such was the sequel of this kissing as himselfe became mad also in very short space after and died very miserablie Matthaeus de Gradibus saith Cons 82. that one Iohn Coqueran by the only putting of his hand into a mad dogs mouth became mad himselfe thereby And P. Andraeas Matthiolus testifieth that he saw two men vexed with this kinde of madnesse by the only sprinkling of a mad dogges slauer vpon them without being bitten at all Baptista Codronchus a late writer Iab 1. de Hydrophob cap. 5. saith he knew a certaine rich man of Saint Peters castle in the dition of Bononia who seeing a little dogge of his that hee dearely loued enraged so with madnesse as he ran vp and downe gaping and foaming at the mouth he supposing that some bone had stucke in his mouth or throat would needs trie with his hand the plucking out therof but was for his kindnesse so bitten by this his darling that thereupon he became cruelly tortured with the feare of water and conuulsions and the seuenth day after in great miserie and torment tooke his leaue of this world He was twice or thrice cast into the water and enforced to drinke it but without any reliefe at all Heereby we may see not onely the cruelty of this kinde of poyson but also learne to take heed of it in time But though the foame or slauer of a mad dogge be by all mens consent of a most virulent nature yet Petrus Salius Diuersus a very learned and intelligent Physitian cannot be perswaded that by only touching of the skinne of ones bodie it can be of force to procure madnesse except the skin bee broken in that part which the foame toucheth Yet surely I for my part doe verily beleeue that if it be suffred to lie long vpon the sound skin it will worke such an effect in the end in some sooner in some later according to the constitution and disposition of the partie bitten and the poysonous degree of such filthy slauer Philostratus an ancient writer Hist 6. lib. 18. in vita Apollonij Tyanei hath a storie of a young man that being bitten with a mad dog was within a little while after so altred from all humane manners and conditions that he became altogether dog-like in his behauiour For he would barke and sit on the ground like a dogge and when he offred to go it was still vpon all foure vsing his hands as his feet as apes doe continuing in this wretched estate the space of thirty dayes together Iulian Palmarius before named affirmeth that hee had seene horses oxen sheepe and other cattel become mad vpon the eating of such straw or hay as mad swine had tumbled in Yet this is a mischiefe that few people hitherto haue greatly made account of which slight regard of a thing so full of perill hath beene one speciall cause that hath moued mee to publish the danger thereof in such maner as by the beholding of other mens harmes the readers heereof may heerafter become more circumspect and warie and when occasion serueth seeke remedy with speed This kind of madnesse is called in greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in latine Rabies or Furor of the Greeke verbe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1. Rabie percellor insanio The greeke word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 doth also signifie furorem furie but that is such a maner of fury as belongeth to reasonable creatures rather thē bruit beasts And Rabies taken rather for doggish-madnes then furor hath this propertie attributed to it that although the sicke therof be extreamly tormented with thirst and heat yet doe they so wonderfully abhorre and feare the sight yea as some haue obserued the very noise or speech of water and other drinke as they will in no wise taste thereof but tremble and quake when they looke on it and therefore by all meanes auoid it Some in stead of rabies call it hydrophobia that is to say water-feare But this seemeth rather a consequent to rabies and to come vpon the stage in the very last act of this tragedie My purpose was not in a matter of such a subiect as may be shut vp in so smal a roome as this to stand curiously vpon any bookish method for the handling heere of but rather as compendiouslie without multiplicitie of words as I could to set abroach the knowledge thereof in our vulgar language in manner of a caueat or watch-word to al such as haue vse and dealing with dogges though notwithstanding I thinke it not amisse heere to shew some definition or description of this infirmitie for the plaine explanation of it although very few haue vouchsaued so much in the treatie hereof therfore for auoiding of tediousnes I will produce only one which in my conceit doth more significantly expresse the nature of this infirmitie then any other
returned againe which being yet then also asswaged they vexed her the next yeare following and the very next yeere after this she had to grieuous fits thereof and the next after that three and this last yeere two Her fits in the three former yeeres were oftner but shorter In almost euery one of the mutations of these times her paines still began in her bitten arme I feare it will bee her death shortly Of all this I am a witnesse and haue been still present c. Thus far D. Abel Roscius This story is produced as a thing of rare contingence The chiefe cause of the so often redintegration of these mad sits in this Gentlewoman in mine opinion was for that the wound at the first curing thereof was healed vp to soone For it should haue been kept open and from healing the space of fortie dayes at the least and again because the hot iron was applied before sufficient abstertion and correction of the venemous matter conteined therein by conuenient lotions and the application of ventozes or horseleeches to the place affected Aetius an ancient writer reporteth a story of a Phylosopher that being bitten with a mad dogge and at length perceiuing his growing into that infirmitie went to wash himselfe in a bath wherein hee thought hee saw a dogge Whereupon musing a pretty while at length he tooke courage and lept into the bath saying what haue dogs to doe with bathes and striuing against the growing infirmitie dranke his belly full of the bath water and so holpt himselfe Dotage or idle talking hath been noted to bee one speciall accident that vsually followeth such as are growing into the extremitie of this cuill thogh alwaies it falleth not out so For Peter Salius before named who had good experience of this bad maladie saith he knew some in great extremitie without any show or token of dotage and so sensible that being persuaded to drinke at such time as they haue trembled at the sight thereof haue requested the offerers of it that they would close their eyes or blindfold them that they might not see the drinke or water offered them and then bad them cast into their mouthes what they thought good or any thing else mixt with their drinke that might be for their helpe And when they grinned or gnashed with their teeth and after a doggish fashion were forced by the strength of the poyson working in them to offer to byte such as were neere them they would pray the by-standers to hold or binde them fast that they might not hurt any body by their byting wishing them not to put their hands or any part of their bodies to their mouthes lest they should snap at them for so the poysonous infection enforced them to doe These saith hee I haue knowen to lament their owne miserie being greatly grieued that they sought not for helpe in due time committing themselues in all things to Gods mercy crauing of him forgiuenesse of their sinnes c. If a man that is fallen madde by the byting of a mad dog doe byte an other man woman or child they likewise will be mad in time except by good meanes it be speedily preuented Yet this madnes caused by a mad mans byting is much more easily preuented and cured then the madnesse of such as haue it immediately from a dog Howbeit the byting of some mad men or women that is such as be blacke or red hayred and freckled is worse than the byting of other colours and among other such as be fasting It hath beene much debated among Writers which should bee the chiefe and most speciall place affected in this maladie some thinking that the synnowes were because of the grieuous convulsions that the sicke haue been vexed with somtimes Other that the brayne in which resteth the seat of the reasonable soule Some the mouth of the stomacke obseruing their maner of vomiting yexing and insatiable thirst Some the heart onely But others whose opinion liketh me best doe beleeue that not onely place or part of the body is affected therwith but many as the heart stomacke midrife head c. For if the venome doe first peirce the veines or arteries it passeth directly to the liuer and heart If it first take possession of the synnowes it mounteth thereby to the braine the membranes or skins enclosing it whereupon follow such terrible convulsions as they are many times afflicted withall and by consent from thence the mouth of the stomacke and consequently the heart For they are not troubled with any feuer till the heart bee touched which indeed is the part that all manner of poyson either mediately or immediately doth inuade Now if I be asked why mad dogs doe so greatly feare water The cause of hydrophobia or water-feare For answer I will produce the opinions of sundry learned Writers concerning this point Hieronymus Capinaccius out of Galen de theriaca ad Pisonem bringeth this for one reason Namely because a madde dog is so exceeding dry as hee hath great need and desire of moysture but being distract in his minde and perseuerance despiseth it and flieth from that which might doe him good This and diuers other opinions of ancient and some moderne Writers are learnedly disproued by Baptista Codronchus who afterward yeeldeth his approbation to others more like to be true But why do men which are reasonable creatures feare also and tremble at the sight of water or other moysture or liquors when they be mad by the byting of a mad dog This saith Capinaccius proceedeth from the great abundance of melancholy that sendeth vp a darke blacke vapour to the braine whereby the animall spirit is made so thicke and cloudie that the action thereof is hurt and perturbed But why doe they feare water more than any other obiect Because of the want of moysture which is in such a manner as the moyst forme of water hath gotten a fearefull impression hereof in the brayne But if water be brought them why is their feare sometime increased and sometime they bee ready to vomit at the sight thereof They be alwaies in feare though they see no water but when they see it their feare is much more increased at the beholding thereof calling sometime to minde their byting with an imagination that they see a dogge therein and they become apt or ready to vomit because the mouth of the stomacke is affected with poyson whereby is stirred vp therein a certaine heauie and grieuous sense that is imparted to the inward sense and is a cause that from the braine is imparted that loathsome and hurtfull desiring power whereby like as if the animall spirit be rightly offred from the braine to the mouth of the stomacke the appetite is good and thereto agreeth the attractiue power of the stomacke euen so while there is offred from the brayne a vitious or corrupt appetiting facultie there followeth loathing and aptnesse to vomit whereto assenteth the expulsiue faculty which is the cause that they
vomit vp such water as they drinke Heerewithall may reason be inferred for the reconciling of two famous Physitians that seeme to haue vttered contrarie opinions or doctrines that is Galen and Auicen This man saith that mad men die vpon the drinking of water and Galen contrarywise saith that the drinking of it is good for them To which it is answered that if the madnesse be in the beginning the drinking of water is wholsome but if it be farre gone and the feare continueth then doe they die by drinking thereof because the vitall spirit is almost wholely dissipate so that vpon small occasion and very speedily it is extinguished Iulian Palmarius thinketh that whatsoeuer the right cause of their fearing of water may be there is some extreame antipathy or contrariety betwixt that madnesse and water because beside this exceeding feare of water it hath beene obserued by experience that if the new bitten wound bee but washed with water the bitten body can afterward very hardly or neuer be cured freed frō madnes for that the water by this antipathie driueth forceth this kind of poison so deeply into the body as it cannot be fetcht out againe or very hardly Therfore it behoueth such as be bitten to take heed of washing the wounds with fresh water This opinion of Palmarius seemeth very truth-like Petrus Salius very litle differing in opinion from Palmarius saith that the poison of doggish-madnes followeth no peculiar temperament but is a poyson of the whole substance which being communicated to man very slily or secretly polluting the humors without any sense or perseuerance of hurt and by little and little creeping from part to part as soone as euer it toucheth any principall part it disturbeth and greatly vexeth it causing great thirstinesse At which time if the sicke doe drinke or take any liquid thing they are tormented very extreamely in their inward parts This cannot be by reason of any temperature because they feele one kind of torture whether they drinke hot liquor or cold but by the peculiar nature of that kinde of poyson which as it is a poyson hurtfull to man for the whole substance thereof so hath it an antipathie or contrary disposition in it to all liquid things by which it becommeth so exasperate and cruell as the inward parts by the terrible pangs and grypings thereof are more miserably vexed then otherwise they should be This saith Salius I haue noted to be the cause from whence they haue euen from the beginning abhorred liquid things because all with one consent haue affirmed that by the drinking of them they haue been exceedingly afflicted After the tryall whereof they haue loathed and detested all sorts of liquors so greatly as the onely sight of them hath giuen occasion to turne them into the like tortures and sometime worser This opinion seemeth so well to bee liked of Codronchus that he nothing dissenteth from it But otherwise so different haue been the opinions of other Writers as the true cause of this Hydrophohie or water-feare seemeth so secret and hidden as the most learned and ingenuous haue been and are encombred by the search thereof and therefore for breuitie I leaue it and passe to the cure of this miserable and fearefull kind of madnesse The Cure WHEN one is bitten of a dogge and resteth doubtfull whether he were mad or not it were good to make a tryall by moystning a peece of bread in the bloudy wound and offering it to a hungry dog which if he refuse to eat it is very like that the byting dog was mad For this tryall hath been found more assured than the giuing it to Pullen For so exquisite is the smelling sense of dogs as they are able to discerne therby that poisonous infection which they are so apt to be hurt by But hens and poultry haue been seene to eat such kind of bread or nut kernels as haue been moystned in the wound without any hurt thereby It were good also to note or hearken whether he did byte any other creature else or whether he were noted to be afraid of water or the sight beholding of looking glasses or other bright things If the byting dog were knowen or found to bee mad the wound that he hath made be great suffer it to bleed wel a good while together that some part of the poison may come forth with the bloud But withall let the bitten member bee presently bound about three or fower fingers bredth aboue the wound with a garter or such like thing reasonable hard for the better restraint of the poysons piercing For this kind of practise by the testimonie of Galen and the experience of others hath been found very profitable in prohibiting the speedy piercing of poyson by the bytings of serpents and venemous creatures Yet if the part bound doe grow benummed senseles by the hardnes of the binding let it be slackned somewhat lest the bound member might thereby be mortified But if the bitten wound be in such a part as cannot be handsomly bound then let some astringent medicine bee applyed some reasonable distance aboue the wound such as this Take oyle of roses and myrtils each an ounce of bole armenake sanguis draconis myrtils and sumach each halfe a dram Temper these together with the white of an egge well beaten and a litle vineger then spread it vpon a linnen cloth and binde it aboue the wound moystning it with vineger or laying to fresh when it is dry Or if the rest cannot presently be gotten then in the meane time till they may be gotten vse the white of an egge beaten with a little vineger Yet alwaies prouided that these or such like astringent medicines be applyed quite beyond the place of the poysons abiding For if the poyson haue gotten beyond them they may be a meanes to force it further into the bodie But if the wound be small and nothing perceiued but the foame or slauer about it then wash away the foame with the vrine of a boy or with lie or such like and then dilate or enlarge it by paring awaie the flesh round about that the hole may bee round which some call circination For by this meanes the wound will the more easily be kept open and not heale so soone as otherwise it would Which maner of practize Galen doth approue Lib. de theriaca ad Pisonem Cap. 16. Some only scarrifie or scotch the skinne round about it that it may bleed reasonable well After the vse of circination or scarificatiō let ventozes or cupping-glasses be set on with a good flame and then either cauterize it with a hot iron or rather with a cauterie of gold except the place be sinowe and very sensible This cauterizing is commended by all writers as the most sure remedy for the extinguishing of the virulent matter contained in the wound which though it be terrible to the eye yet the pain therof continueth not so long as that which is caused by
dockes boyled in water to procure it to bleed sucking it first or rubbing it strongly with the hand or with scarification or by setting to of horseleches or ventozes It is sayd that the ashes of a fig-tree cast vpon the bitten place being closed vp will open it againe But for the more suretie it were good withall to scarrifie it This plaster following is much commended to lay on the sore Take of the ashes of crabfishes burnt of garlicke mynt gentium aristolochia rotunda each two drams bay-berries bole armeniake each a dram Temper them with the ioyse of mynts and make a plaster and wash the place often with the vrine of a yoong boy This powder following is very excellent to bee cast on the vlcer twice or thrice a weeke Take of the powder of precipitata of bezer-stone and the powder of angelica rootes each a scruple Mix them together This doth wonderfully draw forth the malignity and is of great force against poyson Inwardly also must be vsed Antidotes that haue vertue against such kinde of poyson as that which is mentioned of Galen by the prescript of Asinius made in this maner Take of fresh water crab fishes dried and beaten to powder ten drams of gentium seuen rams of frankencense one dram Mix them and giue the bitten body euery day three drams in water to drinke for the space of 40. daies together Aetius putteth but fiue drams of gentium to the rest Another mixture very like this is set downe by Diofcorides in this sort Burne crabfishes with the twigs or proinings of vitis alba that is white brionie and reserue the powder of gentium roots thus Take of crabfish powder three drams with which may bee mixt the powder of gentium one dram and halfe of pure wine six ounces Let so much be drunke fower daies together which being ended let the double or triple quantitie be drunke certaine other dayes Some compound them thus Take of gentian roots two drams of crabfish powder three drams of terra sigillata halfe an ounce Mix a dram of this powder with some fiue or six ounces of the decoctioÌ„ of crabfishes and giue it euery day to drinke This composition I like very well and so doe I this which followeth described by Ioseph Quercetano Take of gentian and valerian rootes each an ounce and halfe of Consolida minor which some take for the herbe called Selfe heale but other for the daysie of dry rew and penny-royall that some call organy each a handfull of mummia and crabfishes calcined each an ounce Boile these together in wine Of this decoction giue the bitten body about two or three ounces in the morning fasting for the space of eight daies together Vntill things of greater efficacie can be prepared and made ready it is thought profitable to giue the bitten body some of the mad dogges liuer burnt to ashes and enioyne them withall to a conuenient diet as meats of good iuice rather moyst theÌ„ dry that the bodie be loose prepared with opening roots that haue vertue or power to procure vrine Aetius commendeth the giuing of Treacle about the quantitie of a filberd nut the three first dayes saying that he neuer knew any fall into hydrophobie that is the feare of water which is the extreame and last act of this tragicall infirmitie that vsed to drinke treacle And Petrus Salius also vpon his owne often experience giueth it the price aboue all inward medicines that euer hee made triall off The powder of harts horne burnt and the bezour-stone are very good also to be vsed heerein Some beside treacle aduise also the vse of mithridate or the confection called Diatessaron which specially is commended against the byting of a madde dogge to be giuen also after the poyson is spred into the vaines and arteries because they thinke that the inward parts are heereby fortified Howbeit Capinaccius sayth that the great Antidotes among which these are the cheefe should not be giuen at all after one is attached with madnesse although before that time they ought to be vsed with al speed tempered with sorrell water or the decoction of lapatium acutum which some call herbe-patience or some other apt or conuenient liquor There is no remedie more vsuall or better hoped off among the vulgar sort then presently after the byting to wash the bitten body two or three daies together in sea water Which hath beene found very effectuall in some bodies of good complexions or in light hurts but it is not catholicon that is to say it seemeth not in all persons Nether will it doe any good at all after the first three or fower dayes from the byting This practise was first deuised and vsed by such as dwell neere the sea whereupon such as haue dwelt farther from thence in imitation of these haue cast their bitten bodies into brackish water which is so far from doing good as it is indeed exceeding hurtfull by reason of the antipathie betwixt his kinde of poyson and fresh water from which it is very little different Neuerthelesse Corn-lius Celsus aduiseth that such as be entring into hydrophobie should suddenly bee cast vnawares into a poole or riuer of water and if they be vnskilfull in swimming to suffer then to sinke into the water as it may run well into their mouths then to raise vp their heads again But if they haue skil in swimming then to sowse their heads somtime vnder the water that they may drinke whether they wil or not For so both their thirst fear of water wil be amended as he saith But in this practise he wisheth one thing to be looked vnto that is least their weake bodies be caught with a crampe or conuulsion which if it happen he wisheth them to be put into a vessell of hot oyle after they haue been taken out of the poole But how weake a remedy this is hath been by example declared before out of Andraeas Baâ—cius Elpidianus Some put the bitten body into a bath and make him sweat therein as long as he is able to endure it the wound being kept open that the poison thereof might the more easily be soked out then doe they make him drinke a good draught of pure vnmixt wine which is esteemed a thing contrarie to all poisons This being done three daies together they thinke the bitten body safe from all danger This practise is somewhat agreeable to that which the Philosopher before spoken of vsed on himselfe that Actius maketh mention of But Oribasius would not that any should aduenture to bathe themselues before 20. daies after the biting were expited and some 40. daies and Auicen admitteth it only in the declination of the euill that is after all other medicinall practises which indeed is most agreable to reason Petrus Salius saith that the vulgar sort of his countrie people put so great confidence in the vertue of holy bread and holy water that whosoeuer eateth and drinketh thereof from the hand
of a Priest shall neede none other remedie then onely this for his cure But of what force this superstitious remedy is he sheweth by an example of one bitten by a madde dog who very orderly and deuoutly had taken this sanctified bread and water and had the wound well healed vp as he thought Yet about two monthes after catching a great blow or brusing vpon the botome of his belly he was presently vexed with a feuer and a doggish madnes with all the symptomes and consequencies that vsually accompany this manner of madnes and very shortly after in great wretchednes and miserie tooke his leaue of this world After the first three or foure daies from the beginning of the hurt if the venome be perceiued to be of so quicke operation as it is dispersed through the body let purging be vsed or if it seeme to be of slowe proceeding as in flegmatike and melancholike bodies whose humours are grosse and passages narrow let a longer time be past before purging hauing yet a care to apply conuenient remedies to the bitten place And when purging is perceiued to be needfull then let it be performed as the occasion shall seeme to require although the matter be neither concocted nor doe boile or mooue in the body The like consideration some hould of phlebotomie though Salius can in no fort like of this in any body tainted with any kind of poison And indeed the ancient Greekes as Dioscorides Galen Orâ—basius Paulus and Actuarius where they speake of this infirmitie doe show by their silence or not mentioning of phlebotomie to dislike thereof and some excellent men of the late writers as Fracastorius Fernelius and Capinaccius do disswade the practise of it But such as do approne it doe withall aduise that it be not in any wise put in practise in the beginning least the poison that remaineth then about the bitten place might thereby be drawne from thence into the inward parts of the body Neuerthelesse when such practise hath beene neglected as ought to haue beene vsed at the first and the venome is perceiued to be spred throughout the body then is it aduised as very requisite to open a veine especially if the body be plethoricke or full of humours whether it be in the biting of a dogge or any other venemous beast Or for a more generall doctrine this may passe that in bodies cacochymicke that is where the humours be corrupted or badly tempered purging should rather be vsed then letting of blood But in plethoricke or full bodies letting of blood rather then purging And where is both corruption of humours and plenitude there should both be vsed the conditions still being obserued that haue been before aduised Baptista Codronchus seing the diuersitie of opinions concerning this point and the reasons pro contra Lib. 2. de Hydroph Cap. 6. as a man not well knowing whether part to approue concludeth with these words Nos igitur in hoc ancipâ—ti casu c. That is to say We therefore in this doubtfull case hauing a respect to both would perswade that there should be euacuation by blood though not by cutting a vaine but rather by ventozes set to the lower parts by which may be drawne out more or lesse blood as we list according to the ability of the body and so may both the plenitude be abated and the venome be diuerted and drawne from the vpper downe to the lower extreame parts But now returning to purging The tenderer bodies may be purged with purgations made of sena epithymum polypodium blacke hellâ—bor and such like But the stronger with pils made of hellebor elaterium veratrum album and the most vchement medicines as antimonium and such like Petrus Salius a man of great experience in these doggishmaladies preferreth the vse of Elleborus albus prepared in such sort as he setteth downe before any purgers whatsoeuer in these affects Lib. de affect par ium cap. 19. except in weaklings fearefull extenuate bodies streight brested or trobled with a cough or other affects of the brest His manner of preparing and vsing it he hath set downe at large and therefore for breuities sake I passe it ouer referring the Reader to the place in the Margent cited This and other strong purges before named beside their forcible expelling of the poison haue also a secret qualitie like either to the offending humours or the doggish poison by which they deliuer the body thereof This following is a very good purge in this case Rost a great onion in the embers hauing first made a hole in the top of it and filled it with good treacle then stampe it and straine out the iuyce with water of pimpinella or carduus beneâ—ictus and mixe therewith a sufficient quantity of extractum ellebâ—ri and a little of the confection of Hamech and so giue it for a purgation Elaterium may be giuen to the quantitie of their graines in both or some proper decoction Or the seeds of Cataputia Some to purge also by vrine make a medicine of Cantharides mixt with equall quantitie of hulled lentils and giue thereof halfe a scruple at once many dayes together This is esteemed profitable by reason that the poyson hereby is led to the bladder and expelled with bloody vrine But Rhasis and Ioh. Damascenus two famous Physitians prepare cantharides as followeth Seperate from them their wings heads and feet and infuse them a night and a day in sower butter milke then drie them and mixe them with the flower of lentils and wine and so make them vp in trochises or little round cakes of a scruple-weight apeece Of these little cakes they gaue euery day one in some conuenient liquor many daies together And if it chanced by the vse of these that the sicke did pisse blood they gaue him new milke to drink which did amend the acrimonie or sharpnes of the vrine remedie the bleeding and so did they preuent the feare of water Yet some of good iudgement and practise bee very iealous and doubtfull in giuing cantharides into the body though neuer so skilfully prepared In the beginning of the disease cantharides are very profitable to lay to the bitten part But into the body ought none of these vchemeÌ„t purges by stoole vrine be giuen in the beginning while the poysonous matter resteth in the bitten part only or neere it Nether is phebotomie then to be admitted as hath beene noted before least the hurtfull pollution bee drawen thereby from the outward to the inward parts and therefore better to be vsed with the latest than with the soonest If in any diease Extrema extremis according to the rule of Hippocrates ought to be put in practise then surely in this as most both of the ancient and moderne Physitians haue counselled For after the poyson heereof is once dispersed through the body then will it not as they say be vanquished without the helpe of extreame and very violent remedies All which ought to be vsed
where he sayth that the case is very desperate and hopelesse where this doggish madnesse is not holpen by gining of white ellebor well prepared It is good for the sicke to drinke whay Smithes water sorrell or lettice water which may easily be giuen them before they begin to feare water But after they once beginne to feare it let them be kept from the sight both of it and all other liquid things For nothing doth put them into such horrour and trembling and vexation and confusion as the beholding of these and some other bright things It were good also that they might not see such meat as is prouided for them Yet if they refufe to eat or drinke they must bee forced therto although this be noted commonly in them that they swallow with great difficultie As there may be deuices to keepe them from the sight of their meat that is prepared for their eating so may drinke be spowted into their mouthes or downe their throats with a syring or giuen them in a suckling bottle or such like Some not yet come to the feare of water but being at the point thereof haue suddenly vpon the sight of water fallen very grieuouslie into the feare of it by the sudden motion and stirring of that virulent and poysonnous matter contained in the body which in nature is contrary to water Some very superstitiously take vpon them to cure this disease with words and charmes which because it is vngodly and deuilish I passe ouer as a thing much more offensiue to God then healthfull to man When the cure is brought either neere or to an end by the vse of such meanes as haue beene declared it would be very profitable and to good purpose after a clister giuen if the body bee costiue to cause the bitten body to sweat in reasonable sort for the vtter expelling and vapouring out of the relickes and remainder of the venemous matter as well by inward as outward meanes And before the sore be quite healed vp a tryall may be made whether any of the venemous matter remaine yet vnremoued by the application of such things as haue beene before aduised for to know whether the byting dog were mad or not as the kernels of walnuts or bread such other layd to the sore offred to hungry dogs but first the sore place should be so sweetned from the sent smel of such salues and medicines as haue beene vsed thereto as dogs by reason of them might not take any dislike of the bread that is offred them And also triall may bee made by setting to the fundaments of cockes or hens as hath beene sayd And though the cure be as well performed as the skill of the Phisitian or Chyrurgian can deuise and no likelihood of any future harme seem to be feared yet for the better assurance and preuention of relapse some aduise as a point of good prouidence that the bitten body should be purged once euery quarter of a yeere and once in fifteene daies to eate a little of the best kind of treacle I haue not read in any mans writings that hath intreated of this doggish euill how dogges may be ordered to keepe them from madnes sauing only in Plinie or the citers of Plinie lib. 19. cap. 5. who sheweth that the ould Phisitians before his time vsed to cut a worme as they call it out of their tongues which indeed is no worme but a sinowy matter round in the fashion of a worme And some to that purpose cut of the end of whelpes tailes after they be fortie daies ould And the same Plinie saith also lib. 8. cap. 40. that the elder and bigger dogges should euery yeere in the dogge daies bee giuen hen-dunge mixt with the meat that they eat For in those daies they are most apt to be caught with madnes but if they chaunce to bee mad before the vse of these meanes then to purge them with elleborus But yet in my conceit vpon the consideration of that which before I haue noted and gathered out of the best most iudiciall practised writers before the purging of them there should be vsed outwardly if they were bitten by any other dogge some of those good remedies that are set downe for men and inwardly to giue them treacle and other good antidotes vsed against this infirmitie But the surest way is to hange them vp or kill them outright least being kept a liue they mischeiue others But for the preuenting and keeping dogs from madnes whether they be sound or bitten by a mad dog no meanes can be vsed more excellent effectuall for the sound then while the dog daies last for the bitten at any time to mixe with their meat or water that they drinke some of this excellent powder following that Doctor Iulian Palmarius hath so much commended All the aduise counsell and manner of curing this fearefull maladie carefully set downe by ancient moderne Phisitians hath no further scope then to helpe such as are not fallen into hydrophobie or feare of water which is the extremitie of this disease and so hard to be holpen as none finding the sicke in that case would aduenture the curing of them but leaue them as past all helpe and recouery Yet now of late yeeres through the carefull and commendable industrie of some notable men there is found out an Antidote of so excellent and pretious vertue as being rightly vsed hath by much experience been tried most sure and infallible not only for preuenting of hydrophobie but also for the curing of such as haue been attached therwith so that the wound be not in any part of the head aboue the mouth nor washt with fresh water For where either of these is found there remaineth either none or very small hope of helpe This pretious Antidote or all-curing medicine Iulian Palmarius a worthy Physitian hath made knowne for the benefite of all sorts of people affirming vpon his owne sundry trials thereof that it is so excellent in vertue as it will cure and helpe the bitten bodies at what time soeuer they be bitten yea though they haue neuer been purged or vsed any of the meanes before set downe or though they be vexed with the hydrophobie the conditions only excepted that are before noted By which meanes the sicke are freed from many tortures that in other manner of curings they be forced to endure This remedie of so rare vertue is made as followeth Take of the leaues of rew veruen of the lesser sage of plantaine the leaues of polypodie common wormewood mint mugwort balme betonie the lesser centaurie of each equall waight These must euery one of them be gathered at such time of the yeere as they be of most force which commonly is in Iune about the full of the Moone Let them be put seuerally into paper bagges and suffred to drie in such a place as neither Sunne nor raine may come neere them least they should grow too dry or wax mouldly
simple wound Yet the paine of biting more then by a simple wound may be by reason of the tearing of the skinne and flesh through the thicknes of the teeth which rather doth bruise then pearce the flesh except they bee pressed very hard And such wounds as make round holes or such as be caused by stones staues stripes and such like are also more painfull and hard to cure then those that be made with swords daggers kniues and such like Wherefore whether a man woman child horse cowe swine or other creature be bitten with a dogge that is not mad or by a man or ape or such like let the biting bee presently fomented or bathed with vineger and nitrum called saltpeter mixt together Or as Oribasius aduiseth lay on a sponge soked in vineger or bruse a fenell root and lay it on with hony Paulus Aegineta counselleth that the bitten wound should first be sprinkled with vineger then beaten with the open or flat hand after which to powre vineger vpon it from a loft the vineger being first tempered with nitrum and then to lay on a newe sponge soked either in vineger alone or tempered with nitrum and so let it lie the space of three daies on the wound moistening the sponge with vineger when it drieth for it healeth perfectly as he saith Or lay on lana succida wet in vineger or an onion brused with hony or the toppes of origanum tempered with salt and onions in equall portions But for bitings that are come to suppuration or matter temper the meale of eruum with hony and lay it on For it is speciall good for such bitings If they be enflamed anoint them with spuma argenti or litharge beaten with water After the place hath been formented as before is said and the sponge remoued some account it very good to lay vpon the wound a cateplasme made of walnut kirnels onions hony and salt boiled together and made vp with wheat meale or farinaerui beaten together It is good to keep the wound open some reasonable time before it be healed vp Amatus Lusitanus being called to the cure of one bitten by an English Mastiue dogge that was not madde kept the wound from healing Curat med Centur. 2. Cura 78. a month together to preuent all danger that might haue hapned Simples of great vertue against the byting of a mad dogge AGrimonià Eupatorium Agrimonie is of force to purge by vrine and giuen either in powder or the iuyce of the greene herbe drunke of one bitten with a mad dogge after three or fower daies from the beginning is of great effect especially if the body haue beene dealt withall before with other conuenient meanes It is very excellent also against the biting or stinging of serpents and other poisons Allium Garlicke is of very great operation against all cold poisons and the biting of a madde dogge Alysson Madwort or Galens Moonewort Galen affirmeth it to be a maruelous herbe in curing such as are bitten of a mad dogge yea though they were entred into madnes It is brought out of Spaine and Italy but nowe some of our Herboristes haue it growing in their gardens Amygdala Almons beaten with hony are very good to lay to the biting of a mad dogge Angelica is very excellent against the biting of a mad dogge or any other venemous beast Aphronitrum Spumamaris tempered with swines grease auaileth much against such bitings Arnoglossa Plantago Lambes tongue or plantain is also very good Beta Beet is commended for a good herbe in this case Betonica Betonie is also greatly commended for such bitings Brassica Colewort This herbe saith Rabbi Moises hath a peculiar propertie against the biting of a mad dogge Bulbi omnes impositi iuuant Cancer fluuiatilis Riuer crabfish The ashes of these fishes as Galen saith are of wonderfull vertue by the propertie of their substance against the biting of a mad dogge either alone or much more by mixing them with gentian and frankencense or olibanum in such sort as there may be offrankencense one part of gentian fiue and of the ashes of crabfishes ten parts This he learned of his Master Aeschrion the Empiricke who alwaies had this powder in a readines prepared as followeth Into a pot of red brasse hee put a number of crabfishes aliue wherein he burnt them so long till they might bee beaten to very fine powder This he did after the rising of the dogstarre the sunne being in the signe of Leo and the Moone being 18. daies ould This powder he gaue the dog-bitten body euery day fortie daies together about a spoonefull at once sprinkled with water But after three or fower daies from the begining he gaue euery day two spoonefuls sprinkled as before An other of his Masters called Pelops did no lesse esteeme the powder of these fishes then the former Oribasius Paulus and Aetius prepare them much after the same manner The vse of them is very much regarded both of ould and late writers Caepe Onion The iuice of onions tempered with hony rue and salt is very profitable against the biting of mad dogges Centaurium minus The lesser centurie is an herbe of very great excellency for the same Chamâ—â—itis Herbe-Iuie or ground pine stamped greene with hony is of vertue against poyson or the byting of any venemous beast Gentiana Gentian or Felwort a dram of the powder of the root of gentian or felwort mixt with a little pepper and herbe grace and giuen inward is profitable for such as are bitten or stung with any maner of beast or for any that hath taken poyson Hyaenaepellis the skinne or hide of the beast Hyaena is of so admirable efficacie saith Aetius that if it be lapt about one that beginneth to be mad of the biting of a mad dogge he will quickly be restored againe to his wits Or the powder of it burnt and giuen in drinke will asswage the affection of hydrophobie Imperatoria masterwort the root with the leaues stamped and layd vpon the bytings of mad dogs or rather venemous beasts will cure them Lapatium Docke or herbe-patience is greatly commended by Aetius to be laid plasterwise on the wound or byting and the decoction therof drunk saying he knew an ould man that vsed none other remedie Lichnis Plumaria Fethertop or wild campion the weight of two drams of the seed heereof beaten to powder and drunke is good for such as are bitten of any venemous beast Lycopsis Anglica Echium Alcibiadion vipers buglosse or wall buglosse this herbe chewed and the iuyce swalowed downe is a most singular remedie against poison and the byting of any venemous beast or the root chewed and laid on the sore worketh the same effect Melissa Melissophyllon Balme drunke in wine or applyed outwardly is of great vertue against the byting of mad dogges or other venemous beasts Nepeta Nep dry is a very good herbe for this purpose It draweth all the circumstant moisture from the deepest parts of the