( x58 ) 
the bite of rabid animals. The pulvis antilyffus, a powder compofed 
of equal parts of this lichen and black pepper,* was firft recommended 
as a prefervative againft the rabies canina by Mr. Dampier, brother of 
the celebrated circumnavigator of that name; and by the authority 
of Sir Hans Sloane it was publifhed in the Philofophical Tranfadtions.” 
This powder was afterwards adopted in the London Pharmacopeeia in 
1721, at the defire of Dr. Mead, who appears to have had repeated 
experience of its good effects, and who declares that he had never 
known it to fail where it had been ufed, with the affiftance of cold 
bathing before the hydrophobia came on. He dire¢ts the patient to 
be blooded to the extent of nine or ten ounces; afterwards a dram 
and a half of the powder is to be taken in the morning fafting in 
half a pint of cow’s milk warm, for four mornings fucceflively. After 
thefe four dofes are taken, the patient is directed to go into the cold 
bath every morning for a month, and then three times a week for a 
fortnight longer. 
On the charaéter of Mead the pulvis antilyflus was long retained 
in the London Pharmacopeeia; but on the revifion of that book in 
1788 it was defervedly expunged. 
* This was the original compofition; but the quantity of pepper rendering thé medi- 
cine too hot, the powder was prepared of two parts of the lichen and one of pepper. 
» Val. 20. p49. In the Hi, difters of the Royal Society we are told that a dog became 
rabid, and bit feveral other dogs belonging to the Duke of York ; but by the timely 
vj of this lichen, they were all preferved from madnefs, Vol. 492. and 
v 3 19. % 
FUNGL 
