15+ 



A NATURAL HISTORY 



time they are generally freed from all their Symptoms, tho' not 

 always, fays the learned Baglivi, who obierves, that about the 

 fame time next Year, the Diftemper returns, and will prove fa- 

 tal, if not prevented by the fame mufical Application. 



In Apulia is a Scorpion^ whofe Wounds are accompanied with 

 the fame Effeds as thofe produced by the Tarantula ^ and are only 

 curable by Mufick and Motion.. Thefe Apulian Scortions^ are lefs 

 violent than thofe of Africa, but more virulent tlian thofe in 

 other Parts oi Italy, I fhall only offer two Remarks here. 



1. THA T different Fat tents muji be entenai'rid ivith different 

 Tunes y accordi?tg to the different Symptoms cftheDiJeafe-, in which the 

 great Art of curing them feems to con fid. e. g. Some are roufed 

 by a Pipe, others bv a Timbrel : Some are roufed by a Violin, 

 others by the Plaip ; and all muft be entertain'd with different 

 Airs. The Muiicians therefore make Trial before they can accom- 

 modate the Sound to the Venom j which requires the moft brifk 

 and lively Tunes, to produce a powerful Vibration in the Body 5, 

 and till this be done, the miferable Patients ftand flill, fighing 

 and fobbing. The Vibrations muft be quick and frequent. 



2. DUR ING the T: me of Cure , the wounded People throw them- 

 fehes into a Variety cf Jirange Forms, and behave like Drunkards 



and Madmen .... talking foolifhly .... diverting themfelves with 

 naked Swords, red Cloth, (Sc. but the Sight of any Objed that 

 appears black is terrible to them. Ibid. 



To this Account oi xS\e.^Tarantula, I have (by way of Illuftra— 

 tion) added the Remarks of another learned Foreigner, who fays 

 .... The venemous Bite of the Tarantula is quickly follow'd with 

 a very acute Pain, and foon after, witli Numbnefs, profound 

 Sadnefs, clif^cult Rcfpiration : The PuHe grows weak, the Sight 

 diftnrbed ; Perfons lofe their Knowledge, Senfe, and Motion ; 



and if dellitute of Help, they die The moft tffedual and 



certain Remedy is Mufick: When the Perfon becomes deftiiute of 

 Knowledge and Motion, a Mufician tries a Variety of Airs i. 

 Shou'd he hit on that whofe Harm^ony is fuited to the Patient, 

 he begins to move by fucceffive Degrees, and keeps Time with 

 his Fingers, Arms, Legs, Gfr. he raifcs himfclf, and dances about 

 fix Hours without Intermiliion 



When the Mufick ceafes, the fick Perfon gives over dancing, 

 and is put to Bed: Tlis- fame Air brings him out of Bed for a new 



Dance^, 



