330 PEDIPALPI — SCORPIONS. 



quoting Kiranides, has the following: "If a raan take a 

 vulgar Scorpion and drown the same in a porringer of oyl 

 in the wane of the moon, and therewithal! afterward anoynt 

 the back from the shoulders to the hips, and also the head 

 and forehead, with the tips of the fingers and toes of one 

 that is a demoniack or a lunatick person, it is reported, that 

 he shall ease and cure him in short time. And the like is 

 reported of the Scorpion's sting joyned with the top of basil 

 wherein is seed, and with the heart of a swallow, all in- 

 cluded in a piece of harts skin."^ The oil of Scorpions, 

 Brassavolus says, "drives out worms miraculously;" and 

 oil of Scorpions' and vipers' "tongues is a most excellent 

 remedy against the plague, as Crinitus testifies, i. 7."^ 

 Galen prescribes Scorpions for jaundice, and Kiranides the 

 same for the several kinds of ague. " Plinius Secundus saith, 

 that a quartan ague, as the magicians report, will be cured 

 in three daies by a Scorpion's Tour last joynts of his tail, to- 

 gether with the gristle of his ear, so wrapped up in a black 

 cloth, that the sick patient may neither perceive the Scor- 

 pion that is applied, nor him that bound it on ... . Sa- 

 monicus commends Scorpions against pains in the eyes, in 

 these verses : 



If I bat some grievous pain perplex thy sight, 



Wool wet in o}'! is good bound on all night. 



Carry about tliee a live Scorpion's eye, 



Ashes of coleworts if thou do apply, 



With bruised fankincense, goat's milk, and wine, 



One night will prove this remedy divine. "^ 



The following Asiatic fable of the Scorpion and the Tor- 

 toise is from the Beharistan of Jamy: A Scorpion, armed 

 with pernicious sting and filthy poison, undertook a journey. 

 Coming to the bank of a wide river, he stopped in great 

 perplexity, wanting height of leg to cross over, yet very un- 

 willing to return. A Tortoise, seeing his situation, and 

 moved with compassion, took him on his back, sprang into 

 the river, and was swimming toward the opposite shore, 

 when he heard a noise on his shell as of something striking 

 him ; he called out to know what it was ; the ungrateful 

 Scorpion answered, " It is the motion of my sting only, I 



1 Hist, of Beasts and Serpents, p. 757. 



2 So also Manardus.— Moufet, p. 210. Topsel's Trans., p. 1053. 

 ^Ibid. 



