Chap. 42.] IIEMEDIES AGAINST SEliPENTS. 329 



serpents. That deer are destructive to those reptiles^ no one 

 is ignorant ; as also of the fact that they drag them from their 

 holes when they find them, and so devour them. And it is 

 not only while alive and breathing that deer are thus fatal to 

 serpents, but even when dead and separated limb from limb. 

 The fumes of their horns, while burning, will drive awaj'- 

 serpents, as already^^ stated ; but the bones, it is said, of the 

 upper part of a stag's throat, if burnt upon a fire, will bring those 

 reptiles together. Persons may sleep upon a deer's skin in 

 perfect safety, and without any apprehension of attacks b}'" 

 serpents ; its rennet too, taken with vinegar, is an effectual anti- 

 dote to the stings of those reptiles ; indeed, if it has been only 

 touched by a person, he will be for that day effectually pro- 

 tected from them. The testes, dried, or the genitals of the 

 male animal, are considered to be very wholesome, taken in 

 wine, and so are the umbles, generally known as the " centi- 

 pellio."^ Persons having about them a deer's tooth, or who 

 have taken the precaution of rubbing the body with a deer or 

 fawn's marrow, will be sure to repel the attacks of all serpents. 



But the most effectual remedy of all is thought to be the 

 rennet of a fawn that has been cut from the uterus of the 

 dam, as already^ mentioned in another place. Deer's blood, 

 burnt upon a fire of lentisk wood, with dracontium,^ cunilago,* 

 and alkanet, will attract serpents, they say ; while, on the 

 other hand, if the blood is removed and pyrethrum^ substituted 

 for it, tliey will take to flight. 



I find an animal mentioned by Greek writers, smaller than 

 the stag, but resembling it in the hair, and to which they give 

 the name of " ophion."^ Sardinia, they say, is the only coun- 

 try that produces it ; I am of opinion, however, that it is now 

 extinct, and for that reason I shall not enlarge upon its medi- 

 cinal properties. 



(10.) As a preservative against the attacks of serpents, the 

 brains and blood of the wild boar are held in high esteem : 

 the liver also, dried and taken in wine with rue ; and the fat, 



98 See B. viii. c. 50. ^^ In B. viii. c. 50. 



^ Or '" liimdred skins." Called the mirefeuillet in French. 



'^ In B. viii. c. 50. 3 ggg ^ xxiv. c. 91. 



•1 See B. XX. c. 63. 



^ The Anthemis pyrcthrum of Linnnsus, Spanish camomile or pellitory. 



<> Possibly the Mu.smon of B. viii. c. 49. See also B. xxx. o. 52. 



