280 NATURAL HISTORY. [cH. XX 



" A notable projector became notable by one pro- 

 ject only, which was a certain specific for the kil- 

 ling of fleas, and it was in form of a powder, and 

 sold in papers, with plain directions for use, as fol- 

 loweth : The flea was to be held, conveniently, be- 

 tween the thumb and finger of the left hand ; and to 

 the end of the trunk or proboscis, which protrudeth 

 in the flea, somewhat as the elephant's doth, a very 

 small quantity of the powder was to be put from 

 between the thumb and finger of the right hand. 

 And the deviser undertook, if any flea to which his 

 powder was so administered should prove to have 

 afterward bitten a purchaser who used it, then that 

 purchaser should have another paper of the said 

 powder gratis. And it chanced that the first paper 

 thereof was bought, idly as it were, by an old wo- 

 man, and she, without meaning to injure the invent- 

 or or his remedy, but of her mere harmlessness, 

 did innocently ask him, whether, when she had 

 caught the flea, and after she had got it as before 

 described, if she should kill it with her nail it would 

 not be as well. Whereupon the ingenious inventor 

 was so astonished by the question, that, not knowing 

 what to answer on the sudden occasion, he said with 

 truth, to this effect, that without doubt her way 

 would do too. And according to the belief of Poor 

 Humphrey, there is not as yet any device more cer- 

 tain or better for destroying a flea, when thou hast 

 captured him, than the ancient manner of the old 

 woman's, or, instead thereof, the drowning of him 

 in fair water, if thou hast it by thee at the time." 



Although, however, water, soap, and the broom of 

 the housewife be the most efficacious instruments in 

 getting rid of these torments, Poor Humphrey is in 

 error in thinking that immersion of them in fair wa- 

 ter is equally serviceable. In like manner, the idea 

 is equally erroneous, that causing dogs which are 

 tormented with them to go into the water is suffi- 

 cient to kill the fleas. It has been ascertained that 



