520 NATURAL HISTORY. 



wards, especially for pestilent agues, it is like they 

 will be effectual outwards ; where they may be applied 

 in greater quantity. There would be trochisk like 

 wise made of snakes ; whose flesh dried is thought 

 to have a very opening and cordial virtue. The 

 other is, of beads made of the scarlet powder, which 

 they call kermes ; which is the principal ingredient 

 in their cordial confection alkermes : the beads would 

 be made up with ambergrease, and some pomander. 



966. It hath been long received, and confirmed 

 by divers trials, that the root of the male-piony dried, 

 tied to the neck, doth help the falling sickness ; and 

 likewise the incubus, which we call the mare. The 

 cause of both these diseases, and especially of the 

 epilepsy from the stomach, is the grossness of the 

 vapours which rise and enter into the cells of the 

 brain : and therefore the working is by extreme and 

 subtile attenuation ; which that simple hath. I 

 judge the like to be in castoreum, musk, rue-seed, 

 agnus castus seed, &c. 



967. There is a stone which they call the blood 

 stone, which worn is thought to be good for them 

 that bleed at the nose : which no doubt, is by astric- 

 tion and cooling of the spirits. Query, if the stone 

 taken out of the toad s head, be not of the like virtue; 

 for the toad loveth shade and coolness. 



968. Light may be taken from the experiment 

 of the horse-tooth ring, and the garland of peri 

 winkle, how that those things which assuage the 

 strife of the spirits, do help diseases contrary to the 

 intention desired : for in the curing of the cramp, 



