522 NATURAL HISTORY. 



971. Vide the experiments 95, 96, and 97, touch 

 ing the several sympathies and antipathies for medi 

 cinal use. 



972. It is said, that the guts or skin of a wolf, 

 being applied to the belly, do cure the colic. It is 

 true, that the wolf is a beast of great edacity and 

 digestion ; and so it may be the parts of him com 

 fort the bowels. 



973. We see scare-crows are set up to keep 

 birds from corn and fruit ; it is reported by some, 

 that the head of a wolf, whole, dried, and hanged 

 up in a dove-house, will scare away vermin ; such 

 as are weasles, pole-cats, and the like. It may be 

 the head of a dog will do as much; for those vermin 

 with us, know dogs better than wolves. 



974. The brains of some creatures, when their 

 heads are roasted, taken in wine, are said to 

 strengthen the memory ; as the brains of hares, 

 brains of hens, brains of deers, &c. And it seemeth 

 to be incident to the brains of those creatures that 

 are fearful. 



975. The ointment that witches use, is reported 

 to be made of the fat of children digged out of 

 their graves; of the juices of smallage, wolf-bane, 

 and cinque-foil, mingled with the meal of fine wheat. 

 But I suppose, that the soporiferous medicines are 

 likest to do it ; which are henbane, hemlock, man 

 drake, moonshade, tobacco, opium, saffron, poplar- 

 leaves, &c. 



976. It is reported by some, that the affections 

 of beasts when they are in strength do add some 



