208 The Farrier*^ New Guide. Chap. LIV. 



of thofe Animals are conftantly followed with a Drop or 

 two of greenifh Matter, which by its corrofive Quality, 

 poifons the Wound, and infeds the Body. 



Th Cure There are infinite Ways of curing thofe 



Bites ; fome give the Fire immediately, and 

 fome cut out the Bit that is wounded ; but thefe Operations 

 cannot be allowed of in all Parts, but chiefly when the 

 Wound is made in the Flefh, and free from the Nerves and 

 Sinews ; others only apply Garlick, Onions, Bay- fait, and 

 Bacon, ftampt together into an Ointment. Others ufe 

 ftampt Rue, Muftard-feed, pickl'd Herrings, and black Soap, 

 with a fufficient Quantity of Deers-fuet, or Bears-greafe ; 

 and there are fome who only lay over the Wound Venice- 

 Treacle or Mithridate, which are very good, efpecially if 

 the fpirituous Embrocations direded in the preceeding Chap- 

 ter, be alfo complied with and ufed often. The Viper- 

 catchers, who are often bit with Adders, cure themfelves 

 by anointing the Wound immediately with Adders Fat, 

 which they always keep in Readinefs in a Gallipot. The 

 Certainty of which Cure has been alfo evinc'd by the Expe- 

 riments of a great and eminent Phyfician made upon Dogs, 

 who very reafonably afcribes the healing Virtues of that 

 Fat to its clammy and vifcid Parts, but efpecially as it is 

 more penetrating and active than any other oily Subftances, 

 whereby he fuppofes it to involve, and, as it were, fheathe 

 the volatile Salts of the Venom, which are the Inftruments 

 of thofe deadly Mifchiefs which attend the biting of fuch 

 Animals. And for the fame Reafons, the Vipers Fat or 

 Greafe may, no doubt, be of Service in all other Bites of 

 invenomed Wounds. 



But when the Poifon Is once got into the Mafs of Blood, 

 the chief Part of the Cure muft be owing to inward Means, 

 which ought conftantly to be ufed at the fame time proper 

 Applications are made outwardly. «S'^//^j/?// recommends 

 the Tindure and Eilence of Vipers, which indeed is not 

 improper, only that their Scarcity makes thofe Preparations 

 very dear in our Country. However, to a Horfe of great 

 Value, a Dofe of two or three Ounces of the Powder of 

 dry'd Adders might be given in a Pint of Canary, and re- 

 peated feveral Times ; but the Method laid down for the 

 Cure of Peftilential Fevers, as it confills chiefly in the Ufe 

 of Counter -poifons, maybe followed in all fuch Cafes ; and 

 as loon as the Malignity and Venom is deftroy'd, the Sores 

 may be treated as other Wounds or Ulcers. 



CHAP. 



