LEECH BOOK. T. 47 



neck again, use a root of the red nettle sodden in Book T. 

 vinegar and beaten, laid on in the manner of a cake ^ ''• '^' 

 of was; if the matter be then beginning, the salve 

 driveth it away ; if it be old it openeth it, and so the 

 evil riseth out till he be hale. 



4. Again for that, a manifold token and a leech dom 

 for the neck ratten or jowl swelling or swelling of the 

 throat or weasand. The disease is of two kinds ; the 

 one is in the jowl, and when one openeth the mouth 

 it is both swollen and is red about the uvula ; and 

 the man can not easily breathe, but will be smothered ; 

 he can not also swallow aught nor speak well, nor 

 hath he voice ; this disorder, however, is not dangerous. 

 Another sort is when there is a swelling in the throat 

 and purulence, he, the 'patient, may not speak aught, 

 and the swelling is both on the neck and on the tongue ; 

 the man can not well breathe, nor turn his neck nor 

 lean forward his head so that he may see his navel ; 

 and except one attend to him somewhat speedily, in 

 about three days he will be deceased. If the burning 

 of the disease within be strong, yet there are no 

 external signs of it, it is so much the more dangerous. 

 If then on either side the jaws be swollen and the 

 throat, and thou see the tokens, then soon let thou 

 him blood on a vein ; if thou may not carry that 

 through, scarify for him his shanks, that doth him 

 good. 



5. Give him a sharp wort drink, warn him off meat, 

 after that bandage the neck, and lay on leechdoms 

 which may draw out the evil humour and the sore, 

 there will be then hope of recovery. Work him the 

 salve thus; take swines fat, smear the inside of a 

 broad pan with the fat, boil up, then east goose sharn 

 into the pan, and make lukewarm, and when it be 

 melted then put it on a linen cloth, lay it on the 

 sore, and swathe up, apply that pretty often in a day, 

 and it will be the better the oftener thou renewest 



