326 PEDIPALPT — SCORPIONS. 



has an antipathy to the Scorpion : if a person, therefore, 

 melts a newt in oil, and applies the oil to the person that is 

 bitten, he frees him from pain. The same author also says 

 that the root of a rose-tree being applied, cures persons bit 

 by Scorpions. Plutarch recommends to fasten small nuts to 

 the feet of the bed, that Scorpions may not approach it. 

 Zoroaster says that lettuce-seed, being drunk with wine, 

 cures persons bit by Scorpions. Florentinus says, if one 

 applies the juice of the fig to the wound of a person just 

 bitten, that the poison will proceed no farther; or, if the 

 person bit eat squill, he will not be hurt, but he will say 

 that the squill is pleasant to his palate. Tarentinus also 

 says that a person holding the herb sideritis may take 

 hold of Scorpions, and not be hurt by them.^ Dioscorides, 

 among many other remedies for the sting of the Scorpion, 

 prescribes "a fish called Lacerta, salted and cut in pieces; 

 the barbel fish cut in two ; the flesh of a fish called Smariti ; 

 house-mice cut asunder; horse or ass dung; the shell of an 

 Indian small nut ; ram's flesh burnt ; mummie, four grains, 

 with butter and cow's milk ; a broiled Scorpion eaten ; river- 

 crabs raw and bruised, and drank with asses' milk : locusts 

 broiled and eaten," etc. Rabby Moyses prescribes pigeon's 

 dung dried ; Constantinus, hens' dung, or the heart applied 

 outwardly; Anatolius, crows' dung; Averrhois, the bezoar- 

 stone; Monus, silver; Silvaticus, from Serapis, pewter; and 

 Orpheus, coral. 



"Quintus Serenus writes thus, and adviseth: 



These are small things, but yet their wounds are great, 



And in pure bodies lurking do most harm, 



For when our senses inward do retreat, 



And men are fast asleep, they need some charm, 



The Spider and the cruel Scorpion 



Are wont to sting, witnesse great Orion, 



Slayn by a Scorpion, for poysons small 



Have mighty force, and therefore presently 



Lay on a Scorpion bruised, to recall 



The venome, or sea-water to apply 



Is held full good, such virtue is in brine, 



And 'tis approved to drink }• our fill of wine. 



"And Macer writes of houseleek thus : 



Owen's Geoponika, ii 146-8. 



