'232 PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. [aNNO \6q8 



he the better seen, aa, the ruler with teeth, made to shde up and down, 

 b, the Httle finger, that jxnnts to the mercury's height (which is placed higher 

 on the toothed ruler than it ought to be, that it may be seen), cccc, the index 

 or dial-wheel, dddd, the circle, ee, the index. 



On the Cure of the Bitings of mad Creatures. By Mr. Geo. Danipier. With 

 a Remark on the same by Hans Shane, M. D. N° 237, p- 40. 



The herb used for this purpose is a sort of Jew's ear, and I know no other 

 name for it but aures judaicae, or fungus sambucinus, which is properly the 

 Jew's ear that grows on the alder ; this grows on the ground, as close as may be 

 to it, being flat on it, the moss and grass grow up about and among it. To 

 use it, you must dry it, then powder it, and pass it through a fine sieve ; this 

 mixed with the like quantity of pepper finely ground, is the composition. When 

 given to a dog, he must first be blooded in the ear, or elsewhere, and then 

 washed well all over ; then mix it well in a convenient quantity of warm milk or 

 broth ; if it be for any cattle, they must be also blooded, and well washed, then 

 given with a drenching horn ; and the dose may be proportioned to the size 

 or strength of the animal. To a man or woman it must be given after blood- 

 letting, and well washing the face and hands, or the place bitten, or all the 

 cloths that the person wore, when bitten, to wash away the drivel that comes 

 from the mouth of a dog. The patient may take it in warm milk, beer, 

 ale, broth, &c. fasting, for 2 or 3 several mornings. This remedy, when 

 given in time, prevents all signs of madness, and is a noble and infallible 

 medicine. 



Dr. Shane's Remark on the foregoing Account. — The simple or herb men- 

 tioned in this letter is not Jew's ear, but is the lichen cinereus terrestris,* de- 

 scribed by Mr. Ray in his History of Plants, p. 1 ]7, and grows commonly in 

 most barren places about London, and all over England. 



The weight of one single dose of this simple, and the pepper mixed, 

 communicated to me by Mr. Southwell, with Mr. Dampier's leave, is near 

 9iv. -|- 



* The Lichen caninus, Linn. 



■f This pretended antidote against the bite of a mad-dog is, we fear, not to be relied on. Mr. 

 Dampier seems to have persuaded himself, that a proof of its efficacy was atforded in his own 

 person ; although he has not stated any particulars respecting his wound, and does not appear to have 

 had any symptoms precursory of liydrophobia. It may further be remarked, that the pepper is by 

 far the most powerful of the two ingredients. Even the recommendation of Dr. Mead, some years 

 afterwards, could not long support the fame of this medicine. 



