vent. This when ripe may be forced or drawn out ; and in order to ripeii 

 it and keep them loose, give your pigeon so affected a purge of tobacco ; a 

 very small quantity is sufficient : I have known this make them discharge 

 the core themselves. I once knew a pigeon affected with this sort of 

 malady, in the oesophagus, or throat, some part was taken out, but the 

 bird died* 



THEIR USEFULNESS, 



98. — Having thus instructed you how to breed, preserve, and cure youi? 

 pigeons, we shall next show their usefulness in human life. 



99. — It is a bird well known tq be much used by, way of food ; and here 

 I shall give you the remarks of one or two authors on this head. Mr. 

 Lemery in his treatise of foods, after having advised to the choice of young 

 pigeons, that are tender, fleshy, and well fed, proceeds thus, " They are 

 nourishing, somewhat binding, strengthening, and provoke urine ; they, are 

 looked upon to be good for cleansing the reins, and to expel the gross mat- 

 ters that stick there. ; . . 



lOp. — -As a pigeon grows old^ so proportionably does its flesh _become 

 dryer, and more solid j harder of digestion, and so fit to produce gross and 

 melancholy humours ; and hence it is, that some authors have condemned 

 the use of pigeons, and look upon them to be bad, food* 



101. — *' They agree at all times with any age and constitution, but those 

 that are melancholy ought to make use of them more moderately than other 

 persons." 



102. — Dr. Salmon in his Seplasium, or English Physician, which I look 

 upon as the best book he ever wrote, says, '* The flesh is not so easy of 

 digestion as that of chickens. Authors say that eating of their flesh is pro- 

 fitable against the plague, insomuch that they who make it their constant 

 or ordinary food, are seldom seized with pestilential distempers. Others 

 commend it against the palsie or trembling. Others say it is of great use 

 and advantage to them that are dim-sighted. The flesh of young pigeons 

 is restorative, and of good use to such as are in consumptions, and to re- 

 cruit the strength of such, as are getting up, or newly recovered from some 

 great sickness t It is indeed savory and good food, and not much inferior 

 to the most esteemed. The anus of a live pigeon, applied to the biting 

 of a serpent, viper, or rattle snake, draws away the poison and cures the 

 sick, being renewed as often as the pigeon dies ; applied to the soles of 

 the feet in a fever, it draws away the fever, and helps the megrims or 

 head ache. Cut up alive and applied to the place pained, eases the pain 

 and draws away the malignity, if any be ; for the vital spirit yet remaining 

 in the hot flesh and blood, do insinuate themselves through the pores of 

 the skin, into the blood of the sick person, now dispirited and ready to 

 stagnate, enduring it with new life and vigour. Potestates made of the 

 flesh, admirably cure consumptions, and restore wasted flesh. 



103. — ** The blood put warm into the eyes allays pain, cures blear eyes> 

 and also green wounds. 



104. — " R of the blood 5Ji, honey 5vj, white sugar candy 5ij ; grind 



