154 



A NATURAL HISTORY 



time they are generally freed from all their Symptoms, tho' not 

 always, fays the learned Baglivi, who obferves, that about the 

 fame time next Year, the Diftemper returns, and will prove fa- 

 tal, if not prevented by the fame mufical Application. 



In Apulia is a Scorpion, whofe Wounds are accompanied with 

 the fame EfFeds as thofe produced by the Tarantula, and are only 

 curable by Mufick and Motion. Thefe Apulian Scorpions, are lefs 

 violent than thofe of Africa, but more virulent than thofe in 

 Other Parts oi Italy. I fiiall only offer two Remarks here, 



1. THA T differ e?if Patients f7iuji be entertain d ivith different 

 Tunes, accordii2gto the different Symptoms oftheDifeafe; in which the 

 great Art of curing them feems to confift, e. g. Some are roufed 

 by a Pipe, others by a Timbrel : Some are roufed by a Violin, 

 others by the Harp ; and all muft be entertain'd with different 

 Airs. The Muficians therefore make Trial before they can accom- 

 modate the Sound to the Ve?7om ; which requires the mofl brifk 

 and lively Tunes, to produce a powerful Vibration in the Body ; 

 and till this be done, the miferable Patients fland ffill, fighing 

 and fobbing. The Vibrations muft be quick and frequent. 



2. DUR ING the Time of Cure, the wouJided People throw them- 

 fehes into a Variety of f range Forms, and behave like Drunkards 

 and Madmen .... talking foolifhly .... diverting themfelves with 

 naked Swords, red Cloth, &c. but the Sight of any Objetfl that 

 appears black is terrible to them. 3id. 



To this Account of the Tarantula, I have (by way of Illuflra- 

 tion) added the Remarks of another learned Foreigner, who fays 

 .... The venemous Bite of the Tarantula is quickly follow'd with 

 a very acute Pain, and foon after, with Numbnefs, profound 

 Sadnefs, difficult Refpiration : The Pulfe grows weak, the Sight 

 difturbed ; Perfons lofe their Knowledge, Senfe, and Motion ; 



and if deftitute of Help, they die The mofl effedlual and 



certain Remedy is Mufck : When the Perfon becomes deftitute of 

 Knowledge and Motion, a Mufician tries a Variety of Airs : 

 Shou'd he hit on that whofe Harmony is fuited to tJie Patient, 

 he begins to move by fuccefiive Degrees, and keeps Time with 

 his Fingers, Arms, Legs, &c. he raifes himfelf, and dances about 

 fix Hours without Intermiirion 



Wh e n the Mufick ceafes, the fick Perfon gives over dancing, 

 and is put to Bed : The fame Air brings hin^ out of Bed for a new 



Dance, 



