250 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



nearly all his organs contained " valuable oils and volatile salts." 

 His gall mixed with honey was a confection given to invalids of the 

 middle ages, and his blood, fat, flesh, and brain had each its 

 niche as a curative. Of the Giraffe, the only parts which old- 

 time apothecaries seem to have commandeered were his horns 

 and nails for epilepsy. For the same disease the Wolf was 

 called upon to yield his heart, for pulmonary disorders his lungs, 

 his intestines for stomach troubles, and his teeth to assist the 

 teething of children. 



In the list of smaller game, the Hare had first place. The 

 hair of this animal was applied to wounds to arrest bleeding, 

 and the blood, heart, and lungs were given for dysentery. The 

 blood of a newly-killed Hare had merit in skin diseases. 



But no living creature large or small was favoured as was the 

 Viper. Belief in the potency of all parts of the Viper was strong 

 and universal throughout Europe for many centuries. Much 

 literature describing its use in medicine is open to the student. 

 The instructions given by one old authority regarding the pro- 

 curing of Vipers are these : — " One should seek Vipers in spring 

 or autumn, because then they are fatter and stronger than they 

 are at other times. The volatile salts of Vipers are preferable to 

 those of all other animals, because they are more subtile." 



Vipers were given in many forms, including essence, tincture, 

 oil, salts, and powder. The powder — that is, the flesh dried and 

 triturated — was considered by some old writers as much inferior 

 to the other preparations, in the belief that the drying dispelled 

 much of the strength. Some practitioners went so far as to 

 insist that the deaths of the animals caused a similar deteriora- 

 tion, and insisted that they should be put into the retort or the 

 decoction-pot while still alive. A bread of Vipers was even 

 made. Powder of Vipers' flesh was introduced into cakes with 

 sarsaparilla, yolk of egg, yeast, flour, and milk; and one may 

 read that this, eaten regularly, cured leprosy. Vipers generally 

 were held to be victorious over nearly every disease of which 

 therapeutics had cognizance, and to yield concentrations little 

 less potent for good than the elusive elixir of life of ancient 

 alchemy. 



Serpents of all sorts took a place below Vipers, yet were 

 held in high regard. The skin which the Serpent discards each 



