of Plinies Naturall Hiftorie. 
A helpeth thofe that have the dizzineffe or {wimming of the braine; bee drawne backward with 
crampes,tremble and fhake;are plucked with {pafines and convulfions,difeafed in their finewes, 
troubled with the Sciatica, ficke of a weake and feeble {tomacke that keepeth nothing which it 
takes,and lie bedred of the palfie,if they be annointed throughly therwith in parts convenient. 
Or if Caftoreum be reduced into pouder, and together with the feed of Agnus Caftus, bee in- 
corporat with vinegre or oile rofat, and foreduced tothe confiftence of honey: which beein 
taken as an electuarie, is fingular not onely forthe formermaladies, but alfo for the failing fick- 
neffe: and if the fame be given in drinke, it difcuffeth ventofities, appeafeth the wings and tor- 
ments of the belliec,yea,and repreffeth the mallice of any poyfons, Butin this cafe of poyfons it 
ought to be prepared,mixed,& ufed diverfly,according to the fundrie kinds thereof: for againft 
the venome of {corpions it would be drunke in meere wine: to withf{tand the danger of the Pha- 
Jangia and fuch venomous fpiders, it ought to be given in honied wine ¢fpecially, if the intenti- 
onbe to caft up the faid poyfons by vomit; or with Rue, if the driftand purpofe bee to hold and 
retaine all ftill. To prevent the perill of the Lizards or venomous wormes Chalcidicx, it {hould 
be taken in Myrtle wine. Againft the fting of the horned ferpent Ceraftes,or the fierie vermine 
Prefter with Panax or Rue in wine. But generally for all other ferpents,the only liquor to receive 
itin,iswine. Two drams atatimeis thought tobeea fufficient dofe of Caftoritfelfc, inany of 
thefe compofitions: but of other drougs that are put thereto, there ought to be a proportion of 
the halfe,co wit,one dram, Moreover,a peculiar vertue it hath, if it be drunke in vinegte,cto refitt 
the venomous gum Ixias,srowing upon the plant Chameleon: but foveraigne it is for the poy- 
fon of the hearbe Aconitum or Libard bane,in milke or faire water. Againtt white Ellebore it ts 
good to be taken with mead of honied waterand falnitre. Alfo, if it bee pulverized and incorpo- 
rat with oile,afoveraigne remedie itis to eafethetoothach, if itbee dropped or poured into the 
eare of the fame fide where the greefe is: but better it were to temper it with the juice of Poppie 
for paine of the eares. Mix Caftoreum with the beft honey of Attica, and bring it into an eye- 
falve,it is pafling good forto cleare the fight. Given in vinegre,it ftaieth and keepeth downe the 
yex or hicquet. Furthermote,the urine of a Bever is a good countrepoyfon : and therfore it go- 
eth to the making of antidots and prefervatives, But the belt way of kecping it (asfome thinke) 
isin the ownebladder. : 
Cuap.° 1111 
eS: Of the Tortoife, The medicines taken frem many fifhes and diver{c obfervations 
tothem pertaining. : 
Emblably, Tortoifes live in two places, and haunt both Jand and waters. Their effeCtuall 
properties befides are fuch as deferve like honour, as well in regard of their manifold ufes 
in f{umptuous buildings(whereby they carie a great price)as of their fundrie vertues & ope- 
rations which Nature hath given them. Now of thefe Tortoifes there be many kinds ,towit,land 
Tortoifes,and fea Tortoifes, Tortoifes found in muddie waters and matraies : Tortoifes alfo that 
keepe in freth river water 5 and thefe laft named, fome Greeke writers call Emydes. The fleth of » 
land Tortoifes ferveth well in perfumes & {uffumigations, for fo it is as good as a countercharme 
to put by and repell all forceries and enchantments :a fingular countrepoyfon alfoto refilt any 
venome whatfoever, Great ftore of Tortoifes bee found in Affricke:: where they ufe to cut away 
the head and feet,and then employ the reft of the bodic as afoveraigne remedie againft all poy- 
fons. If their flefh be eaten together with the broth wherein they are fodden, itis held to be very 
good for to difeufleand {cater the wens called the kings evill and to diffipat or refolve the hard- 
nefle of the fwelled fpleene :likewife to cure the falling ficknefle, and to drive away the fits ther- 
of. The bloud of Tortoifes clarifieth the eyefight & difpatcheth the cataraéts,ifthey be annoin- 
ted therewith. Many incorporat the faid bloud in meale,and keepe them reduced into the forme 
of pils;which when need requireth, they give in wine asa prefent helpe for the poyfon of all fer- 
pents, {piders,and {uch like,yea,and the venome of toads. The gall of Tortoifes mixed with At- 
ticke honey, ferveth to cure the fierie rednefle of the eyes if they bee annointed therewith : the 
farne is good to be dropped into the wounds inflicted by the prick of {corpions.The athes of the 
Tortoife thell incorporat with wine and oile and fo wroughtintoa falve, healeth the chaps & ul- 
cers of the feet, The skales {craped lightly from the upper part of the fhell given in os 
BNE 
