VI overcome men. Claudius his Physitian, that Antidote against ebriety CHAP. hath commonly failed. Surely men much versed in the practice do err in the theory of inebriation; conceiving in that disturbance the brain doth only suffer from exhalations and vaporous ascensions from the stomack, which fat and oyly substances may suppress. Whereas How drinks the prevalent intoxication is from the spirits of drink intoxicate or dispersed into the veins and arteries, from whence by common conveyances they creep into the brain, insinuate into its ventricles, and beget those vertigoes accompanying that perversion. And therefore the same effect may be produced by a Glister, the Head may be intoxicated by a medicine at the Heel. So the poisonous bites of Serpents, although on parts at distance from the head, yet having entered the veins, disturb the animal faculties, and produce the effects of drink, or poison swallowed. And so as the Head may be disturbed by the skin, it may the same way be relieved; as is observable in balneations, washings, and fomentations, either of the whole body, or of that part alone. CHAPTER VII Of some Insects, and the properties of several 1. EW ears have escaped the noise of the Dead - watch, that is, the little clickling sound heard often in many rooms, somewhat resembling that of a Watch; and this is conceived to be of an evil omen or prediction of some persons death: wherein notwithstanding there is CHAP. Horse-shoe; which notwithstanding Baptista Po VI hath thought too low a signification, and raised. same unto a Lunary representation. 6. That Bayes will protect from the mischi Lightning and Thunder, is a quality ascribed th common with the Fig-tree, Eagle, and skin of a Against so famous a quality, Vicomercatus proexperiment of a Bay-tree blasted in Italy. And fore although Tiberius for this intent, did Lawrel upon his Temples, yet did Augustus more probable course, who fled under archollow vaults for protection. And thoug conceive, because in a streperous eruption, against fire, it doth therefore resist lightni that no emboldning Illation. And if we co. threefold effect of Jupiters Trisulk, to bur and terebrate; and if that be true which is delivered, that it will melt the blade, ye scabbard; kill the child, yet spare the moth the wine, yet leave the hogshead entire: thou the amulet, it may not spare us; it will rely on any preservative, 'tis no security t How Beer in Styx, or clad in the armour of Ceneus Beer, Wine, and other liquors, are spoiled ning and thunder, we conceive it procee from noise and concussion of the air, but spirits, which mingle therewith, and d corruption; whereby they become not on selves, but sometime deadly un Seneca mentioneth; whereo lost hise, or else his wit and Wine come to be spoiled by Lightning. R03 WEE SECOND BOOK Budine nas Pavsitam that Antidote apains: ehrich Oszar disturbanc in bruin doth ona suffe: from. te vens and arteries, from whence In So the iacuties, and produce the effects owed. And so as the Head y t it ny the CHAP. nothing of rational presage or just cause of terrour VII unto melancholy and meticulous heads. For this noise is made by a little sheath-winged gray Insect found often in Wainscot, Benches, and Wood-work, in the Summer. We have taken many thereof, and kept them in thin boxes, wherein I have heard and seen them work and knack with a little proboscis or trunk against the side of the box, like Apicus Martius, or Woodpecker against a tree. It worketh best in warm weather, and for the most part giveth not over under nine or eleven stroaks at a time. He that could extinguish the terrifying apprehensions hereof, might prevent the passions of the heart, and many cold sweats in Grandmothers and Nurses, who in the sickness of children, are so startled with these noises. 2. The presage of the year succeeding, which is commonly made from Insects or little Animals in Oak apples, according to the kinds thereof, either Maggot, Fly, or Spider; that is, of Famine, War, or Pestilence; whether we mean that woody excrescence, which shooteth from the branch about May, or that round and Apple-like accretion which groweth under the leaf about the latter end of Summer, is I doubt too distinct, nor verifiable from event. For Flies and Maggots are found every year, very seldom Spiders: And Helmont affirmeth he could never find the Spider and the Fly upon the same Trees, that is the signs of War and Pestilence, which often go together: Beside, that the Flies found were at first Maggots, experience hath informed us; for keeping these excrescencies, we have observed their conversions, beholding in Magnifying Glasses the daily progression thereof. As may be also observed in other Vegetable excretions, whose Maggots do ter minate in Flies of constant shapes; as in the Nutgalls CHAP. of the Out-landish Oak, and the Mossie tuft of the VII wild Briar; which having gathered in November we have found the little Maggots which lodged in wooden Cells all Winter, to turn into Flies in June. We confess the opinion may hold some verity in the Analogy, or Emblematical phansie. For Pestilence is properly signified by the Spider, whereof some kinds are of a very venemous Nature. Famine by Maggots, which destroy the fruits of the Earth. And War not improperly by the Fly; if we rest in the phansie of Homer, who compares the valiant Grecian unto a Fly. of Flies, Some verity it may also have in it self, as truly declaring the corruptive constitution in the present sap and nutrimental juice of the Tree; and may consequently discover the disposition of that year, according to the plenty or kinds of these productions. For if the putrifying juices of bodies bring forth plenty of Flies and Maggots, they give forth testimony of Abundance common corruption, and declare that the Elements are Maggots, full of the seeds of putrifaction, as the great number etc., what of Caterpillars, Gnats, and ordinary Insects do also may they declare. If they run into Spiders, they give signs of signifie. higher putrifaction, as plenty of Vipers and Scorpions are confessed to do; the putrifying Materials producing Animals of higher mischiefs, according to the advance and higher strain of corruption. 3. Whether all Plants have seed, were more easily determinable, if we could conclude concerning Hartstongue, Fern, the Caterpillaries, Lunaria, and some others. But whether those little dusty particles, upon the lower side of the leaves, be seeds and seminal parts; or rather, as it is commonly conceived, excremental separations, we have not as yet been able to determine naturally |