Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 29.djvu/104

76 Brisco of Farrall, who was bitt by a mad dog and in a very ill frantick condition, his Friends much troubled resolved to send him to sea and use all meanes for his recovery, an Italian Mountebank by chance came where he was, and understanding ye matter, gave him yt verse as 'tis directed and it cured him. Mr. Wh. says he has cured many of his dogs with it. Very strange.

Conies and hares are subject to two infirmityes onely, cured by the following medicine. * * * All Poultry, as Cocks, hens, Turkeyes, peacocks, pheasants, partridges, quails, doves, are cured with ffoure medicines.

All Singing Birds, as nightingale, linnett, Solitary sparrow, goldfinch, miskine, spink, Cannary bird, Cordiall larke, Callandar, blackbird, Robbin, throstle, are cured with three medicines.

Lastly come the Hawks, seemingly a pampered race, for their maladies require six medicaments.

We might greatly have augmented these extracts, but enough is given to indicate the state of medical science under the Merry Monarch. Nothing less than a perusal of the volume itself would be required to learn fully what our ancestors had to undergo when in the doctor's hands. Many of the ingredients are of so—eccentric a nature that Macbeth's cauldron is quite appetising in comparison:

No doubt Shakespeare was well acquainted with the pharmacopœia of the Court Doctors of his day.

Sir John appears to have devoted particular attention to the ever-prevalent English malady of consumption. Amongst the foregoing nostrums will be found one compounded of Malaga, with various herbs scraped and sliced, "that hath done great wonders," enhanced by the fact "that it cost ye