Natural history in Shakespeare's time : being extracts illustrative of the subject as he knew it / Made by H. W. Seager, M. B., &c. Also pictures thereunto belonging.

Seager, H. W. (Herbert West), 1848-

Date:: 1896

Credit: Natural history in Shakespeare's time : being extracts illustrative of the subject as he knew it / Made by H. W. Seager, M. B., &c. Also pictures thereunto belonging. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University.

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$the Vulture is a much stinking fowl, and unclean. And the Vulture is contrary to serpents ;—for if his feathers be burnt, the smell thereof driveth away serpents. And the heart thereof maketh a man sicher [secure] and safe that beareth it among serpents and wild beasts. The heart bound in a lion's skin, or in a wolt 's skin, driveth away fiends. His right foot bound to the left foot healeth that acheth ; the left foot also healeth the right foot. His tongue plucked out with iron, and hanged about a man's neck in new cloth, maketh a man gracious to get of a man what he desireth. Barthohmezv {Berthelet), bk. xii. § 35. Wall-newt. Walnut. King Lear, iil. 4, 135. Merry Wives of Windsor, iv^ 2, 170. In great French nuts generally the shape of the cross is printed within, as they know well that take heed thereto. Barth/of/iezu {Berthelet), bk. xvii. § 108. Dry Nuts taken fasting with a fig and a little rue withstand poison, prevent and preserve the body from the infection of the plague. The green and tender nuts boiled in sugar, and eaten as sucket, are a most pleasant and delectable meat, and expel poison. The oil of Walnuts made in such manner as oil of almonds maketh smooth the hands and face, and taketh away scales or scurf, black and blue marks that come of stripes or bruises. With onions, salt and honey, they are good against the biting of a mad dog or man, if they be laid upon the wound. Gerard's Herbal, s.v. [A recipe for confection of Walnuts is given in the second part of The Good Huswife's Jewel, p. 40.] Adverse and contrary Walnuts are to the nature of onions, and do keep down and repress their strong smell which riseth from them, after a man hath eaten them. The shell of a Walnut is good to burn or sear an hollow$