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
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

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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    well that day. They have knowledge like mice and rats to run out of houses before their downfall. If the powder of a Weasel be given unto a cock, chickens or pigeons, they shall never be annoyed by Weasels. Likewise if the brain of a Weasel be mingled with a rennet in cheeses, it keepeth them from being touched with mice, or corrupted with age. The powder thereof mixed with water driveth away mice. If one of their tails be cut off, all the residue do forsake the house. The whelp of a Weasel doth cure the venomous bitings of the shrew. The biting of a Weasel is cured by onions and garlic, either applied outward or taken in drink, so that the party drink sweet wine thereon. Sometimes the Weasel biteth some cattle, which presently killeth them, except there be some instant remedy. If they be rubbed with a Weasel's skin, they are instantly healed. Topseil, Four-tooted Beasts, pp. 562-8. If the heart of a Weasel be eaten while still palpitating, it makes a man know future events, and if any man eat of its heart with the eyes and tongue of a dog, he will forthwith lose his voice. Wether. Whale. Albcrtus Magnus^ Of the Virtues of Animals. Winter's Tale, iv. 3, 33. F. Sheep. All's Well that Ends Well, iv. 3, 249. When the Whale hungereth sore, he casteth out of his mouth a vapour, that smelleth as the smell of amber ; and fish have liking in that smell, and for the odour and smell of that vapour, they go into the Whale's mouth, and be so deceived and eaten. Also in this fish earthy matter hath more mastery than watery, and therefore he is soon great and fat ; and so in age for greatness of body, on his ridge [back bone] powder [dust] and earth is gathered, and so digged together that herbs and small trees and bushes grow thereon ; so that that great fish seemeth an island. And if shipmen come unwarily thereby, unneath [hardly] they