epsy; precious
stones most diseases; [4346]a wolf's dung borne with one helps the colic,
[4347]a spider an ague, &c. Being in the country in the vacation time not
many years since, at Lindley in Leicestershire, my father's house, I first
observed this amulet of a spider in a nut-shell lapped in silk, &c., so
applied for an ague by [4348]my mother; whom, although I knew to have
excellent skill in chirurgery, sore eyes, aches, &c., and such experimental
medicines, as all the country where she dwelt can witness, to have done
many famous and good cures upon diverse poor folks, that were otherwise
destitute of help: yet among all other experiments, this methought was most
absurd and ridiculous, I could see no warrant for it. _Quid aranea cum
febre_? For what antipathy? till at length rambling amongst authors (as
often I do) I found this very medicine in Dioscorides, approved by
Matthiolus, repeated by Alderovandus, _cap. de Aranea, lib. de insectis_, I
began to have a better opinion of it, and to give more credit to amulets,
when I saw it in some parties answer to experience. Some medicines are to
be exploded, that consist of words, characters, spells, and charms, which
can do no good at all, but out of a strong conceit, as Pomponatius proves;
or the devil's policy, who is the first founder and teacher of them.

SUBSECT. VI.--_Correctors of Accidents to procure Sleep. Against fearful
Dreams, Redness, &c._

When you have used all good means and helps of alteratives, averters,
diminutives, yet there will be still certain accidents to be corrected and
amended, as waking, fearful dreams, flushing in the face to some ruddiness,
&c.

Waking, by reason of their continual cares, fears, sorrows, dry brains, is
a symptom that much crucifies melancholy men, and must therefore be
speedily helped, and sleep by all means procured, which sometimes is a
sufficient [4349]remedy of itself without any other physic. Sckenkius, in
his observations, hath an example of a woman that was so cured. The means
to procure it, are inward or outward. Inwardly taken, are simples, or
compounds; simples, as poppy, nymphea, violets, roses, lettuce, mandrake,
henbane, nightshade or solanum, saffron, hemp-seed, nutmegs, willows, with
their seeds, juice, decoctions, distilled waters, &c. Compounds are syrups,
or opiates, syrup of poppy, violets, verbasco, which are commonly taken
with distilled waters.

"[Symbol: Rx] diacodii [Symbol: Ounce]j. diasco