FOOTNOTES:
[654] Mānda, “bruised, crushed”; an unusual expression.
[655] Later on, under “Hectic Fever or Phthisis,” the author states that the pulse of a hawk in health is 120 to 130.
CHAPTER XLIII
ON DISEASES OF THE HEAD AND EYES
It may happen that a cataract form on your hawk’s eye. If so:—
Remedy: should it arise from humidity of temperament, feed her for three days on larks and sparrows, giving her the feathers so that she may cast in the morning. Should she not recover, then brand her with log-wood[659] between the eye and the nostril on both sides, making two small brands the size of a peppercorn. Item: take a tamarisk stick and put one end in the fire. Then take a piece of twisted cotton-wool and apply the oozing sap, quite hot, to the cataract. Give her also one small dose of manna,[660] so that she be “moved”[661] a few times. Item: remove the fine film with scissors.
Should your hawk’s eye become white, so much so that the pupil is covered, then, if the disease arises from excessive cold or from the effects of snow, treat as follows. Remedy: steam with snow,[662] and should this fail foment[663] with water. Should she not then be cured, foment with curds.
Should the defect be due to cold and snow, it will be removed by these remedies, but should it arise from a blow, then the cure is as follows. Remedy: draw a stick of lunar caustic twice across the eye, and she shall be whole. Should she not be whole, then procure a white cock and slay it according to ordinance, and remove its gall. (You must be in a state of ceremonial purity and must have performed the fixed ablutions.) Then cast and “mail” your hawk, and stand facing the Qibla.[664] With a pure heart and single faith, doubting not that the whiteness will disappear from your hawk’s eye, cry aloud, “O Holy God! Thou who canst melt the rocks of the mountains, remove this whiteness from my hawk’s eye.
O Thou who makes the eye both black and white
Change this white spot; restore my hawk to sight.”
Saying this, squeeze the cock’s gall into your hawk’s afflicted eye.
Should a cure not be effected the first time, repeat the remedy, using the same observances but a fresh cock-gall.[665] Please God she will recover, for this is a proved remedy.