[279]. Nierembergii Historia, cap. xiii. p. 274.
Thus Herod the Great, the Proud, the Cruel, when upon the Throne, was attack’d by an Army of Worms, that quickly devoured him. His Body became worm-eaten like a piece of rotten Wood[[280]]. Of the Executions done by Worms, we have divers Instances in the human World. No part of Man’s Body, whether inward or outward, but is subject to Worms, and have been tormented with them.
[280]. γενομενος σχωληχοβρωτος, Act. xii.
Man’s Body, if rightly understood, would appear to be a Granary for Worms, of divers Colours and Sizes: In the inward Parts, as Stomach, Guts, Liver, Blood, Gall, Bladder, have been found swarms of Vermin, sapping the Foundation of the animal Structure. We have Instances of Worms bred in the human Brains, and were discovered in the Brain of the Paris-Girl when opened—probably laid, by some Insect, in the Laminæ of the Nostrils, from whence it gnawed its way into the Brain[[281]]. So in the outer parts.
[281]. Derham from Bartholinus.
GALEN in Jonstonus says, that in Ethiopia, India, and the mountainous part of Egypt, the Inhabitants were tormented with Worms, that bred in their Legs and Arms, called Dracunculi, whose Motion in the Flesh was conspicuous to the Eye.
LUCIUS CORNELIUS SYLLA, Consul and Dictator of Rome, (the Glories of whose Valour were obscured by barbarous Cruelties) died of a φθιριασις a wormy or lousy Disease: Thus Aliman[[282]], a renowned Greek Poet, and Pherecydes the Philosopher, and Master to Pythagoras, died of the same loathsome Distemper.
[282]. Pliny. Part. i.
Sed quis non paveat pherecydos fata tragœdi:
Qui nimio sudore fluens, animalia tetra,