In Apulia is a Scorpion, whose Wounds are accompanied with the same Effects as those produced by the Tarantula, and are only curable by Musick and Motion. These Apulian Scorpions, are less violent than those of Africa, but more virulent than those in other Parts of Italy. I shall only offer two Remarks here.
1. THAT different Patients must be entertain’d with different Tunes, according to the different Symptoms of the Disease; in which the great Art of curing them seems to consist. e. g. Some are roused by a Pipe, others by a Timbrel: Some are roused by a Violin, others by the Harp; and all must be entertain’d with different Airs. The Musicians therefore make Trial before they can accommodate the Sound to the Venom; which requires the most brisk and lively Tunes, to produce a powerful Vibration in the Body; and till this be done, the miserable Patients stand still, sighing and sobbing. The Vibrations must be quick and frequent.
2. DURING the Time of Cure, the wounded People throw themselves into a Variety of strange Forms, and behave like Drunkards and Madmen ... talking foolishly ... diverting themselves with naked Swords, red Cloth, &c. but the Sight of any Object that appears black is terrible to them. Ibid.
To this Account of the Tarantula, I have (by way of Illustration) added the Remarks of another learned Foreigner, who says.... The venemous Bite of the Tarantula is quickly follow’d with a very acute Pain, and soon after, with Numbness, profound Sadness, difficult Respiration: The Pulse grows weak, the Sight disturbed; Persons lose their Knowledge, Sense, and Motion; and if destitute of Help, they die.... The most effectual and certain Remedy is Musick: When the Person becomes destitute of Knowledge and Motion, a Musician tries a Variety of Airs: Shou’d he hit on that whose Harmony is suited to the Patient, he begins to move by successive Degrees, and keeps Time with his Fingers, Arms, Legs, &c. he raises himself, and dances about six Hours without Intermission....
When the Musick ceases, the sick Person gives over dancing, and is put to Bed: The same Air brings him out of Bed for a new Dance, an Exercise that lasts six or seven Days.——N. B. Every sick Person must have his particular and specific Tune, and always one that is very sprightly and moving.
The Poison of the Tarantula, adds he, thickens the Blood, and stops several of its Passages; thence the Numbness: The Blood being thick, furnishes but a small Quantity of animal Spirits, their Canals are shrunk up in the Brain: The Nerves being destitute of Spirits, relax; thence proceed the Inactivity, and Defect of Knowledge and Motion: But the Vibrations of the quick Airs which are play’d, agitate the Blood and the rest of the animal Spirits, which are soon increased by the Agitation of the Blood: Being agitated and multiply’d, they run into the Fibres and Nerves, which being put into Unison with the sonorous Strings, receive their Vibrations, and are shorten’d or extended successively; whence proceeds the successive Motion of the Fingers, Arms, Legs, &c.[[320]]
[320]. Father Regnault. Phil. Conv. or New System of Physic, vol. ii. Conversation xiv. p. 268, -9.
The action of Dancing augments the Agitation of the Blood, and makes the Patient sweat. The Poison being agitated and attenuated, is exhaled by Transpiration; in proportion as the Poison is exhaled, the sick Person perceives himself eased; this Ease continually inclines him to dance: When all the Poison is dissipated by Agitation and Sweat, the Blood recovers its Fluidity and usual Course.
I Shall conclude this historical Account, with a Passage taken out of a formed History of the Tarantula[[321]], writ by a learned Author, who having described the Disease, proceeds to the manner of Cure, viz. The salivous Poison of that Spider seizes principally on the Nerves and Muscles––the manner of Cure thus––
[321]. Printed at Leyden, in 12mo. A. D. 1668.