A Mechanical Account of Poisons in Several Essays

by Richard Mead

Neither is it amiss to add, that Ioannes Faber [(83)] in the Dissection of one who dy’d at Rome of the Bite of a Mad Dog, and a Hydrophobia succeeding it, found the Blood Coagulated in the right Ventricle of the Heart, the Lungs wonderfully Red and Tumefied; but especially the Throat, Stomach, and Bowels, bearing the Marks of the Inflammatory Venom.

The same Observation has been made by others in Bodies Dead of this Disease. Thus the Acta Medica Hafniensia [(84)] relate one Case, in which, part of the Liver was Inflamed, the Lungs Parched and Dry, and the inner Coat of the Stomach so Mortified, that it might be abraded with one’s Fingers.

Bonetus [(85)] tells another, where all the Viscera were found quite arid, without any Juice at all.

And in a very particular History of an Hydrophobia, lately published at Ulm, [(86)] We are informed, that the Stomach, when opened, discover’d the Marks of an Erosion or Excoriation, with something like a Gangrene, and Suffusion of Blood here and there. Which does very well agree with the Observations in the German Ephemerides [(87)], where we find several Footsteps of a Sphacelus or Mortification in the Bodies of Those who died Hydrophobi.

The Cure of this Poison is either immediately upon the Wound made, or some Days after, before the Fear of Water is discover’d; for at that time all Authors do agree the Malady to be Incurable; and the Reason is plain from what has been already deliver’d.

As in other Venomous Bites, so in this, Galen [(88)] very wisely advises to inlarge the Wound, by making a round Incision about it, to Cauterise it with a hot Iron, and apply drawing Medicines, so as to keep it a running Ulcer at least Forty Days. [(89)] Scarifying and Cupping may answer where this Severity is not allow’d: And however, the Dressing it with Unguentum Ægyptiacum (or the like) Scalding Hot, must not be omitted; by which alone, timely applied, I am assured that one Bitten was happily preserved.

But where these Means of destroying the Ferment in the beginning are omitted, the dangerous Consequences of its being mixed with the Blood is by all possible Care to be prevented.

To this purpose, to say nothing of the many Inconsiderate Jumbles of Antidotes, Theriacas, &c. nor of such vulgar Trifles as the Liver of the Mad Dog, of which Galen [(90)] observed, that tho’ some who made use of it, together with other good Medicines, recover’d, yet that they who trusted to it alone died; one of the greatest Remedies commended to us by Antiquity, is the Cineres Cancrorum Fluviatilium; which Galen [(91)] says, no Body ever made use of, and miscarried; and before Him Dioscorides [(92)] assured, that ’tis a Medicine may be rely’d on. These were given in large Quantities, viz. a good Spoonful or Two every Day for Forty Days together, either alone, or rather mix’d with the Powder of Gentian Root and Frankincense. The Vehicle was either Water or Wine. In like manner at this Day the Remedy in the greatest Repute of any against most Poisons in the West-Indies, is a kind of a River-Craw-Fish, call’d Aratu [(93)].

This is manifestly an Absorbent, and very Diuretic Medicine, especially when prepared after the right manner, which was by Burning the Craw-Fish alive upon a Copper-Plate, with a Fire made of the Cuttings or Twigs of White Briony: For whether the latter part of the Management signifies much or no, the former most certainly does; and the Salt of the Copper, which powerfully provokes Urine, being mix’d with that of the Ashes, may very much exalt their Virtue.

And it is upon this same Score, that the Spongia of the Cynnorrhodos or Rosa Sylvestris is so Celebrated an Antidote, not only for this Poison, but also for that of the Viper, Tarantula, and others too, that ’tis call’d in Sicily Sanatodos, or All-heal; this being not a Vegetable, as P. Boccone [(94)] who has wrote a whole Letter of its wondrous Virtues, terms it, but an Animal Alkali, as well as the former; for as Mr. Ray [(95)] has observed, this Spongy Excrescence, if it be cut, is found full of White Worms; Being the Nest of these Insects, which lodging here all the Winter, do in the beginning of the Spring turn to Flies, and quit their Quarters. Indeed this Remedy was antiently too of so great Esteem, that Pliny recommends it as the only Cure of an Hydrophobia, divinely discovered by an Oracle [(96)].