The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1873-10-31
Strange Medicines.

The history of medicine has no more
curious chapter than that which describes
the various substances M one period or
another employed for the treatment OF
disease. The subject i treated in very
entertaining way by Mr.. l.. l.. Simmonds,
in the Chemist and DrNogist, who. how
ever, limits his observations 10 remedies
derived from the aniiml Kingdom. We
cite few instances Of this old-time en-
piriclsn; they afford no had criterion for
measuring the progress of the human in
tcllcct.
Insects once formed class of medicines.
considered very effective in certain cases,
and time was when the doctor would or
der dose of three gnats or three drops
of lady-bird milk. just a. lac might order
three grains Of calOmcl in our day. Wood
lice, ants. and beetles used 10 be prescribed
for the cure Of toothachc. The sacred
beetle is eaten by the women of Egypt and
regarded a. an emblem of fertility. The
oil-beetle eXudcs Il deep yellow oil from the
Joints of the legs. which was esteemed
diuretic and used in rheumatic complaints I;
il has also been recommended in hydro
phobia. In some eases the effects attrib-
utcd 10 these curious remedies may posi-
bly, be- produced by them, as for instance
when Turkish women eat. cooked with
butter. the bfqps snicdfa "a sort of beetle)
with a view 10 the development Of fat: but
when the same remedy j. represented AZ
an antidote against cariche and the sting OF
the scorpion. we are less inclined To believe
in is efficacy.
I'm Atwood's :. History of Dominica =
we are told that the fat of snakes is
esteemed an excellent remedy for rheu-
matism aud sprains; and by the vulgar
in Persia hard green substance about
the size of "A bean. found in the body of a
certain species of serpent, j. rcckoned an
ini.llliblc cure for the bites of vcnOmous
reptiles. Among the ancients >erpcnts'
flesh was in high reputc as a medicament.
and was also used for food. like flesh ofthe
turtle. On the continent Of Europe vipcrs
have still place in the popular pharma-
} cOpWia. and Mr.. Simmond~ asserts that the
italians 10 this day occasionally regaic
I Themselves with Jelly made Of stcwcd
vipers.M In Guatemala lizards eaten alive
are supposed 10 cure cancer.
\ A. late a lGls lions lat belonged To the
maieria medica of the British pharmaco-
pua. Among the ancicnts. Galcn pre-
~cribcd il a antidOte for poisons. The
smell of il was said To drive away >crpcnts.
| The Roman physicians had great faith in
remedies derived from this animal. Pliny
cnumerates the following: First. a. a COS
mctic. the fat mixed with oil Of roses gives
I lclieacy 10 the complexion and secondly.
a an unguent, il cures affections of the
joints. The gall mixed with water cured
weak eyes mixed with the fat. and taken
I internally. il was remedy for epilepsy.
Quartan fever was cured by giving Ia the
/ patient the heart roasted. hut quoti',ian f.
vcrS were treated with the fat and oil Of
roses. The natives 81 the Malay peninsula
eat tiger flesh. believing il 10 be- specific
for all diseases. besides imparting TO the
one who pariakes OF il the animal'-
courage aud sagacity.
Discarded from the service of the physi.
elan. few molluSks have found . resting
place in the popular maicria medical. Slug-
and sIriils We're ancicntly and in some parts
arr "a this day popular remedy for con
~umpuve complaints. They are some
times made into a mucilaginOus broth
sometimes swallowed cav. Snails are Ia
thi- day kept on sale in London markets
I for this purpose.