stings or prickles.[161]

[156] _De hist. medic. mirab. Lib. i. Cap. v._

[157] _Observ. medic. Lib. ii. Cap. 1._

[158] _Decur. 2. ann. 5. append. Artic. 38._

[159] _Ibid. Artic. 52._

[160] _Ibid. Artic. 109._

[161] _Poterii opera cum annot. Frid. Hoffmanni edita,
Francof. 1698. pag. 72._

Now these histories, wonderful as they seem, are not to be refused
credit. For all nature is animated in a surprizing degree. The air
which we breathe, the food which we eat; all fluids especially, are
full of animalcula of very different kinds. Whence it is possible,
that some of these, being received into our bodies, and conveyed into
the minute passages of the softest parts, as into nests, may there
grow, as worms do in the intestines, to their proper size. Hence by
the obstruction of the smallest vessels, tumors arise; which being
suppurated by heat, and bursting, pour forth their foul offspring in
the shape of worms.

Wherefore I cannot agree with those interpreters, who imagine that
Herod was consumed by, and died of the _phthiriasis_, or _louzy
disease_. For [Greek: skolex] is a different creature from [Greek:
phtheir]; this corrodes the surface of the skin, that the inner parts
of the body. Nor can it admit of doubt, that saint Luke, who was a
physician, well understood the meaning of both the words. And yet I
know that the disease proceeding [Greek: hypo ton phtheiron] is by
some learned men confounded with that caused [Greek: hypo ton
skolekon]; of the first of which Pherecides Syrius,[162] and Lucius
Sylla,[163] are said to have died. Whereupon Kuhnius says,[164] _I
look upon the word_ [Greek: skolekobrotos] _in saint Luke, and_
[Greek: phtheirobrotos] _in Hesychius_,[165] _to be synonimous terms_:
and his reason is, because lice are worms.

[162] _AElian. var. hist. Lib. iv. Cap. 28._

[163] _Plutarcho in ejus vita._

[164] _Not. ad AElianum._

[165] _Lib. de vit. philos._

The END.

Transcriber's Note

Obvious punctuation errors have been corrected. Due to the age of the
text, varied spelling has been preserved.

End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Medica Sacra, by Richard Mead

*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MEDICA SACRA ***

***** This file should be named 31203.txt or 31203.zip *****
This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:
http://www.gutenberg.org/3/1/2/0/31203/

Produced by Irma Spehar a