CHAP. 16.—REMEDIES DERIVED FROM THE WEASEL.

There are two varieties of the weasel; the one, wild,[1] larger than the other, and known to the Greeks as the "ictis:" its gall is said to be very efficacious as an antidote to the sting of the asp, but of a venomous nature in other respects.[2] The other kind,[3] which prowls about our houses, and is in the habit, Cicero tells us,[4] of removing its young ones, and changing every day from place to place, is an enemy to serpents. The flesh of this last, preserved in salt, is given, in doses of one denarius, in three cyathi of drink to persons who have been stung by serpents: or else the maw of the animal is stuffed with coriander seed and dried, to be taken for the same purpose in wine. The young one of the weasel is still more efficacious for these purposes.

1. The ferret, most probably.

2. See c. 33 of this Book.

3. The common weasel.

4. Probably in his work entitled "Admiranda," now lost. Holland says "some take these for our cats."