The Works of Sir Thomas Browne Volume II Part 3

The figure of the tongue seems also to overthrow the presumption of this aliment, which according to exact delineation, is in this Animal peculiar, and seemeth contrived for prey. For in so little a creature it is at the least a palm long, and being it self very slow in motion, hath in this part a very great agility; withall its food being flies and such as suddenly escape, it hath in the tongue a mucous and slimy extremity, whereby upon a sudden emission it inviscates and tangleth those Insects.

And therefore some have thought its name not unsuitable unto its nature; the nomination in Greek is a little Lion [SN: ?a?a?????.]; not so much for the resemblance of shape, as affinity of condition; that is for vigilancy in its prey, and sudden rapacity thereof, which it performeth not like the Lion with its teeth, but a sudden and unexpected e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.i.o.n of the tongue. This exposition is favoured by some, especially the old gloss upon _Leviticus_, whereby in the Translation of _Jerome_ and the Septuagint, this Animal is forbidden; what ever it be, it seems as reasonable as that of _Isidore_, who derives this name _a Camelo et Leone_, as presuming herein resemblance with a Camell.

As for the possibility hereof, it is not also unquestionable; and wise men are of opinion, the bodies of Animals cannot receive a proper aliment from air; for beside that tast being (as _Aristotle_ terms it) a kind of touch; it is required the aliment should be tangible, and fall under the palpable affections of touch; beside also that there is some sapor in all aliments, as being to be distinguished and judged by the gust; which cannot be admitted in air: Beside these, I say, if we consider the nature of aliment, and the proper use of air in respiration, it will very hardly fall under the name hereof, or properly attain the act of nutrication.

[Sidenote: _Requisites unto Nutrition._]

And first concerning its nature, to make a perfect nutrition into the body nourished, there is required a trans.m.u.tation of the nutriment, now where this conversion or aggeneration is made, there is also required in the aliment a familiarity of matter, and such a community or vicinity unto a living nature, as by one act of the soul may be converted into the body of the living, and enjoy one common soul. Which cannot be effected by air, it concurring only with our flesh in common principles, which are at the largest distance from life, and common also unto inanimated const.i.tutions. And therefore when it is said by _Fernelius_, and a.s.serted by divers others, that we are only nourished by living bodies, and such as are some way proceeding from them, that is, the fruits, effects, parts, or seeds thereof; they have laid out an object very agreeable unto a.s.simulation; for these indeed are fit to receive a quick and immediate conversion, as holding some community with our selves, and containing approximate dispositions unto animation.

Secondly, (as is argued by _Aristotle_ against the _Pythagoreans_) whatsoever properly nourisheth before its a.s.simulation, by the action of natural heat it receiveth a corpulency or incra.s.sation progressional unto its conversion; which notwithstanding cannot be effected upon air; for the action of heat doth not condense but rarifie that body, and by attenuation, rather then for nutrition, disposeth it for expulsion.

Thirdly, (which is the argument of _Hippocrates_) all aliment received into the body, must be therein a considerable s.p.a.ce retained, and not immediately expelled. Now air but momentally remaining in our bodies, it hath no proportionable s.p.a.ce for its conversion; only of length enough to refrigerate the heart; which having once performed, lest being it self heated again, it should suffocate that part, it maketh no stay, but hasteth back the same way it pa.s.sed in.

Fourthly, The use of air attracted by the lungs, and without which there is no durable continuation in life, is not the nutrition of parts, but the contemperation and ventilation of that fire always maintained in the forge of life; whereby although in some manner it concurreth unto nutrition, yet can it not receive the proper name of nutriment. And therefore by _Hippocrates_[SN: De Alimento.] it is termed _Alimentum non Alimentum_, a nourishment and no nourishment. That is, in a large acception, but not in propriety of language; conserving the body, not nourishing the same; nor repairing it by a.s.simulation, but preserving it by ventilation; for thereby the natural flame is preserved from extinction, and so the individuum supported in some way like nutrition.

And though the air so entreth the Lungs, that by its nitrous Spirit doth affect the heart, and several ways qualifie the blood; and though it be also admitted into other parts, even by the meat we chew, yet that it affordeth a proper nutriment alone, it is not easily made out.

Again, Some are so far from affirming the air to afford any nutriment, that they plainly deny it to be any Element, or that it entreth into mixt bodies as any principle in their compositions, but performeth other offices in the Universe; as to fill all vacuities about the earth or beneath it, to convey the heat of the sun, to maintain fires and flames, to serve for the flight of volatils, respiration of breathing Animals, and refrigeration of others. And although we receive it as an Element, yet since the trans.m.u.tation of Elements and simple bodies, is not beyond great question, since also it is no easie matter to demonstrate that air is so much as convertible into water [SN: _Wherein Vapour is commonly mistaken for air._]; how trans.m.u.table it is into flesh, may be of deeper doubt.

And although the air attracted may be conceived to nourish the invisible flame of life, in as much as common and culinary flames are nourished by the air about them; we make some doubt whether air is the pabulous supply of fire, much less that flame is properly air kindled. And the same before us, hath been denied by the Lord of _Verulam_, in his Tract of Life and Death, and also by Dr. _Jorden_ in his book of Mineral waters. [SN: _What the matter of Culinary or Kitchin fire is._] For that which substantially maintaineth the fire, is the combustible matter in the kindled body, and not the ambient air, which affordeth exhalation to its fuliginous atomes; nor that which causeth the flame properly to be termed air, but rather as he expresseth it, the accension of fuliginous exhalations, which contain an unctuosity in them, and arise from the matter of fuel, which opinion will salve many doubts, whereof the common conceit affordeth no solution.

As first, How fire is stricken out of flints? that is, not by kindling the air from the collision of two hard bodies; for then Diamonds should do the like better than Flints: but rather from sulphureous inflamed and even vitrified effluviums and particles, as hath been observed of late.

The like saith _Jorden_ we observe in canes and woods, that are unctuous and full of oyl, which will yield fire by frication, or collision, not by kindling the air about them, but the inflamable oyl within them. [SN: _Why fire goes out commonly wanting air, and why sometimes continued many ages in flame without fuel._] Why the fire goes out without air?

that is, because the fuliginous exhalations wanting evaporation recoil upon the flame and choak it, as is evident in cupping gla.s.ses; and the artifice of charcoals, where if the air be altogether excluded, the fire goes out. Why some lamps included in those bodies have burned many hundred years, as that discovered in the Sepulchre of _Tullia_, the sister of _Cicero_, and that of _Olibius_ many years after, near _Padua_? because whatever was their matter, either a preparation of gold, or _Naptha_, the duration proceeded from the purity of their oyl which yielded no fuliginous exhalations to suffocate the fire; For if air had nourished the flame, it had not continued many minutes, for it would have been spent and wasted by the fire. Why a piece of flax will kindle, though it touch not the flame? because the fire extendeth further, then indeed it is visible, being at some distance from the week, a pellucide and transparent body, and thinner then the air it self. Why Mettals in their liquation, although they intensly heat the air above their surface, arise not yet into a flame, nor kindle the air about them? because their sulphur is more fixed, and they emit not inflamable exhalations. And lastly, why a lamp or candle burneth only in the air about it, and inflameth not the air at a distance from it?

because the flame extendeth not beyond the inflamable effluence, but closely adheres unto the original of its inflamation; and therefore it only warmeth, not kindleth the air about it. Which notwithstanding it will do, if the ambient air be impregnate with subtile inflamabilities, and such as are of quick accension; as experiment is made in a close room; upon an evaporation of spirits of wine and Camphire; as subterraneous fires do sometimes happen, and as _Creusa_ and _Alexanders_ boy in the bath were set on fire by _Naptha_.

Lastly, The Element of air is so far from nourishing the body, that some have questioned the power of water; many conceiving it enters not the body in the power of aliment, or that from thence there proceeds a substantial supply. For beside that some creatures drink not at all; Even unto our selves, and more perfect Animals, though many ways a.s.sistent thereto, it performs no substantial nutrition, serving for refrigeration, dilution of solid aliment, and its elixation in the stomack; which from thence as a vehicle it conveys through less accessible cavities, and so in a rorid substance through the capillary cavities, into every part; which having performed, it is afterward excluded by Urine, sweat and serous separations. And this opinion surely possessed the Ancients; for when they so highly commended that water which is suddenly hot and cold, which is without all savour, the lightest, the thinnest, and which will soonest boil Beans or Pease, they had no consideration of nutrition; whereunto had they had respect, they would have surely commended gross and turbid streams, in whose confusion at least, there might be contained some nutriment; and not jejune or limped water, nearer the simplicity of its Element. Although, I confess, our clearest waters and such as seem simple unto sense, are much compounded unto reason, as may be observed in the evaporation of large quant.i.ties of water; wherein beside a terreous residence some salt is also found, as is also observable in rain water; which appearing pure and empty, is full of seminal principles, and carrieth vital atomes of plants and Animals in it, which have not perished in the great circulation of nature; as may be discovered from several Insects generated in rain water, from the prevalent fructification of plants thereby; and (beside the real plant of _Cornerius_ [SN: _A seed of plants and animals contained in rain-water._ Zibavius, _tom. 4_. Chym.]) from vegetable figurations, upon the sides of gla.s.ses, so rarely delineated in frosts.

All which considered, severer heads will be apt enough to conceive the opinion of this Animal, not much unlike that of the Astomi, or men without mouths, in _Pliny_; sutable unto the relation of the Mares in _Spain_, and their subventaneous conceptions, from the Western wind; and in some way more unreasonable then the figment of _Rabican_ the famous horse in _Ariosto_, which being conceived by flame and wind, never tasted gra.s.s, or fed on any grosser provender then air; for this way of nutrition was answerable unto the principles of his generation. Which being not airy, but gross and seminal in the _Chameleon_; unto its conservation there is required a solid pasture, and a food congenerous unto the principles of its nature.

The grounds of this opinion are many; the first observed by _Theophrastus_, was the inflation or swelling of the body, made in this Animal upon inspiration or drawing in its breath; which people observing, have thought it to feed upon air. But this effect is rather occasioned upon the greatness of its lungs, which in this Animal are very large, and by their backward situation, afford a more observable dilation; and though their lungs be less, the like inflation is also observable in Toads, but especially in Sentortoises.

A second is the continual hiation or holding open its mouth, which men observing, conceive the intention thereof to receive the aliment of air; but this is also occasioned by the greatness of its lungs; for repletion whereof not having a sufficient or ready supply by its nostrils; it is enforced to dilate and hold open the jaws.

The third is the paucity of blood observed in this Animal, scarce at all to be found but in the eye, and about the heart; which defect being observed, inclined some into thoughts, that the air was a sufficient maintenance for these exanguious parts. But this defect or rather paucity of blood, is also agreeable unto many other Animals, whose solid nutriment we do not controvert; as may be observed in other sorts of Lizards, in Frogs and divers Fishes; and therefore an Horse-leech will not readily fasten upon every fish; and we do not read of much blood that was drawn from Frogs by Mice, in that famous battel of _Homer_.

The last and most common ground which begat or promoted this opinion, is the long continuation hereof without any visible food, which some observing, precipitously conclude they eat not at all. It cannot be denied it is (if not the most of any) a very abstemious Animal, and such as by reason of its frigidity, paucity of blood, and lat.i.tancy in the winter (about which time the observations are often made) will long subsist without a visible sustentation. But a like condition may be also observed in many other Animals; for Lizards and Leeches, as we have made trial, will live some months without sustenance; and we have included Snails in gla.s.ses all winter, which have returned to feed again in the spring. Now these notwithstanding, are not conceived to pa.s.s all their lives without food; for so to argue is fallacious, and is moreover sufficiently convicted by experience. And therefore probably other relations are of the same verity, which are of the like affinity; as is the conceit of the _Rhintace_ in _Persia_, the _Canis Levis_ of _America_, and the _Manucodiata_ or bird of Paradise in _India_.

To a.s.sign a reason of this abstinence in Animals, or declare how without a supply there ensueth no destructive exhaustion, exceedeth the limits and intention of my discourse. _Fortunius Licetus_ in his excellent Tract, _de his qui diu vivunt sine alimento_, hath very ingeniously attempted it; deducing the cause hereof from an equal conformity of natural heat and moisture, at least no considerable exuperancy in either; which concurring in an unactive proportion, the natural heat consumeth not the moisture (whereby ensueth no exhaustion) and the condition of natural moisture is able to resist the slender action of heat (whereby it needeth no reparation) and this is evident in Snakes, Lizards, Snails, and divers Insects lat.i.tant many months in the year; which being cold creatures, containing a weak heat in a cra.s.s or copious humidity, do long subsist without nutrition. For the activity of the agent, being not able to overmaster the resistance of the patient, there will ensue no deperdition. And upon the like grounds it is, that cold and phlegmatick bodies, and (as _Hippocrates_ determineth) that old men will best endure fasting. Now the same harmony and stationary const.i.tution, as it happeneth in many species, so doth it fall out sometime in Individuals. For we read of many who have lived long without aliment; and beside deceits and impostures, there may be veritable Relations of some, who without a miracle, and by peculiarity of temper, have far out fasted _Elias_. Which notwithstanding doth not take off the miracle; for that may be miraculously effected in one, which is naturally causable in another. Some naturally living unto an hundred; unto which age, others notwithstanding could not attain without a miracle.

CHAPTER XXII

Of the Ostrich.

The common opinion of the _Ostrich_, _Struthiocamelus_ or _Sparrow-Camel_ conceives that it digesteth Iron; and this is confirmed by the affirmations of many; beside swarms of others, _Rhodiginus_ in his prelections taketh it for granted, _Johannes Langius_ in his Epistles pleadeth experiment for it; the common picture also confirmeth it, which usually describeth this Animal with an horshoe in its mouth.

Notwithstanding upon enquiry we find it very questionable, and the negative seems most reasonably entertained; whose verity indeed we do the rather desire, because hereby we shall relieve our ignorance of one occult quality; for in the list thereof it is accounted, and in that notion imperiously obtruded upon us. For my part, although I have had the sight of this Animal, I have not had the opportunity of its experiment, but have received great occasion of doubt, from learned discourses thereon.

For _Aristotle_ and _Oppia.n.u.s_ who have particularly treated hereof are silent in this singularity; either omitting it as dubious, or as the Comment saith, rejecting it as fabulous. _Pliny_ speaketh generally, affirming only, the digestion is wonderful in this Animal; _aelian_ delivereth, that it digesteth stones without any mention of Iron; _Leo Africa.n.u.s_, who lived in those Countries wherein they most abound, speaketh diminutively, and but half way into this a.s.sertion: _Surdum ac simplex animal est, quicquid invenit, absque delectu, usque ad ferrum devorat_: _Fernelius_ in his second _De abditis rerum causis_, extenuates it, and _Riola.n.u.s_ in his Comment thereof positively denies it. Some have experimentally refuted it, as _Albertus Magnus_; and most plainly _Ulysses Aldrovandus_, whose words are these: _Ego ferri frusta devorare, dum Tridenti essem, observavi, sed quae incocta rursus excerneret_, that is, at my being at Trent, I observed the _Ostrich_ to swallow Iron, but yet to exclude it undigested again.

Now beside experiment, it is in vain to attempt against it by Philosophical argument, it being an occult quality, which contemns the law of Reason, and defends it self by admitting no reason at all. [SN: _How_ (_possibly_) _the stomack of the_ Ostrich _may alter Iron_.] As for its possibility we shall not at present dispute; nor will we affirm that Iron ingested, receiveth in the stomack of the _Ostrich_ no alteration at all; but if any such there be, we suspect this effect rather from some way of corrosion, then any of digestion; not any liquid reduction or tendance to chilification by the power of natural heat, but rather some attrition from an acide and vitriolous humidity in the stomack, which may absterse and shave the scorious parts thereof. So rusty Iron crammed down the throat of a c.o.c.k, will become terse and clear again in its gizzard: So the Counter which according to the relation of _Amatus_ remained a whole year in the body of a youth, and came out much consumed at last; might suffer this diminution, rather from sharp and acide humours, then the strength of natural heat, as he supposeth. So silver swallowed and retained some time in the body, will turn black, as if it had been dipped in _Aqua fortis_, or some corrosive water, but Lead will remain unaltered; for that mettal containeth in it a sweet salt or sugar, whereby it resisteth ordinary corrosion, and will not easily dissolve even in _Aqua fortis_. So when for medical uses, we take down the filings of Iron or Steel, we must not conceive it pa.s.seth unaltered from us; for though the grosser parts be excluded again, yet are the dissoluble parts extracted, whereby it becomes effectual in deopilations; and therefore for speedier operation we make extinctions, infusions, and the like, whereby we extract the salt and active parts of the Medicine; which being in solution, more easily enter the veins. [SN: _What the Chymists would have by their_ Aurum Potabile.] And this is that the Chymists mainly drive at in the attempt of their _Aurum Potabile_; that is, to reduce that indigestible substance into such a form as may not be ejected by siege, but enter the cavities, and less accessible parts of the body, without corrosion.

The ground of this conceit is its swallowing down fragments of Iron, which men observing, by a froward illation, have therefore conceived it digesteth them; which is an inference not to be admitted, as being a fallacy of the consequent, that is, concluding a position of the consequent, from the position of the antecedent. For many things are swallowed by Animals, rather for condiment, gust or medicament, then any substantial nutriment. So Poultrey, and especially the Turkey, do of themselves take down stones; and we have found at one time in the gizzard of a Turkey no less then seven hundred. Now these rather concur unto digestion, then are themselves digested; for we have found them also in the guts and excrements; but their descent is very slow, for we have given them stones and small pieces of Iron, which eighteen days after we have found remaining in the gizzard. And therefore the experiment of _Langius_ and others might be fallible, whilst after the taking they expected it should come down within a day or two after. [SN: _How Cherry-stones may be thought to prevent surfets upon eating Cherries._] Thus also we swallow Cherry-stones, but void them unconcocted, and we usually say they preserve us from surfet; for being hard bodies they conceive a strong and durable heat in the stomack, and so prevent the crudities of their fruit: And upon the like reason do culinary operators observe, that flesh boiles best, when the bones are boiled with it. Thus dogs will eat gra.s.s, which they digest not: Thus Camels to make the water sapid, do raise the mud with their feet: Thus horses will knable at walls, Pigeons delight in salt stones. Rats will gnaw iron, and _Aristotle_ saith the Elephant swalloweth stones. And thus may also the _Ostrich_ swallow Iron; not as his proper aliment, but for the ends above expressed, and even as we observe the like in other Animals.

And whether these fragments of Iron and hard substances swallowed by the _Ostrich_, have not also that use in their stomacks, which they have in other birds; that is, in some way to supply the use of teeth, by commolition, grinding and compression of their proper aliment, upon the action of the strongly conformed muscles of the stomack; as the honor'd Dr. _Harvey_ discourseth, may also be considered.

What effect therefore may be expected from the stomack of an _Ostrich_ by application alone to further digestion in ours, beside the experimental refute of _Galen_, we refer it unto considerations above alledged; Or whether there be any more credit to be given unto the Medicine of _aelian_, who affirms the stones they swallow have a peculiar vertue for the eyes, then that of _Hermolaus_ and _Pliny_ drawn from the urine of this Animal; let them determine who can swallow so strange a transmission of qualities, or believe that any Bird or flying Animal doth separately and distinctly urine beside the Bat.

That therefore an _Ostrich_ will swallow and take down Iron, is easily to be granted: that oftimes it pa.s.s entire away, if we admit of ocular testimony not to be denied. And though some experiment may also plead, that sometimes they are so altered, as not to be found or excluded in any discernable parcels: yet whether this be not effected by some way of corrosion, from sharp and dissolving humidities, rather then any proper digestion, chilifactive mutation, or alimental conversion, is with good reason doubted.

CHAPTER XXIII

Of Unicorns Horn.

Great account and much profit is made of _Unicorns horn_, at least of that which beareth the name thereof; wherein notwithstanding, many I perceive suspect an Imposture, and some conceive there is no such Animal extant. Herein therefore to draw up our determinations; beside the several places of Scripture mentioning this Animal (which some may well contend to be only meant of the Rhinoceros [SN: _Some doubt to be made what_ ??? _signifieth in Scripture_.]) we are so far from denying there is any _Unicorn_ at all, that we affirm there are many kinds thereof. In the number of Quadrupedes, we will concede no less then five; that is, the _Indian_ Ox, the _Indian_ a.s.s, the Rhinoceros, the Oryx, and that which is more eminently termed _Monoceros_, or _Unicornis_. Some of the list of fishes; as that described by _Olaus_, _Albertus_ and others: and some Unicorns we will allow even among Insects; as those four kinds of nasicornous Beetles described by _m.u.f.fetus_.

Secondly, Although we concede there may be many _Unicorns_, yet are we still to seek; for whereunto to affix this Horn in question, or to determine from which thereof we receive this magnified Medicine, we have no a.s.surance, or any satisfactory decision. For although we single out one, and eminently thereto a.s.sign the name of the _Unicorn_; yet can we not be secure what creature is meant thereby; what constant shape it holdeth, or in what number to be received. For as far as our endeavours discover, this animal is not uniformly described, but differently set forth by those that undertake it. [SN: _The Unicorn, how variously reported by Authors._] _Pliny_ affirmeth it is a fierce and terrible creature; _Vartomannus_ a tame and mansuete Animal: those which _Garcias ab Horto_ described about the cape of good hope, were beheld with heads like horses; those which _Vartomannus_ beheld, he described with the head of a Deer; _Pliny_, _aelian_, _Solinus_, and after these from ocular a.s.surance, _Paulus Venetus_ affirmeth, the feet of the _Unicorn_ are undivided, and like the Elephants: But those two which _Vartomannus_ beheld at _Mecha_, were as he describeth, footed like a Goat. As _aelian_ describeth, it is in the bigness of an Horse, as _Vartomannus_, of a Colt; that which _Thevet_ speaketh of was not so big as an Heifer; but _Paulus Venetus_ affirmeth, they are but little less then Elephants.

Which are discriminations very material, and plainly declare, that under the same name Authors describe not the same Animal: so that the _Unicorns_ Horn of one, is not that of another, although we proclaim an equal vertue in all.

Thirdly, Although we were agreed what Animal this was, or differed not in its description, yet would this also afford but little satisfaction; for the Horn we commonly extol, is not the same with that of the Ancients. For that in the description of _aelian_ and _Pliny_ was black: this which is shewed amongst us is commonly white, none black; and of those five which _Scaliger_ beheld, though one spadiceous, or of a light red, and two enclining to red, yet was there not any of this complexion among them.

Fourthly, What Horns soever they be which pa.s.s amongst us, they are not surely the Horns of any one kind of Animal, but must proceed from several sorts of _Unicorns_. For some are wreathed, some not: That famous one which is preserved at St. _Dennis_ near _Paris_, hath wreathy spires, and chocleary turnings about it, which agreeth with the description of the _Unicorns_ Horn in _aelian_. Those two in the treasure of St. _Mark_ are plain, and best accord with those of the _Indian_ a.s.s, or the descriptions of other _Unicorns_: That in the Repository of the electour of Saxone is plain and not hollow, and is believed to be a true Land _Unicorns_ Horn. _Albertus Magnus_ describeth one ten foot long, and at the base about thirteen inches compa.s.s: And that of _Antwerp_ which _Goropius Beca.n.u.s_ describeth, is not much inferiour unto it; which best agree unto the descriptions of the _Sea-Unicorns_; for these, as _Olaus_ affirmeth, are of that strength and bigness, as able to penetrate the ribs of ships. The same is more probable, because it was brought from Island, from whence, as _Beca.n.u.s_ affirmeth, three other were brought in his days: And we have heard of some which have been found by the Sea-side, and brought unto us from _America_. So that while we commend the _Unicorns_ Horn, and conceive it peculiar but unto one animal; under apprehension of the same vertue, we use very many; and commend that effect from all, which every one confineth unto some one he hath either seen or described.

Fifthly, Although there be many _Unicorns_, and consequently many Horns, yet many there are which bear that name, and currantly pa.s.s among us, which are no Horns at all. Such are those fragments and pieces of _Lapis Cerat.i.tes_, commonly termed _Cornu fossile_, whereof _Btius_ had no less than twenty several sorts presented him for _Unicorns_ Horn. Hereof in subterraneous cavities, and under the earth there are many to be found in several parts of _Germany_; which are but the lapidescencies and petrifactive mutations of hard bodies; sometimes of Horn, of teeth, of bones, and branches of trees, whereof there are some so imperfectly converted, as to retain the odor and qualities of their originals; as he relateth of pieces of Ash and Walnut. Again, in most, if not all which pa.s.s amongst us, and are extolled for precious Horns, we discover not an affection common unto other Horns; that is, they mollifie not with fire, they soften not upon decoction or infusion, nor will they afford a jelly, or mucilaginous concretion in either; which notwithstanding we may effect in Goats horns, Sheeps, Cows and Harts-horn, in the Horn of the _Rhinoceros_, the horn of the Pristis or Sword fish. Nor do they become friable or easily powderable by Philosophical calcination, that is, from the vapor or steam of water, but split and rift contrary to others horns. [SN: Unicorns _Horn commonly used in_ England, _what it is_.] Briefly, many of those commonly received, and whereof there be so many fragments preserved in _England_, are not only no Horn, but a substance harder then a bone, that is, parts of the tooth of a Morse or Sea-horse; in the midst of the solider part contained a curdled grain, which is not to be found in Ivory. This in Northern Regions is of frequent use for hafts of knives or hilts of swords, and being burnt becomes a good remedy for fluxes: but Antidotally used, and exposed for _Unicorns_ Horn, it is an insufferable delusion; and with more veniable deceit, it might have been practised in Harts-horn.

The like deceit may be practised in the teeth of other Sea-animals; in the teeth also of the _Hippopotamus_, or great Animal which frequenteth the River _Nilus_: For we read that the same was anciently used instead of Ivory or Elephants tooth. Nor is it to be omitted, what hath been formerly suspected, but now confirmed by _Olaus Wormius_, and _Thomas Bartholinus_ and others, that those long Horns preserved as pretious rarities in many places, are but the teeth of Narhwales, to be found about Island, Greenland and other Northern regions; of many feet long, commonly wreathed, very deeply fastned in the upper jaw, and standing directly forward, graphically described in _Bartholinus_[SN: De Unicornu.], according unto one sent from a Bishop of Island, not separated from the crany. Hereof _Mercator_ hath taken notice in his description of Island: some relations hereof there seem to be in _Purchas_, who also delivereth that the Horn at _Windsor_, was in his second voyage brought hither by _Frobisher_. These before the Northern discoveries, as unknown rarities, were carried by Merchants into all parts of _Europe_; and though found on the Sea-sh.o.r.e, were sold at very high rates; but are now become more common, and probably in time will prove of little esteem; and the bargain of _Julius_ the third, be accounted a very hard one, who stuck not to give many thousand crowns for one.

Nor is it great wonder we may be so deceived in this, being daily gulled in the brother Antidote Bezoar; whereof though many be false, yet one there pa.s.seth amongst us of more intollerable delusion; somewhat paler then the true stone, and given by women in the extremity of great diseases, which notwithstanding is no stone, but seems to be the stony seed of some Lithospermum or greater Grumwell; or the Lobus Echinatus of _Clusius_, called also the Bezoar Nut; for being broken, it discovereth a kernel of a leguminous smell and tast, bitter like a Lupine, and will swell and sprout if set in the ground, and therefore more serviceable for issues, then dangerous and virulent diseases.

Sixthly, Although we were satisfied we had the _Unicorns_ Horn, yet were it no injury unto reason to question the efficacy thereof, or whether those vertues pretended do properly belong unto it. For what we observe, (and it escaped not the observation of _Paulus Jovius_ many years past) none of the Ancients ascribed any medicinal or antidotal vertue unto the _Unicorns_ Horn; and that which _aelian_ extolleth, who was the first and only man of the Ancients who spake of the medical vertue of any _Unicorn_, was the Horn of the _Indian_ a.s.s; whereof, saith he, the Princes of those parts make bowls and drink therein, as preservatives against Poyson, Convulsions, and the Falling-sickness. Now the description of that Horn is not agreeable unto that we commend; for that (saith he) is red above, white below, and black in the middle; which is very different from ours, or any to be seen amongst us. And thus, though the description of the _Unicorn_ be very ancient, yet was there of old no vertue ascribed unto it; and although this amongst us receive the opinion of the same vertue, yet is it not the same Horn whereunto the Antients ascribed it.

Lastly, Although we allow it an Antidotal efficacy, and such as the Ancients commended, yet are there some vertues ascribed thereto by Moderns not easily to be received; and it hath surely faln out in this, as other magnified medicines, whose operations effectual in some diseases, are presently extended unto all. That some Antidotal quality it may have, we have no reason to deny; for since Elks Hoofs and Horns are magnified for Epilepsies, since not only the bone in the heart, but the Horn of a Deer is Alexipharmacal, and ingredient into the confection of Hyacinth, and the Electuary of Maximilian; we cannot without prejudice except against the efficacy of this. [SN: _Expulsive of Poisons._] But when we affirm it is not only Antidotal to proper venoms, and substances destructive by qualities we cannot express; but that it resisteth also Sublimate, a.r.s.enick, and poysons which kill by second qualities, that is, by corrosion of parts; I doubt we exceed the properties of its nature, and the promises of experiment will not secure the adventure. And therefore in such extremities, whether there be not more probable relief from fat oyly substances, which are the open tyrants over salt and corrosive bodies, then precious and cordial medicines which operate by secret and disputable proprieties; or whether he that swallowed Lime, and drank down Mercury water, did not more reasonably place his cure in milk, b.u.t.ter or oyl, then if he had recurred unto Pearl and Bezoar, common reason at all times, and necessity in the like case would easily determine.

Since therefore there be many _Unicorns_; since that whereto we appropriate a Horn is so variously described, that it seemeth either never to have been seen by two persons, or not to have been one animal; Since though they agreed in the description of the animal, yet is not the Horn we extol the same with that of the Ancients; Since what Horns soever they be that pa.s.s among us, they are not the Horns of one, but several animals; Since many in common use and high esteem are no Horns at all; Since if there were true Horns, yet might their vertues be questioned; Since though we allowed some vertues, yet were not others to be received; with what security a man may rely on this remedy, the mistress of fools hath already instructed some, and to wisdom (which is never to wise to learn) it is not too late to consider.

CHAPTER XXIV

That all Animals of the Land, are in their kind in the Sea.