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| Francesco Stelluti, Persio (1630) University of Oklahoma |
"The Generall Method of Preventing, and Curing all venemous Stingings and Bitings. Prevention is onely two wayes: By having an eye to all places where they are likely to be abroad: And by driving them from the place of a mans habitation. All venomous Creatures are driven from the house by these fumes and washings following. Fume your roomes with the smoake of Harts-horne shavings, burnt in a chafing-dish or firepanne: or the shavings of sheepes hoofes: or the parings of old shooes. Wash the walls with the Gaule of any beast boyled a little in water."
Stephen Bradwell, Helps for Suddain Accidents Endangering LifeGot an infestation? Time to light the old-shoe incense. (Simply whacking the insects with your old shoes is also effective.)
I wonder if it's the harts horn plant or an actual hart's horn? #willtryanything
ReplyDeleteWhat exactly is the gaule of a beast? I've got a hornet problem on my balcony and sheep hoof shavings on hand. Ready for battle.
ReplyDeleteConsidering the gaule of the beast is used, which I believe is old french for "bile" because of the term "Gaule of Eeles", while means "gall (or bile) of eels", and the method for which it's burnt, I would say this is discussing coal of hartshorne which was used as smelling salts and to treat insect bites.
ReplyDeleteI could be totally wrong though.