This occasions every one to be provided with _sovereign Remedies_ against them, which is a Piece of _Copper-money_ they put upon the Wound, take it off 24 Hours after, and apply a Plaister of Honey and Vinegar. The _Holstein_ Ambassadors say they are very black, of the Length and Thickness of a Man’s Finger, and run faster than Crab-fishes, with their Tails always erected[188]. Footnote 187: _Herbert_’s Travels, Book ii. p. 13. Footnote 188: Duke of _Holstein_’s Ambassadors Travels into _Persia_, _sparsim_. We read of a certain Emperor of _Persia_, who designing to make a Tour into _Media_, durst not undertake the Journey, for the vast Quantity of _Scorpions_ lying in the Road: So that he was obliged to detach a great Number of stout Fellows to destroy those pestiferous Animals, promising a superior Reward to them that kill’d most: Till this Execution was over, he durst not venture his dignified Carcass abroad. The _Scythian Scorpions_ are of the large Size, and terrible when they shoot their Stings. In _Madagascar_, a large _African_ Island, are several Sorts of Scorpions, particularly _Water-Scorpions_, that lie in the Marshes and standing Waters, which are very mischievous, killing Dogs and Beasts, and then sucking their Blood. There is another Sort of Scorpions with a great round black Belly, that are very dangerous; for those whom they strike immediately swoon, and some for two Days are weak, and cold as Ice. The only Remedy they have, is that used against Serpent’s Wounds, _viz._ to set the Patient by a great Fire, and giving him Antidotes to expel the Poison, which proves a Cure[189]. Footnote 189: _Atlas Geograph. Asia_, from _La Croix_. In _Italy_, _Land-Scorpions_ are call’d _Scurtificio_, because they have their Poison _nel-pizzo_, in the Extremity of their Tail. Among the _Germans_, _pizzo_ is _sharp_, as _spits als een naalde_, pointed as a Needle: The Country people bring them in Sack-fuls to _Florence_, and take them out with naked Hands, as if they were so many Eels, which supposes them to be of the innocent Kind, like those _white Scorpions_ in _Pharos_, a little Island in the Mouth of _Nilus_, where there is plenty of these pacifick Animals, who offer no Violence to their Neighbours. Mention is made of other Provinces where they live and hurt no body[190]. Footnote 190: _Fran. Redi opusculorum, pars prior._ By the _Spaniards_ the _Scorpion_ is call’d _Alaicran_, from an Island in _America_, called the _Island of Scorpions_, for the numerous Multitude that ravage the Place. In _Brasil_ is a vast Number of _Scorpions_, and some four or five Foot long, in Shape like those of _Europe_; but not so venemous: Some of them chuse to kill themselves rather than die by the Hands of an Enemy. A certain Gentleman who made the Trial observes, that a Scorpion being surrounded with a Circle of burning Coals, chose to sting itself to Death rather than be burnt.