Scatalogic Rites of All Nations: A dissertation upon the employment of excrementitious remedial agents in religion, therapeutics, divination, witchcraft, love-philters, etc., in all parts of the globeBourke, John Gregory
Religion
Scatalogic Rites of All Nations: A dissertation upon the employment of excrementitious remedial agents in religion, therapeutics, divination, witchcraft, love-philters, etc., in all parts of the globe
Bourke, John Gregory
Scatology
Schurig recommends the use of mouse-dung, both internally and externally,
for various disorders, for constipation in children, for scald head,
and dandruff, in which cases it was applied as an ointment, for the
elimination of calculi in kidneys and bladder, for all swellings in the
fundament, piles, warts, tumors in ano, hemorrhages of the lungs, for the
suppression of the menses, and even to excite the growth of the beard.
When taken internally, it was administered in broth, milk, or panada;
externally, it was made into a plaster with butter and such ingredients.
It was at times mixed with the dung of sparrows (p. 823 _et seq._).
Sheep-dung figures in medicinal preparations, to be used either
internally or externally. Internally, as a decoction, in yellow jaundice,
obstructions and constipation of the bowels, and in small pox. Also as a
specific in the cure of gonorrhœa, when given in form of pills. For pains
in the intestines, for swellings, burns, and ingrowing toe-nails, it was
applied as a plaster (p. 826 _et seq._).
Peacock-dung, the great specific in all cases of epilepsy and vertigo,
was administered in doses of one dram, and in France was held in high
repute for such purposes. It should be used from the new to the full
moon, and be taken in white wine (p. 828).
This paragraph about the medicinal value of the droppings of the peacock
deserves more than a cursory glance; in it we have a strong suggestion
of the former association of this bird with moon worship. The peacock,
we know, was the bird that drew the car of Juno, and that goddess was as
much a lunar deity as Diana.
Pig-dung or swine-dung appears as one of the remedies, of both internal
and external application, for nasal hemorrhage, and uterine flux. For
nasal hemorrhages, it was dried and reduced to powder, and drawn up
into the nostrils as a sort of snuff. Applied, externally, warm, to the
vulva, it was regarded as an aid in hemorrhage of the uterus; it was also
given internally for the same purpose. It was not used exclusively for
such hemorrhages, but had a great repute as a styptic in general, and
was applied to wounds of all descriptions. It was therefore used both
externally and internally for the suppression of excessive menstrual
flow, and taken internally to restrain spitting of blood. It was of
general use in the treatment of felons, and was also regarded as an
invaluable febrifuge.
For nasal hemorrhage, it was occasionally bound round the temples. Oddly
enough, it was believed to be a remedy for fetor of breath. “Alii miscent
stercus porcinum exsiccatum, cum pulvere rosarum pro corrigendo fœtore”
(p. 830 _et seq._).
As an external application for tumors of all kinds, cow-dung had a host
of advocates, who likewise extended its use to the cure of scrofulous
sores. For scrofulous wens, there was a cataplasm made of a composition
of various dungs,—those of the cow, goat, and doves, among others. This
was also to be taken internally, in white wine.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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