Part 14

There is a Stone found in their Bellies, in a Bladder against their Navel, which being pulveriz’d and drank in White-wine Posset or Ale, is present Remedy for the Stone.

To heal a green Cut.

About their Fins you may find a kind of Lowse, which healeth a green Cut in short time.

To restore them that have melted their Grease.

Their Livers and Sounds eaten, is a good Medicine for to restore them that have melted their Grease.

The Dogfish.

The Dogfish, a ravenous Fish.

For the Toothach.

Upon whose Back grows a Thorn two or three Inches long, that helps the Toothach, scarifying the Gums therewith.

Their Skins are good to cover Boxes and Instrument Cases.

{34} The Stingray.

The Stingray, a large Fish, of a rough Skin, good to cover Boxes and Hafts of Knives, and Rapier sticks.

The Tortous.

The Turtle or Tortous, of which there are three kinds: 1. The land Turtle; they are found in dry sandy Banks, under old Houses, and never go into the water.

For the Ptisick, Consumption, and Morbus Gallicus.

They are good for the Ptisick and Consumptions, and some say the Morbus Gallicus.

2. The River Turtle, which are venomous and stink.

3. The Turtle that lives in Lakes and is called in Virginia a Terrapine.

The Soile.

The Soile or Sea Calf, a Creature that brings forth her young ones upon dry land, but at other times keeps in the Sea preying upon Fish.

{35} For Scalds and Burns, and for the Mother.

The Oyl of it is much used by the Indians, who eat of it with their Fish, and anoint their limbs therewith, and their Wounds and Sores: It is very good for Scalds and Burns; and the fume of it, being cast upon Coals, will bring Women out of the Mother Fits. The Hair upon the young ones is white, and as soft as silk; their Skins, with the Hair on, are good to make Gloves for the Winter.

The Sperma Ceti Whale.

The Sperma Ceti Whale differeth from the Whales that yield us Whale-bones, for the first hath great and long Teeth, the other is nothing but Bones with Tassels hanging from their Jaws, with which they suck in their prey.

What Sperma Ceti is.

It is not long since a Sperma Ceti Whale or two were cast upon the shore, not far from Boston in the Massachusetts Bay, which being cut into small pieces and boiled in Cauldrons, yielded plenty of Oyl; the Oyl put up into Hogsheads, and flow’d into Cellars for some time, Candies at the {36} bottom, it may be one quarter; then the Oyl is drawn off, and the Candied Stuff put up into convenient Vessels is sold for Sperma Ceti, and is right Sperma Ceti.

For Bruises and Aches.

The Oyl that was drawn off Candies again and again, if well ordered; and is admirable for Bruises and Aches.