Lycanthropy

LYCANTHROPY. We call this the Disease which a Man falls into, when through the Effect of a disordered Imagination, and heated Brain, he fancies himself to be an Ox, a Wolf, a Dog or a Cat, &c. and assumes all the Inclinations, Manners, and Sentiments of these Creatures. It is generally believed¹ that Nebuchadnezzar was by the Power of God reduced to this kind of Madness; so as to believe firmly that he was converted into an Ox, and consequently began to walk on his Hands and Feet, to graze, to but with his Head, as if he had Horns, to lie in the Fields, to shun the Company of Mankind, and let his Hair, his Beard, and Nails grow like a Beast. His People, as Daniel observes, were surprized extremely at so prodigious an Event, and bound him², aligetur vinculo æreo & ferreo; they treated him as mad Men are usually treated to prevent their committing any Violence, or throwing themselves headlong from some Precipice. But at length he made his Escape, and lived in the Fields like a Beast. Diseases of this kind are not unknown to Physicians; and there are few Books of Physick which do not take Notice of them.

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