How to Prevent Pregnancy, c. 1260

illustration of two animals, not obviously weasels British Library Sloane MS 75, f. 87r

A weasel placed on a scorpion bite helps greatly… if its heel is taken from it while it still lives and is placed on a woman, she will not get pregnant as long as it is there.

Albertus Magnus, De animalibus

As if you needed another reason to keep a live weasel in your bedroom.

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