turning evil (uncountable)
- (obsolete) Sturdy; gid; turnsick.
1680, Nicholas Culpeper, The Engliſh-Phyſicians dayly Practiſe. Or, Culpeper's Faithful Physitian. Teaching every Man and Woman to be their own Doctor, […] J. Conyers, page 8:A rare Medicine for the Scab or Itch. 2. All Maggots whatever. 3 The worms in the Claw. 4. All wild fire. 5. the turning evil, theep tagged 6. Sheep belted. 7. the ſturdy ia ſheep.
1664 [1663], Robert Boyle, chapter XII, in Some Considerations Touching the Vsefvlnesse of Experimental Naturall Philoſophy, […] , 2nd edition, Oxford, page 233:When Oxen, and ſuch like Cattle, are troubled with that Diſeaſe which makes them continually turn about in one place (and is therefore called the Turning Evil, or Sturdy) a common Remedy here in England, as Graſiers that make uſe of it inform me, is to caſt down and tye faſt the ſick Beaſt, […]
1683, “Turning Evil, Morfound”, in A Treatise of Oxen, Sheep, Hogs and Dogs; With their Natures, Qualities, and Uſes, London: […] Obadiah Blagrave, page 28:Let him bloud in the Eye-veins, Temple-veins, or through the Noſtrils, and rub the places with young Nettles bruiſed ; or give a ſpoonful of Treacle or Mithridate in Wine, good for the Morfound.
1698, A. S., “For the turning Evil and Morfound”, in The Husbandman, Farmer, and Grasier's, Compleat Inſtructor, London, page 70:Bleed pretty well in the Temple-Veins, or through the Noſtrils,and rub the place with the Juyce of young, Nettles, and halt a pint of White-wine, give an Ounce of Methridate as hot as can conveniently be taken.
