OF THE VIPER.
The Viper has always been so Notorious for its Venom, that the most remote Antiquity made it an Emblem of what is Hurtful and Destructive. Nay, so terrible was the Nature of these Creatures, that they were very commonly thought to be sent as Executioners of Divine Vengeance upon Mankind for Enormous Crimes, which had escaped the Course of Common Justice. Thus Herodotus [(1)] and Ælian [(2)] do both take notice that Adders were sacred among the Ægyptians; that they affirmed of one sort of ’em particularly, that they were made to be Ministers of the Will of the Gods, by averting Evil from Good Men, and punishing the Bad. And Pausanias [(3)] observes of the Arabians, that they forbore to offer any Violence to the Vipers which were found near to the Balsam-Tree, as reputing ’em Holy. The Footsteps of which Superstition do still remain among these People to this very Day, for Veslingius [(4)] saw many of ’em take these Creatures into their Houses, feed ’em, and worship them as the Genii of the Place. The same odd Fancy obtains in the East-Indies, for the King of Calicut causes Cottages to be set up for Serpents to keep them from the Rain, and makes it Death to any that shall hurt one of ’em; thinking them to be Heavenly Spirits, because they can so suddenly Kill Men [(5)]. A Remarkable Instance of such an Opinion as this we have in the History of St. Paul [(6)], whom the People of Malta when they saw the Viper leap upon his Hand, presently concluded to be a Murderer, and as readily made a God of him, when instead of having his Hand Inflamed, or falling down Dead, (one or other of which is usually the Effect of those Bites) he without any harm shook the Beast into the Fire. It being Obvious enough to imagine, that He must stand in a near Relation at least to the Gods themselves, who could thus Command the Messengers of their Vengeance, and Counterwork the Effects of such powerful Agents.
And this, after the many Conjectures upon the Matter, seems to be the true Reason why Antiquity not only Represented the First Masters of Physick, Hermes, Æsculapius, Hippocrates, &c. in their Statues and Medals, with a Viper added to their Figure, but also Worshipped them under this Form, for Diseases in those Days, especially the most Violent, Plagues, Fevers, &c. were in like manner, as these Creatures, reputed the Commission’d Messengers of Divine Anger and Displeasure [(7)]. They therefore who by their Art could Cure and Stop the Course of these, as they were supposed to do this by the particular Leave and Assistance of Heaven, so had Honours paid to Them accordingly, and this Representation was in the Nature of an Hieroglyphick Character; for as the Learned Spanhem observes, [(8)] the Viper was a Symbol or Emblem of Divine Power.
Macrobius indeed gives us another account of this Custom, and that is from the Property which all Serpents have of casting their Exuviæ, or Upper-Skin, every Year, which makes ’em fit Emblems or Representations of Health; the Recovery of which from Sickness and Diseases may justly be looked upon as the beginning of a fresh Period of Life, and (as the throwing off the Senectus of these Creatures seems to be) the Renewing of Age [(9)].
Whether one or the other of these Reasons be allow’d of, or both thought good, certain it is that such fond and superstitious Fancies concerning the Viper, together with the mistaken Opinion that few of its Parts were exempt from Poison, did not suffer the Ancients to make any Curious Enquiries into its Nature by Anatomy and Experiments, and this is the Cause of the many Errors they have delivered down to us in these Points, which by gradual Advances have since been rectified, and the inward Make, Properties, and Generation of this Animal, largely treated of; more especially M. Redi [(10)], Charas [(11)], and Dr. Tyson in his Dissection of the Rattle-Snake [(12)], which is a larger Species of a Viper, have taken Pains on this Subject, to whose Discoveries, what is yet wanting, we shall add at the End of this Essay.
The Symptoms which follow upon the Bite of a Viper, when it fastens either one or both its greater Teeth in any Part of the Body, are an acute Pain in the Place Wounded, with a Swelling at first Red, but afterwards Livid, which by degrees spreads farther to the Neighbouring Parts with great Faintness, and a Quick, tho’ Low, and sometimes Interrupted Pulse, great Sickness at the Stomach, with Bilious, Convulsive Vomitings, Cold Sweats, and sometimes Pains about the Navel; and if the Cure be not speedy, Death it self, unless the Strength of Nature prove sufficient to overcome these Disorders; and tho’ it does, the Swelling still continues inflamed for some time; nay, in some Cases more considerably upon the abating of the other Symptoms, than at the beginning; and often from the small Wound runs a sanious Liquor, and little Pustules are raised about it; the colour of the whole Skin is changed Yellow, as if the Patient had the Jaundice.
These Mischiefs, altho’ different Climates, Season of the Year more or less Hot, the greater or lesser Rage of the Viper, the Beast it self of a larger or smaller Size, and consequently able to communicate more or less Venom, and the like Circumstances, may variously heighten or abate ’em, yet do usually discover themselves much after the same manner in all; unless the Bite happen not to be accompanied with the Effusion of that Liquor, which is the main Instrument and Cause of this violent and shocking Disturbance.
But before I proceed to enquire into the Nature and Manner of Acting of this Juice, it may be worth the while to take Notice, that this is not made on purpose to be deadly and destructive to Mankind; but that the true Design of it is (tho’ Authors have not regarded it) to perform an Office and Service of so great Moment, to the Preservation of the Individual, that without it this Creature could not subsist.
For Vipers live chiefly upon Lizzards, Frogs, Toads, Mice, Moles, and the like Animals, which they do not chew, but swallow down whole, and they lie in the Stomach; or if that be not big enough to receive them, partly in that, and partly in the Œsophagus, which is membranous and capable of great Distension, till by the Salival Juices of those Parts, together with the Help of the Fibres of the Stomach, and the Contraction of the Muscles of the Abdomen, they are gradually dissolved into a Fluid Substance, fit for the Nourishment of their Bodies, which is the Work of many Days; this is one Reason why these Creatures can live so long without taking any fresh Food, which I have known them to do Three or Four Months; as another is, that their Blood is a grosser and more viscid Fluid than that of most other Animals; so that there is but a very little expence of it by Transpiration, and consequently less need of Recruit; this not only Microscopes discover, but Reason teaches; because there is but very little Muscular Force in the Stomach to comminute the Food, and make a Chyle of fine Parts, and therefore the Blood must accordingly be of a Tough and Clammy Consistence. Besides, the Heart of a Viper has properly but one Ventricle, and the Circulation of the Blood is performed after the same Manner as it is in a Frog and Tortoise, in which not above one Third of it passes thro’ the Lungs; upon which Account its Comminution in them by the Air is proportionably lesser than in other Animals. Now such a manner of Feeding as this does necessarily require, that the Prey should upon the first Catching be immediately kill’d, otherwise it were by no means fit to be let into the Stomach; for we are not to think that the Force of this Part would be alone sufficient to destroy it, the Subtilty of a living Creature (besides the Consideration of the Weakness of the Fibres) being in a great Measure able to elude that, as indeed we do every Day find live Animals in the Ventricles of others; and therefore to do this is the proper Use both of the Teeth and their Poison; for which being designed and adapted, it is no wonder if the Viper, this same Way by which it destroys its Prey, proves sometimes mischievous to any other Creatures besides, when it happens to be enraged, or by any Provocation stirr’d up to bite.
The Description of the Poisonous Fangs, their Make, Articulation and Motion, as also of the Glands that separate the Yellowish Liquor, and the Bags that contain it; I shall give, together with some Anatomical Observations, at the End of this Discourse.
This Venomous Juice it self is of so inconsiderable a quantity, that it is no more than one good Drop that does the Execution; and for this reason Authors have contented themselves with Trials of the Bite upon several Animals, never Essaying to examine the Texture and Make of the Liquor it self; for which purpose I have oftentimes by holding a Viper advantageously, and inraging it till it struck out its Teeth, made it to bite upon somewhat solid, so as to void its Poison; which carefully putting upon a Glass Plate, I have with a Microscope, as nicely as I could, viewed its Parts and Composition.
Upon the first Sight I could discover nothing but a Parcel of small Salts nimbly floating in the Liquor, but in a very short time the Appearance was changed, and these saline Particles were now shot out as it were into Crystals of an incredible Tenuity and Sharpness, with something like Knots here and there, from which they seemed to proceed, so that the whole Texture did in a manner represent a Spider’s Webb, tho’ infinitely Finer, and more Minute; and yet withal so rigid were these pellucid Spicula, or Darts, that they remained unaltered upon my Glass for several Months [(13)].
I have made several Trials with this Juice in order to find out under what Tribe of Salts these Crystals are to be ranged; and not without some difficulty, by reason of the Minute Quantity of the Liquor, and the Hazard of Experiments of this Nature, have plainly seen that it does, as an Acid, turn the blue Tincture of Heliotropium to a Red Colour.
I did not succeed so well in mixing it with Syrup of Violets, and yet it did really seem to induce in this a Reddish Hue; but I am very certain it did not at all change it to a Greenish Colour, as it would have done if any ways Alcalious.
This may suffice in their own way of arguing, to convince those Gentlemen, who without the Assistance of any Experiments, meerly to serve an Hypothesis which they have too fondly taken up, have with great Assurance told the World, that the Viperine Venom is an Alcali, and consequently to be cured by Acid Remedies. But it is by far more easie to Spin out a false Notion into precarious Reasonings, than to make faithful Experiments, and fairly improve ’em by just and necessary Consequences.
To proceed, this Discovery agrees very well with a Relation communicated by an Ingenious Person to Dr. Tyson, which does so much illustrate this Matter, that I shall transcribe it in his own Words, out of the before cited Philosophical Transactions; he says then, That being in the Indies, there came to him an Indian with several Sorts of Serpents, offering to shew him some Experiments about the Force of their Poison; having therefore first pulled out a large One, the Indian told him this would do no Harm; and making a Ligature on his Arm as in letting Blood, he exposed it naked to the Serpent, being first irritated to make him bite it; the Blood that came out of the Wound made by his Teeth, he gathered with his Finger, and laid it on his Thigh, till he had got near a Spoonful, after this he takes out another called Cobra de Capelo, which was lesser, and inlarges much upon the Greatness of his Poison; to shew an Instance of it, grasping it out about the Neck, he expresses some of the Liquor in the Bags of the Gums, about the Quantity of half a Grain, and this he puts to the coagulated Bleed on his Thigh, which immediately put it into a great Fermentation, and working like Barme, changed it into a Yellowish Liquor.
This I say does well enough accord with what we have been advancing concerning the Nature of this Juice, for Mr. Boyle has long since proved by Experiments, that there is nothing of Acid in human Blood; and Dr. Pitcarn [(14)] has demonstrated, that the Acid Substances of Vegetables taken into the Stomach, are by the Action of this Part, the Lungs and Heart, when they come into the Blood-Vessels, turn’d to Alcalious; so that the Arterial Fluid must necessarily be considered as an Alcali; and therefore according to the known Principles of Chymistry, its mixture with such a Liquor as we have discovered the Viperine Sanies to be, will always exhibit some such appearance as this now related.
But not to engage any farther in these sort of Controversies, we may perhaps from the foregoing Observations receive some Light in order to understand the Nature and Reason of all those Symptoms which attend the Bite of this Creature. For the pungent Salts of this Venom, when with Force thrown into the Wound, will not only as so many Stimuli, irritate and fret the sensile Membranes, whereupon there necessarily follows a greater Afflux than ordinary of the Animal Juices that way, (as is manifest from the Bellinian Doctrine, De Stimulis) so that the wounded Part must be Swelled, Inflamed, Livid, &c. but also these Spicula being mixt with the Blood, will so disjoin and disunite the Parts of it, that its Mixture must be quite alter’d; and from the various Cohæsion of its Globules will arise such different Degrees of Fluidity and Impulse towards the Parts, &c. from what this Liquor had before, that its very Nature will be changed, or in the common way of speaking, it will be truly and really Fermented.
To understand aright how all this is done, it is necessary to hint somewhat concerning the Nature of Fluids in General, and those Alterations in them which we call Fermentations; for I shall retain this known Word, tho’ in the proper Sense in which ’tis commonly used, there can be no Fermenting of the Liquors in the Animal Body.
And here I must refer to the Treatise of Bellini de Fermentis, who has with great Clearness shewn, that there is in all Fluids not only a simple Contact of their Parts, but also a nisus in Contactum, or Cohæsion, and this of a certain Degree or Force, and besides, of a particular Direction; which is indeed, tho’ express’d in other words, the very same thing with the Attraction of the Particles one to another; This Mr. Newton has demonstrated to be the great Principle of Action in the Universe, has taught us the Laws of it in the greater Quantities and Collections of Matter; and he who rightly Studies his Philosophy will understand that the same obtains in the most Minute and Finest Corpuscles, which do unite into Bodies of different Solidity and Make, according to the Degree with which they do mutually attract each other, and to the Superficies, by which, when drawn, they do touch and adhere. To this if we add a Pression of the several Parts of the Fluid every way, and consider withal, that this Uniform Attraction of the Parts to one another must be variously changed by the different Attraction of Heterogeneous Bodies mixt with them, we have the great Principles of all Fluids, upon which their several Phænomena do depend.
And hence it follows, that whatsoever Power is sufficient to make a Change in this Attraction, or Cohæsion of the Parts, makes an Alteration of the Nature of the Fluid; that is, as the Chymists express it, puts it into a Fermentation. And if any one shall think it necessary to enquire into the particular Manner of producing such an Effect, we may perhaps in so abstruse a Matter not improbably Conjecture thus, That our Blood consisting chiefly of Two Parts, a simple Lymph, and an infinite Number of small Globules, containing a very subtle and elastic Fluid, these acute Salts, when mingled with it, do prick those Globules, or Vesiculæ, and so let out their imprisoned active Substance, which expanding it self every way, must necessarily be the Instrument of this speedy Alteration and Change [(15)]. From such an Hypothesis as this (and, it may be, not very easily from any other) we may account for many of the surprizing Phænomena in the Fermentations of Liquors; and as precarious as it seems, its Simplicity, and Plainness, and Agreement with the forementioned Doctrine, will, I believe, recommend it before any other to those who are not unacquainted with Geometrical Reasonings. But I wave these Considerations at present, and shall only add One Remark or Two with Relation to the purpose in Hand, and so proceed.
In the first place then, we may from this Theory, learn, how it comes to pass that so small a Portion of Juice should infect so great a quantity of Liquor; for in order to do this, it is not necessary that the Venom should be at the very first mixt with all its Parts; but it is sufficient that it prick some of the Bladders, and the elastic Matter of these being let out, will be a nimble Vehicle to the acute Salts, and not only by its activity disperse them thro’ the Fluid, but restore to them their decreasing Force, and thus continue their Effects, till a great part of the Liquor undergoes at least, in some Degree, the like Alteration.
And this will the more easily happen in the present Case, because the Force with which this Poison is thrown into the Blood, as appears from the Mechanism of the discharging Organs, is very great, and consequently its Effects will be proportionably violent, or the Mischief more large and diffused.
The want of this may be one Reason why the Experiment of first making a Wound in the Flesh with any sharp Instrument, and then dropping in the Sanies, may not always succeed so well in killing Animals, as one would from the preceeding Doctrine be ready to expect. Tho’ if some amends be made for this Defect, by taking a greater quantity of the Juice, and carefully instilling it, It proves equally Fatal this way, as when immediately discharg’d from the Viper it self. Thus it might happen that those Trials of this kind, which were happily made by Sr Redi, might not however convince Mr Charas, in as much as there is oftentimes a great deal of difference in the Event of Experiments, when made with Purpose, and a Design that they should succeed, and when Timorously and Cautiously managed, lest they should unluckily overthrow a darling Hypothesis.
The other Observation I shall draw from the foregoing Theory, is this, That it appears from hence what a vast variety there may be in the Fermentations even of one and the same Fluid; for these being no other than Changes made in the Cohæsion of the compounding Particles, are capable of as many Alterations as Motion in its Degrees and Directions can admit of, which are really Infinite.
This I mention with regard to some of the following Essays, in which, if we ascribe many Symptoms seemingly very different, to a Ferment rais’d in the Blood, it may be consider’d, that the Nature of this Cause is such, as according to the several Properties of the Primum Agens, or Fermenting Power, to bear by far more Varieties than any one can be aware of.
To return to the Viper; the Effects of such an Agitation of the Blood, as we have been describing, must not only be whatever are the Consequences of a disturbed Circulation, and irregular and interrupted Secretion of the Spirits, as low Pulse, Faintings, Sickness, Palpitation of the Heart, Convulsive Vomitings, Tremblings of the Body, &c. but also the Texture of this Fluid being thus broken, those Parts of it which are of the slowest Motion, and greatest Viscidity, will be easily separated from the others; such they are, which when united together do compound the Bile, and therefore these will tinge the Capillary Vessels, and fine Ducts in the Skin, with a Yellowish Colour; that is, will induce an Icterus, or Jaundice.
For it is not only (if at all Primarily) from an Obstruction of the Biliary Canals that this Symptom does proceed, but also from any Cause whatsoever, which either destroys the Saline Part of the Bile, by the means of which its Oil is kept mixt with the Water of the Blood, or else increases the Oily and Sulphureous Part to that Degree, that tho’ it be duly impregnated with Salt, yet the Watery Part of the Blood, which can only take up a certain Proportion of it, being already Saturated, can receive no more; or lastly, does, by disuniting the compounding Particles of the Blood, alter that Intestine Motion and Agitation which is necessary to carry along thro’ the Vessels, together with the more volatile Parts, those which are more Clammy and Glutinous. For in all these Cases ’tis plain that the Bilious Corpuscles must be præcipitated upon those Parts of the Body where there is least Motion, that is, upon the extreme Superficies.
And tho’ this Theory may perhaps appear extravagant, because new and uncommon, yet it will not, I believe, seem ill grounded or irrational to those who understand the Doctrine of the Mixture of Heterogene Fluids, and their Separation; and who withal know, that the Vessels are rarely obstructed, unless it be from the fault of the Liquid they carry, and consequently that a Defect in the Bile it self must be (excepting some extraordinary Cases) antecedent to the Obstruction of the Biliary Ducts.
In short, the different Cure of this Disease confirms these Notions; for an Icterus from the first Cause assign’d, which is generally owing to a sedentary Life, want of Exercise, &c. and attended with an extreme Costiveness and white Fæces, is cured by Volatile, Acrimonious, and Bitter Salts. From the Second produced oftentimes by drinking strong Liquors, Spirits, &c. and accompanied with a Diarrhœa, partly by Diluting and Temperating, partly by Stomachic and Strenghning Medicines. As the last Species of it (for the sake of which we have mention’d the other) is removed by such Antidotes as overcome and destroy the Venomous Ferment, corrupting the Blood, and breaking its Compages. But to have hinted these things may abundantly suffice for the present.
We must however take Notice, That tho’ the main Alterations made by this Poison be in the Fluid of the Arteries, yet that That of the Nerves may hereby be considerably changed too; for This consisting, as well as the Blood of differing Parts, and being dispersed in small Tubes all over the Body, is not only very capable of various Degrees of Force, Impulse, &c. but Undulating continually towards the Brain, and being the chief Instrument of Motion and Action, may perhaps sometimes more immediately convey the Mischief to the sensile Membranes, and thus be the Cause of those violent Pains, Convulsions, Sickness, &c with which Those who are Bitten are presently seiz’d.
Many are the Experiments I could relate to evince the Truth of this Reasoning concerning the Viperine Venom, which do entirely agree with those made by Sr Redi, whose Judgment and Sincerity in Observations of this Nature no Body ever called in Question, till Monsieur Charas having espous’d a Notion, that this Poison does not lie in the Yellow Liquor of the Gums, but in the enraged Spirits of the Viper, rais’d new Difficulties about the Success of some Trials made in France, endeavouring thereby to invalidate the Force and Authority of those made in Italy.
I shall therefore, in order to put this Matter out of all doubt, mention Two or Three Experiments made by Dr. Areskine, when at Paris, that it may appear how defective those of Mr. Charas are, and that the Difference of the Climate does not (as some began to imagine [(16)]) make any considerable Alteration in the Effects of this Venom, or its manner of Killing.
First then, having got a large Female Viper, he made it to Bite Six Pigeons, one after another; the First and Second that were bit, died within about half an Hour, one a little Time before the other; the third liv’d about two Hours; the Fourth seem’d to be very sick, but recovered; the Fifth and Sixth were no more hurt than if they had been prick’d with a Pin or Needle.
Then he cut off the Head of a brisk Viper, and let it lie twenty four Hours, with the Fangs of which he wounded One Pigeon in the Breast, and another in the Thigh, which both expired as soon after, as if they had been biten by a living Viper. After this, having got a great many Vipers together, he made them bite upon a peice of Glass of a Cylindrical Figure, by this means preserving the Yellow Juice which they emitted, and slightly wounding two Pigeons, he first let the Bleeding be stopt, then put some of this Liquor into the Wounds, upon which both the Pigeons died about two Hours after.
The same Ingenious Person tells me, that Monsieur du Verney made not only These, but also several other Experiments of the same Nature, in the Royal Acamy, with the like Success.
These Proofs are so convincing and full, that no one, I think, can desire more; but they will receive yet a farther Confirmation from the Apparatus or Mechanism of the Organs, with admirable Nicety contrived for the Discharge of this Venom, of which more by and by.
Nor is it any Objection against all This, that the Liquor is innocent and harmless in the Mouth or Stomach of any one, so as that it may be safely tasted or sucked out of the Wound, and swallowed; for, as we observ’d before, that many Acid Substances taken into the Stomach are by the Action of that Part turned to Alcalious, so there is no Question but these Saline Spicula are partly by the Muscular Force of the Fibres, partly by the Salival Juice, all broken and dissolved; or if any can pass into the Intestines, the Balsam of the Bile will be an Antidote for Them; the Reason of which will appear when we come to the Cure.
In the mean time it may not be amiss to Remark, That even the Ancients seem to have known thus much concerning the Nature of this Poison; of this Galen gives us Testimony in severl Places; particularly in his Book de Temperamentis [(17)], where he takes notice, that nothing has the same Power upon the human Body outwardly as inwardly; Thus (says he) neither the Venom of the Viper, nor of the Asp nor frothy Spittle of the Mad Dog, are alike Mischievous when they fall upon the Skin, or enter into the Stomach, as when outwardly communicated by a Wound.
The chief of the Latin Physicians [(18)], Celsus has elegantly express’d the Matter in few Words, when advising to Suck the Wound made by the Bite; he adds, Neq; Hercules Scientiam præcipuam habent hi qui Psilli nominantur, sed audaciam usu ipso confirmatam, nam Venenum Serpentis, ut quædam etiam Venatoria Venena, quibus Galli præcipuè utuntur, non gustu sed in vulnere nocent.
And therefore brave Cato, when marching the Remains of Pompey’s Army thro’ Africa, very wisely told the Soldiers, almost choak’d with Thirst, yet afraid to drink of a Spring they came to, because full of Serpents [(19)],
Noxia Serpentum est admisto sanguine Pestis,
Morsu Virus habent, & Fatum Dente minantur,
Pocula Morte carent——
In the like manner it was in those times also known, that the virulent Juice had the same bad Effects, when mixt with the Blood, by means of a common Wound, as when communicated by the Venomous Bite. This made Celsus [(20)] advise in sucking out the Poison, to take care there be no Ulcer in the Mouth; tho’ this Caution be rather slighted and ridiculed by Severinus [(21)], and others; who do hereby discover how little they understood of the Seat and Nature of this Poison. And Galen [(22)] mentioning the Story of Cleopatra, relates from other Authors, that she killed her self by pouring the Virus of an Asp into a Wound made in her Arm by her own Teeth.
In short, it is upon this Foundation, that Pliny [(23)] assures us, the Scythians Poison’d their Arrows with the Sanies of Vipers mixt with human Blood; the way of doing it Aristotle [(24)] has at large related; and the Tartars are said to use the like Trick to this Day. After the same manner the Indians make use of the Venom of the Lizard, called Gecco; this Creature they hang up by the Tail, and by Whipping exasperate till it discharge its Virus, in which they tinge their Darts; and a very slight Wound with these Weapons is speedy Death [(25)].
It is worth the while in the next Place to consider the Cure of this Mischief, which without all doubt ought to be by such External Mannagement of the Wound as may immediately destroy the infused Venom.
Mr. Boyle [(26)] experienced a hot Iron held as near the Place as the Patient could possibly endure it very effectual to this Purpose. But the same Method did not answer Expectation in the famous Case related by Monsieur Charas [(27)].
An extraordinary Virtue against this and other venomous Bites is ascribed to the Snake-stones brought from the East-Indies, one of which is to be presently apply’d to the Part, and let stick till it drop off; these are said to be taken out of the Head of the Serpent called by the Portugueze, Cobra de Capelo; and to suck the Poison out of the Wound. Sr Redi [(28)] made Trials with several of them, but found no Service from any. Yet Baglivi [(29)] tells us of a terrible Bite of a Scorpion cured this way. Monsieur Charas [(30)] his Pigeons all died, tho’ these were immediately clapped on, and stuck close to the Wound: But Dr. Havers saw a good Effect of one upon a Dog, who tho’ severely bitten, suffered no Harm, nor any farther Mark of the Poison than a livid Circle round the Place.
In plain Truth, as these celebrated Stones do not seem to be what it is pretended they are, but rather Factitious Bodies compounded, it may be, of Calcined Bones, and some Testaceous Matters mixt together; so by Reason of their spongy and porous Texture, they do very readily adhere to any moistened Part of the Flesh, and imbibe whatsoever humidity they meet with. This their Quality any one may experience by holding one of them to the Roof of his Mouth; and it is upon this Score, that when put into Water, Bubbles are raised by the Air in their Interstices, which some have too fondly thought to be the Effects of their throwing out the Venom they had sucked in.
Their make being thus, some Part at least of the Poisonous Juice may easily be drawn out of the Wound by such an Application, and yet so much of it may sometimes happen to remain in the Flesh, as may make the Bite however to prove Mortal. And thus it fared with a Pigeon, to the Thigh of which, first bitten by a Viper, I applied one of the Stones; for tho’ it stuck fast to the Wound, and thus saved the Life for about four Hours; (whereas others usually died in about half an Hour) yet after this the Mortification of the Part prevailed to that Degree as to become fatal to the tender Creature.
But our Viper-Catchers have a Remedy far beyond all these, in which They do place so great Confidence, as to be no more afraid of a Bite than of a common Puncture, immediately curing themselves by the Application of their Specifick.
This, tho’ they keep as a great Secret, I have however upon strict Enquiry found out to be no other than the Axungia Viperina presently rubbed into the Wound. And to convince my self of its good Effects, I inraged a Viper to bite a young Dog in the Nose; both the Teeth were struck deep in; he howled bitterly, and the Part began to swell; I diligently applied some of the Axungia I had ready at Hand, and he was very well the next Day.
But because some Gentlemen who saw this Experiment were apt to impute the Cure rather to the Dog’s Spittle, (he licking the Wound) than to the Virtue of the Fat, we made him to be bit again in the Tongue, forbearing the Use of our Remedy, and he died within four or five Hours.
At another time I made the like Trial with the same Success.
As this Axungia consists of Clammy and Viscid Parts, which are withal more Penetrating and Active than most other Oily Substances, so these, without all doubt, do involve, and as it were sheath the Volatile Salts of the Venemous Liquor, and thus prevent their Shooting out into those Crystalline Spicula, which we have observ’d to be the main Instruments of that deadly Mischief which attends the Bite.
By this means it comes to pass, that this Cure, if rightly manag’d, is so easie and certain, as not to need the help of any Internal Medicines to forward it; but These however must take place, where, thro’ Want of the other, the Poison is spread farther, and has tainted the whole Mass of Blood.
Nor yet is it necessary even in this Case to fatigue the Patient with a Farrago of Theriacas, Antidotes, &c. for the Volatile Salt of Vipers is alone sufficient to do the Work, if given in just Quantities, and duly repeated; provided moderate Sweats be incouraged in Bed; thus it succeeded with Monsieur Charas in the before cited Case, and in some others I could relate; in one of which the Mischief had gone so far as to induce an universal Icterus.
This leads me last of all to hint something concerning the Use of the Viper in Physick; because Authors are very large in enumerating its Virtues against many, and those too some of ’em very obstinate, Distempers.
One of the first whom we find in Antiquity to have made use of the Flesh of this Creature to Medicinal Purposes, was, I think, Antonius Musa, the Famons Physician to Octavius Cæsar; of whom Pliny [(31)] tells us, That when he met with incurable Ulcers, he ordered the eating of Vipers, and by this means they were quickly Healed.
It is not improbable that he might have learned this from the Great Greek Physician Craterus, mention’d often by Cicero in his Epistles to Atticus, who, as Porphyrius [(32)] relates, very happily cured a miserable Slave, whose Skin in a strange manner fell off from his Bones, by advising him to feed upon Vipers dressed after the manner of fish.
Be this as it will, in Galen’s time the profitable Qualities of the Viper were very commonly known; himself relating [(33)] very remarkable Stories of the Cures of the Elephantiasis, or Lepra, done by the Viper Wine.
Aretæus, who most probably liv’d about the same time with Galen, and of all the Ancients has most accurately described the Elephantiasis, commends, as Craterus did, the eating of Vipers instead of Fish in the same Diseases [(34)]. And to this purpose I remember, that as Lopes [(35)] in his Relations of the Kingdom of Congo in Africa, takes notice how greedily the Negroes eat Adders, roasting them, and esteeming them as the most delicious Food; so Dampier [(36)] also informs us, that the Natives of Tonquin in the East Indies do treat their Friends with Arack, in which Snakes and Scorpions have been infus’d, accounting this not only a great Cordial, but also an Antidote against the Leprosie, and all other sorts of Poison.
The Physicians in Italy and France do very commonly prescribe the Broth and Gelly of Vipers Flesh for much the same Uses, that is, to invigorate and purifie the Mass of Blood exhausted with Diseases, or tainted with some Vicious and Obstinate Ferment.
From all this it appears, That the main Efficacy of the Viperine Flesh is to quicken the Circle of the Blood, promote its due Mixture, and by this means cleanse and scoure the Glands of those stagnating Juices, which, turning to Acidity, are the Origine of many, at least, of those troublesome Distempers in the Surface of the Body, which go under the Names of Scrophulous, Leprous, &c.
These good Effects are owing to that penetrating, strong Salt, with which the Substance of these Creatures does, in a very great Proportion, abound; and the Reason of this is from the Food they live on, which we have observ’d before to be Lizzards, Moles, &c. whose Nature every one knows to be such as must necessarily, when they are dissolv’d in the Stomach, supply the Blood with a great Quantity of Active and Volatile Parts. And herein lies the Difference between the Flesh of Vipers, and that of other Innocent Serpents, which feeding upon Grass, Herbs, &c. do not recommend themselves to us by any of those Properties which are in so Eminent a Degree found in the former.
Whosoever reflects on what has been said on this Head, will very readily Acknowledge, That our Physicians deal too Cautiously or Sparingly with a Remedy which may be apply’d to very good Purposes, when they prescribe a few Grains of the Pouder of dried Vipers, or make up a small Quantity of their Flesh into Troches; whereas, if Service be really to be done this Way, the Patient ought to eat frequently of Viper-Gelly, or Broth; or rather, as the ancient manner was, to boil Vipers, and eat them like Fish; if this Food will not go down, (tho’ really very Good and Delicious Fare) to make use at least of Wine, in which Vipers have for a long time been infused, by which I know a very obstinate Lepra has been removed; or lastly, in some Cases, especially where Wine is not Convenient, to take good Quantities of their Volatile Salt, in which alone the Virtue of the before-named Medicines does principally reside.
An APPENDIX to the Foregoing Essay; Containing Some Anatomical Observations on the VIPER, and an Account of some other Venomous Animals.
In repeated Dissections of the Viper, comparing the Descriptions given Us by Authors with the Parts themselves, I have found them in many Particulars to be very Defective. I shall however at present confine my self to some Observations made chiefly on those Organs which serve to prepare and emit the Poison.
To begin therefore with the Head. The Skull ([Fig. 2.]) is composed of several Bones, joined together by Sutures, as in Man, but with this Difference, that the Os Frontis in the Viper consists of Two Bones united by a Rectilinear Suture, and the Parietal Bones are entire; whereas in Man the Parietal Bones have Sutures, and the Os Frontis is entire.
(a) Shews Two small Semicircular Bones, which form the inferior Part of the Nostrils.
(b) The Two Bones which make the upper Part of the Nose, from the latter pass down two thin Laminæ, which touching one another, and falling perpendicular upon the Ossa Palati, compose the Septum of the Nose.
(e e) Point out the Ossa Frontis, which form the upper Part of the Orbits of the Eyes. And (c c) the Orbits themselves.
The Parietal Bones (d) make a large Cavity, in which the greatest Part of the Brain is contained, and this we may call the Sinciput.
Behind this Bone are placed the Ossa Temporum (f f) in which lye the Organs of Hearring; and behind Them a Bone (g) which, we may call the Os Occipitis, covers the posterior Part of the Brain. This is joined to the first Vertebra of the Neck (h), by a Spherical Articulation, as all the Vertebræ are to one another; and this is the Reason why this Creature can turn its Head and Body so much, and so nimbly, every way.
To some of These there are Two other Bones Articulated for particular Uses.
The First of Them, which serves as a Basis to the Articulation of the Rest (a, [Fig. 4.]), is fastned by one Extremity to a small Proturberance (i, [Fig. 2.]) in the middle and lateral Part of the Os Sincipitis, and running back towards the Vertebræ, lyes in the same Plain with the Sinciput. This Bone has a Motion, tho’ very inconsiderable, both upwards and downwards. By means of This, the opening of the Mouth is somewhat inlarged in the Time of Deglutition.
That End of this Bone, which is next to the Vertebræ, is articulated at oblique Angles with Another (b) placed Horizontally, and whose Motion is forwards and backwards, being made chiefly for moving the Bones of the upper and lower Jaw, into which the Teeth are inserted. By reason of this kind of Articulation, It cannot contribute any thing towards widening the Mouth for Swallowing.
This Bone, and That with which it is joined, I call the Common Bones.
The Upper Jaw ([Fig. 3.]) is, besides the Teeth, composed on each side of three Bones. The First (a), into which the Poisonous Fangs are fixt, is articulated with the Anterior Protuberance of the Orbit of the Eye; and has a Motion of Flexion and Extension, that is, forwards and backwards, by which the Fangs are Erected or Depress’d. It is small at the Joint, but grows broader by degrees, to a pretty large Basis, the better to contain a considerable Number of Teeth. It is Spongy like the Substance of the Vertebræ, and no ways fit to be the immediate Organ of Hearing, as Mr. Charas and some others have imagined.
The Second (c), is a broad thin Bone, Articulated by one Extreme to the Former, (f), and by the other firmly fixt to the middle of the third Bone. When this is thrust forwards, it likewise pushes the First, and by this means the Erection of the Fangs is helped; and when it is pull’d backwards, they are depressed.
The third Bone (e d), is join’d by one Extremity (e), to the End of one of the Bones of the Lower Jaw (c, [Fig. 4.]), And being somewhat crooked, turns in a little towards the Basis of the Cranium, and running along the Inferior Part of it towards the Nose, terminates near the Internal and Anterior Part of the first Bone.
The Lower Jaw (c d e f g, [Fig. 4.]) on each side is made up of two Bones, but firmly united, the Extremity of the one entring within the other (f). The First (c d e) articulates with the Second of the Common Bones (b), where it is broad, and sends off an Apophysis, into which there is a Muscle inserted, which helps to open the Jaw. There is in this is a Hole (d), for the Entrance of the Branch of the Nerve, which passing thro’ a Canal in the middle of it, goes to the Extremity of the Second Bone, and in its way sends off several Branches which go to the Teeth; and also a very considerable one, which goes out at (e), and is wholly spent upon the Neighbouring Muscles.
The Second Bone (f g) serves chiefly to receive the small Teeth, which answer to those in the upper Jaw.
As for the Teeth, they are of two Sorts, the Great, or poisonous Fangs, and the Small.
The Great (b, [Fig. 3.]), being fixt in the First Bone of the Upper Jaw, are Crooked and Bent, like the Dentes Canini in most Carnivorous Animals. They are manifestly hollow from their Root a considerable way, not to the very Apex or Point, (which is solid and sharp, the better to pierce the Skin) but to a small distance from it, as is plainly seen by splitting the Tooth thro’ the middle (Vid. [Fig. 6.]). This Cavity ends at the Convex Part in a visible Slit, very well resembling the Nip or Cut of a Pen ([Fig. 9. d]), which is the Emissary or Outlet to the Poyson.
Galen [(37)] has given us a considerable Hint of this Make of the Tooth: For, The Mountebanks (He says) used to suffer themselves to be bit by Vipers, having first with some Pastes stopt the Holes of their Teeth, that the Venom being thus kept in, the Spectators might think they did by their Antidote secure themselves from its dangerous Effects.
The Reason why these Teeth are Crooked, is, That the Point of the Tooth, when the Viper bites, may be Perpendicular to the Part to be Wounded; for the Head being raised back in the Time of Biting, and the Tooth erected, if this were strait, It would not, by reason of its oblique Situation to the part, enter with so much Force, nor so deep into the Flesh.
As for the Number of the Poisonous Fangs, I have observed, that there are, for the most part, besides One, Two or Three on each side, fixt Perpendicularly to the first Bone of the Upper Jaw, some others which are Young, and of a smaller Size, adhering to the same Bone: Their Points are hardened, and they have their Fissures formed as in the other, but their Roots are Soft and Mucilaginous, like the Roots of the Teeth in Infants, and so they lye always depress’d at the Bottoms of the Former, as may be seen [Fig. 10. c].
They drop off from the Bone at the least Touch; and therefore some Anatomists have imagined them to be fastened to Muscles or Tendons, which would have rendred Them altogether Useless. For they are made to supply the Place of the Greater, when they fall away, or are pulled out by Accident, and in order to do this, they do by degrees harden, and rise more and more, till at last they stand upright, and come to a Perpendicular Situation in the Bone.
They are not all of the same Growth, for in some we can only discern the Shape of a Tooth without any Hardness, in others the Point, and in the next somewhat more is hardened, and so on to the greatest Fang.
Their Number is very uncertain, there being sometimes six or seven in each side of the Jaw, sometimes fewer.
These seem to have occasioned the Disputes among the Ancients concerning the Number of the Viperine Teeth.
The Poysonous Fangs have small Holes at the Internal Part of their Root, thro’ which the Vessels pass which carry their Nourishment ([Fig. 5. a]).
It is remarkable, that Nature has provided Young Vipers with Poisonous Teeth grown to their Perfection, that so they may kill their Prey as soon as they come into the World.
The Second Kind of Teeth, or the Small, are hooked, and bent, as well as the former, but without any Slit or Opening. Of These there are Four Rows, Two on each side of the Mouth. They are fixt in the third Bone of the Upper Jaw, and in the Second in the Lower, as exhibited to view in the Figures.
Their Use is to hold the Prey fast while Execution is done by the Bite, lest in struggling to get away, It should pull out the Fangs.
The Instruments that Emit the Venom being thus describ’d, we come next to those which serve to Prepare and Contain it.
This Liquor is separated from the Blood by a Gland on each side of the Head, placed in the Anterior and Lateral Part of the Os Sincipitis, just behind the Orbit of the Eye ([Fig. 9. a]); It lies immediately under that Muscle which helps to depress the Fangs, so that by the Action of this it is Press’d; which is an admirable Contrivance to forward the Secretion of the Juice out of it.
’Tis a Conglomerated Gland, composed of many smaller ones contained in a common Membrane; each of These sends off an Excretory Vessel, all which do afterwards Unite and Form one Duct (b), which running towards the Roots of the Fangs, discharges the Yellow Liquor into a Bag.
This Bag is fixt to the Basis of the first Bone of the Upper Jaw, and also to the Extremity of the Second, covering the Fangs near the Root (d, [Fig. 10.]). To the upper Part of this Vesicula there is joined another (a), in the Anterior Part of which there is a Passage for the Poisonous Teeth.
This consists of Muscular Fibres, both Longitudinal and Circular, by Means of which it can Contract it self when the Fangs are erected; and by this Contraction the Venom is press’d into the Hole at the Root of the Tooth, and forced out at the Fissure near the Point.
That this is so done, I have frequently observed with the naked Eye, having cut off the Head of a Viper, and immediately pinching the Neck to make it open the Mouth wide; for by this means the Venom was Squirted out as from a Syringe.
When the Viper lyes quiet with its Mouth shut, the Fangs are depress’d and covered with the External Bag; when it intends to bite, it opens the Mouth very wide, at the same time the lower Extremity of the Second of the Common Bones ([Fig. 4. b]) is moved forwards by proper Muscles, and turns as it were upon the fixt Centre (b), thus pushing forward the Upper and Lower Jaws, whose Extremes are united at (c). By this means the Lower Part of the First Bone of the Upper Jaw ([Fig. 3. a]) is thrust forwards, the other Extremity turning in the Cavity of its Articulation, where it is fastned by Ligaments; the Fangs being by this Mechanism Erected, the Bags which covered them, by the Contraction of their Longitudinal Fibres, are pulled back, and the Action of the Circular Ones does at the same Time straiten the Internal Bag, and force the Juice into the Teeth.
Besides this, when the Viper bites, It strikes in the Fangs to the very Root; and thus the Vesiculæ are still more squeezed for the Discharge of the Liquor.
It is worthy our Observation, that the Viper can move the Jaw Bones on one side without moving Those on the other, for they are not joined together at the Extremes as in other Animals; which Contrivance is very beneficial to it in the swallowing its Prey; in that, while the Teeth on one side stand unmoved, and fixt in the Flesh to hold it, Those on the other side are brought forward, to draw it in farther, then they keep it fast till the former Jaws advance again in their Turn. Thus they act successively, and force the Animal intire (there being no Dentes Incisivi or Molares to divide it) into the Œsophagus, whose Muscular Fibres are very Weak, and can help but little in the Business.
It may not be amiss to conclude these Remarks with a short Hint concerning the Organs of Hearing; Mr. Charas (who is however followed by others in it) having, as we mention’d before, Entertain’d a very absurd Opinion about Them.
These then are placed in the Temporal Bones, as in other Animals, and consist of One long, small Bone (Vid. [Fig. 11.]), like that of Birds, whose Extremity is broad, like the Basis of the Stapes in Man, and situated upon a little Hole which opens into the Labyrinth; and besides of three Demicircular Canals ([Fig. 12. a b]) which also open into the Labyrinth.
This Labyrinth ([Fig. 13.]) has a great many Eminencies in it of no determin’d Regular Figure ([Fig. 14.]), and is covered with a Membrane full of Nerves and Blood Vessels. The Nerve enters from the Brain at a Hole in the middle of this Cavity (a, [Fig. 15.]).
There is no Cochlea in the Ear of the Viper; but the Anterior Demicircular Canal opens into a Semicanal, which makes some Spiral Turns in the Fore-part of the Labyrinth; in like manner as it is in Fish.
The Passage for the Air to these Organs is not Outward, but, as in some Fish, thro’ the Mouth, between the Upper and Under Jaws, running below the Second of the Common Bones. But of This, and also of the True Mechanic Use of the aforesaid Parts, more hereafter.
Poisonous Animals.
As the Viper is Hurtful by Instilling a Liquid Poison into the Wound made by its Teeth; so likewise are all Venomous Creatures whatsoever, whether they Bite or Sting, tho’ there be some difference in the Contrivance of their Organs, Mischievous after much the same Manner; and mostly for the same good Use and Purpose, that is, in order to Kill their Prey.
This will fully appear, by Examining the Instruments of Death in several of Them.
First then, The Spider which lives upon Flies, Wasps, and the like Insects, is provided with a hooked Forceps, placed just by the Mouth, very sharp and fine; with this he pierces the Flesh of little Creatures caught in his Webb, and at the same time infuses a Juice into the Puncture, by which means the Animal being Killed, He sucks out the Moisture from the Body, and leaves it a dry husky Carkass.
Mr Van Leewenhoek, in his Account of Spiders, lately publish’d [(38)], has, together with the other Parts, by the help of his Glasses, describ’d these Weapons, which He finds to lie couched on each side the Mouth, in a Row of Teeth, till they are raised to do Execution. These Rows of Small Teeth are design’d to hold the Prey, that It may not escape the Force of the Bite. And in the Convex Part, towards the Point of each Claw, He has delineated a little Aperture or Slit, thro’ which he supposes the Poison issues out at the same time the Wound is made.
This Situation and Motion of these Parts, I have several times view’d; but was never able to discern the Exit or Opening; which, having a just Deference to the Industry and Application of so Nice an Observer in Things of this Nature, I, at first, imputed to my own Unskilfulness in such Enquiries, knowing my Microscope to be very good; till at last, after repeated Trials, I very plainly saw, That nothing dropt out of the Claws, which were always dry while the Spider Bit, but that a short, white Proboscis was at the same time thrust out of the Mouth, which instilled a Liquor into the Wound.
Then I concluded, That Mr Leewenhoek had Delineated the Apertures in these Weapons, only from the Analogy which he thought they must bear to the Viperine Fangs, the Sting of the Scorpion, Bee, &c. And I was confirmed in this Opinion by examining a Claw of the great American Spider, described (tho’ but lamely) by Piso [(39)], and called Nhamdu; this was given Me by Mr. Pettiver, and being above fifty Times bigger than that of the largest Europæan Spider [(40)], if there had been any Slit in it, my Glass would no doubt have discover’d it, but yet I found it to be quite Solid.
And indeed the Quantity of Liquor emitted by our common Spiders when they kill their Prey, is visibly so Great, and the wounding Weapons so Minute, that they could contain but a very inconsiderable Portion thereof, if it were to be discharged that Way.
To this purpose, I remember Mr. Boyle somewhere tells a Story of a Person blinded by a Spider dropping its Venom into his Eye, which tho’ it can hardly find Credit with some, is however confirmed by what Piso relates of his Nhamdu, Viz. That in catching it great heed is to be taken, lest its Poison fall into the Eye, This causing a total Loss of the Sight.
What Mr. Leewenhoek observes of the Enmity these Creatures bear to one another I have often seen; for if Four, Five, or more be put together into a Glass, they immediately fall to Fighting with all the Fury imaginable; Limbs struck off are usually the Præludes to the terrible Slaughter, which continues till all are killed, the Surviving Conqueror himself most commonly Dying of his Wounds.
The Weapons of Mischief in the Scolopendra are much the same with Those of the Spider, only larger. One of these Creatures I had brought to Me alive out of a Ship which came from the East-Indies, where Bontius [(41)] says, Their Bite is so painful, that it makes People almost mad; but it died before I had an opportunity of making Trial of its Poison; however, I very diligently looked upon the Claws [(42)], and found them to have no more Cavity than is necessary for the Insertion of their Muscles, nor any Exit or Out-let towards their Apex; these therefore serve only to pierce the Flesh, and the Venom is infused from a Proboscis out of the Mouth; tho’ This I could not very well discern, because the Parts had been kept too long dry before I examined Them.
The Case is much the same with Stinging Animals; of These the Scorpion is the Chief, whose Virus in different Countries is more or less dangerous, according as ’tis exalted by various Degrees of Heat; thus in Africa particularly its Effects are so dreadful, that as Joann. Leo [(43)] tells Us, the Town of Pescara there is in a manner left desolate by the Inhabitants in the Summer Time, by Reason of the great Abundance of these Creatures, certain Death following their Sting.
Some of this deadly kind (the same, tho’ not so large with That in the East-Indies, of which Swammerdam [(44)] has given a very accurate Description and Figure) Sr Redi had sent him from Tunis [(45)]; and it being November, irritated them to Sting Pigeons, Pullets, &c. without any bad Effect at all of their Poison; but upon the approaching Spring, One of them which had been kept all the Winter, nay, eight Months, without any Food, and the Wound of whose Sting before was harmless, stung to Death two Pigeons successively; but a Third and Fourth wounded in like manner, suffered no Hurt. Yet having let the Scorpion rest all Night, He killed another Pigeon the next Morning.
At the Point of the Sting he very often could discern a small drop of white Liquor, which when the Wound was made, entered into the Flesh.
As this Liquid Venom is either not separated from the Blood into the Cavity of the Sting, during the cold of Winter, or at least the Scorpion wants Strength at that Time to throw it out with Force and Energy. So even in the hot Months, after it is exhausted by two or three Attacks, the Sting is no longer hurtful, till the Expence of this Juice is recruited by Time.
’Tis very remarkable concerning this Insect, what an ingenious Gentleman who lived several Years in Barbary told Me, he had many times tried; That if it be surrounded with a Circle of Burning Coals, It does, upon the Sense of the Heat, turn it self violently every way to make an Escape; but finding it impossible, and the Pain from the Fire increasing, it strikes it self Twice or Thrice with the Sting on the Back, and immediately dies of the Wounds.
Others may make what Reflections They please on this Self-Murder, it is to Me beyond all Dispute sufficient to decide the Controversie between Writers, whether Poisonous Animals of the same Species can kill each other. Which is not only confirmed by what we before observed of the Spider, but is likewise true of Vipers; for Dr. Herman bringing from the Indies Three of the Cobras de Capelo all in one Glass, Two of them were killed in the Voyage by Fighting.
As the Viperine Venom is the Quintessence and most active Part of those Animal Juices with which the Viper is nourished, so is also That of the Scorpion; for this Insect lives chiefly upon Locusts, &c. and the same Person from Barbary inform’d Me, That seeing oftentimes Locusts sticking up in the Ground as if they were Set there, by looking he found that some Part of them was always eat away, and that these Places were the Holes of Scorpions, who had dragg’d their Prey thither, and fed on it as they had Occasion.
In like manner, as the Axungia Viperina cures the Bite of the Viper, so also the Oleum Scorpionum, or Oil in which Scorpions have been infused, is a present Remedy for the Sting of this Creature.
The Mechanism of the Sting of a Bee, Dr. Hooke has very accurately described [(46)]. One may with the naked Eye sometimes see it discharge the Venom; and in this, by the help of a Glass, I can easily discover a great Number of Minute Salts Floating.
And indeed this Apparatus or Contrivance is so universal, that we find even in Vegetables something Analogous hereunto; for the last mention’d Author [(47)], has shewn Us, That the pricking Points of Nettles do at the same time they pierce the Skin, instil a Venomous Juice into the Wound.