Seignior Vigani has in some measure reconciled these two Learned Combatants, who alledges, that the yellow Liquor wherewith Dr. Redi kill’d Pullets, &c. after the death of the Viper, was either saturated with the Spirits of the enraged Viper, by whipping it before, or else (as ’tis probable) in the hot and dry Climates of Italy, those Creatures are more venemous than in colder Countries.
This Poison of Vipers seems to lie in their hollow Teeth, because the Mountebanks of old, to impose on the People, used to stop those Cavities, or hollow Places in the Teeth, with some kind of Paste, before they suffered the Vipers to bite them in sight of Spectators; which was commonly done, and succeeded according to their wish;—and sometimes, with a Needle scratch’d the Gums, and press’d out the Poison[[49]]. Pliny says, they have but one venemous Tooth.
[49]. Lowthorp’s Abridg. vol. ii. p. 815.
Dr. Mead, having given the various Symptoms attending venemous Wounds, proceeds to the Remedies; and in particular, mentions the volatile Salt of Vipers, as alone sufficient to do the Work, if given in due time, in proper quantities, and duly repeated[[50]].
[50]. Mechanical Account.
Mr. Robert Burdet, an English Merchant at Aleppo (in Turkish Asia) was bit by a Serpent about ten in the Morning, and died about three in the Afternoon. The People of that Country say, the only Cure in that Case, is immediately to suck the Wound; but they must rub first their Gums and Teeth with Oil, that none of the Poison may touch any place where the Skin is broken, and spit out immediately what they suck[[51]].
[51]. Lowthorp’s Abridg. vol. ii. p. 814.
The Learned Batavian observes, as a present and effectual Remedy in the Case of the Bite of a mad Dog, or other venemous Animal, immediately to burn the affected Part with a hot Iron, or rather thrust deep into the Wound; for by this means, the Juices about the Part being coagulated, and an Escar produced, all Communication of the Poison to any other Vessels is stopt, and thus the Cure may be easily effected. Not that the hot Iron draws out the Poison, as is vulgarly imagined, but renders the Parts uncapable of being penetrated, or affected thereby[[52]].
[52]. Boerhaave’s new Method of Chemistry, part. iii. proces. 104. p. 213.
But to come nearer home, and to a cheap and easy Antidote against the serpentine and canine Venom, by a certain Experiment lately made in England, which was thus, viz.