... One William Oliver, and his Wife from Bath, who follow the Business of catching and selling Vipers, offer’d themselves—to be bit by any Viper, that should be procured, trusting to the Virtue of a certain Remedy they had found out by chance in trying things, when the Woman was once accidentally bitten.——The usual known Medicine, even the Oil of Vipers, having no Effect in assuaging her Pains, they had recourse to the common Oil of Olives, which proved an effectual Remedy. The Circumstances of the Case were——
On the first of June 1735, in the Presence of a great number of Persons, the said William Oliver was bit by an old black Viper, or Adder, (brought by one of the Company) upon the Wrist, and Joint of the Thumb of the Right-Hand, so that Drops of Blood came out of the Wounds: He immediately felt a violent Pain, both at the top of his Thumb, and up his Arm, even before the Viper was loosen’d from his Hand: Soon after he felt a Pain resembling that of Burning, trickle up his Arm; in a few Minutes, his Eyes began to look red and fiery, and to water much.
In less than half an Hour, he perceived the Venom seize his Heart, with a prickling Pain, which was attended with Faintness, Shortness of Breath, cold Sweats: In a few Minutes after this, his Belly began to swell, with great Gripings, and Pains in his Back, which were attended with violent Vomitings, and Purgings.
During the Violence of these Symptoms, his Sight was gone for several Minutes; but he could hear all the while: He said, that in his former Experiments, he had never defer’d making use of his Remedy longer than he perceived the Effects of the Venom reaching his Heart; but this time, being willing to satisfy the Company throughly, and trusting to the speedy Effects of the Oil, which had never fail’d him, he forbore to apply any thing till he found himself exceeding ill, and quite giddy. About an Hour and Quarter after the first of his being bit, a Chafing-dish of glowing Charcoals was brought in, and his naked Arm was held over it as near as he could bear it, while his Wife rubb’d in with her Hand the Sallad Oil, turning his Arm continually round, as if she wou’d have roasted it over the Coals.
He said the Pain soon abated, but the Swelling did not diminish much; most violent Purgings and Vomitings soon ensued, and his Pulse became so low and so often interrupted, that it was thought proper to order him a Repetition of Cordial Potions. He said he was not sensible of any great Relief from these, but that a Glass or two of Olive Oil drank down seemed to give him ease: Continuing in this dangerous Condition, he was put to Bed, where his Arm was again bath’d over a Pan of Charcoal, and rubb’d with Sallad Oil heated in a Ladle over the Charcoal, by Dr. Mortimer’s Direction.——Whereupon he declared he found immediate Ease, as tho’ by some Charm——then fell into a profound Sleep, and after about nine Hours found Rest, awak’d, about six the next Morning, and found himself very well; but in the Afternoon, on Drinking some Rum and strong Beer, so as to be almost fuddled, the Swelling return’d with much Pain and cold Sweats; which abated soon on bathing the Arm as before, and wrapping it up in a brown Paper soaked in the Oil.
The learned Dr. Mortimer, relates the Success of this simple Medicine, tried afterwards on other Animals, who were purposely bitten, both by the same, and by fresh Vipers, to experience the Efficacy of it[[53]].
[53]. Dr. Cromwell Mortimer R. S. Secr. his Narrative relating to the Viper-catchers.
In the Sequel, he has occasion to mention a Remedy for the Bite of a mad Dog, under the Title of Dampier’s Powder, the Composition of which is, viz. ash Colour Groundwort and black Pepper. It was first published by Sir Hans Sloane, in Numb. 237 of the Transactions, A. D. 1720, under the Name of Pulvis Antilyssus; where the Manner of giving it, not only to Men, but to Dogs and Cattle, is accurately set down. The Doctor says, the Lichen Cinereus Terrestris is accounted exceedingly efficacious in curing Dogs bitten by mad Dogs; then adds, viz.
That King James, when Duke of York, caused this Lichen Cinereus Terrestris to be given to a whole Kennel of Dogs bit by a mad one, which were all cured, except one of them, to whom none of it was given[[54]].
[54]. Philosophical Transact. Numb. 443, for Oct. 1736.