[61]. Auli Gellii Noctes Atticæ, lib. 16. c. 11. p. 161. Herodot. lib. 4. Plutarch in Cato.

The Author of the Description of Cato’s marching the Remains of Pompey’s Army through the Lybian Deserts, observes, how the Army being almost choak’d with Thirst, and coming to a Brook full of Serpents, durst not drink for fear of being poisoned, till convinced by their Superiors, that their being in the Water, did by no means infect it: Upon which they refreshed themselves with Water from the Serpentine River[[62]].

[62]. Redi, 178. Lucan’s Pharsal.—Pocula morte carent—lib. 9.

Add to this, the Example of Queen Cleopatra, who, to prevent her being carried to Rome in Triumph, ’tis said, poisoned herself, by holding a Serpent to her own Breast. Galen mentioning this Story, relates from Authors, that she killed herself, by pouring the Poison of an Asp into a Wound made in her Arm by her own Teeth; as if under Conviction, that the Poison would not effectually answer the End, without touching the Blood. Ibid. Of which more in the Second Part of this Discourse.

III. In Serpents is an inexhaustible Store of Poison. If they discharge all their Artillery to-day, their Arsenal will be full to-morrow. ’Tis true, by a speedy repeated Emission of Poison at one time, the Viper loses its force, probably by a Diminution in Quantity; but is recruited in a Short space. Thus, one Viper cannot poison six Creatures, one immediately after another; the Truth of which is confirmed by uncontestable Facts.——An Experiment was made by Dr. Areskine, when he was at Paris.—Having got a large female Viper, he made it bite six Pigeons, one immediately after another. The first and second that were bit, died within half an Hour; one a little before the other; the third lived about two Hours; the fourth seem’d to be very sick for a while, but recover’d; the fifth and sixth that were bitten, were no more hurt than if prick’d with a Pin. Ibid.

The learned Italian, Seignior Redi, says, that having, at the Entrance of Winter, a Scorpion sent him to Rome from Tunis in Africa, he irritated it to sting Pigeons and Pullets, without any bad Effects; but upon the approach of warm Weather, after eight Months fasting it was provoked to sting two Pigeons successively, which soon died; but the third and fourth received no hurt from its Wound. The Author of the Natural History of Carolina, speaking of the Rattle-Snakes, says, they can’t renew their Poison as oft as they will; for he had seen a Person bit by one of them, who never rightly recovered, and very hardly escaped with Life; and another Person immediately after being bit by the same Snake, received no more Hurt than if bit by a Rat. p. 129.[[63]]

[63]. New Collection of Voyages, printed A. D. 1711.

N. B. Poison in different Countries, is more or less dangerous according as it is exalted and heighten’d by various Degrees of Heat; for by Increase of Heat, that venemous Quality is increased.

Objection.

How is it consistent with Divine Goodness to create such venemous Animals, that are so dangerous and destructive to their Fellow-Creatures? I answer,