It is supposed, when Viper-Catchers were hurt, they immediately cured themselves by rubbing this volatile Salt of Vipers into the wounded Part. An Experiment was made by enraging a Viper to bite the Nose of a young Dog: The Part began to swell; to which was applied this volatile Salt, and the Dog was very well next day. The Viper was made to bite the Dog again in the Tongue, and no Application being made, he died within a few Hours[[66]].
[66]. Dr. Mead’s Mechanical Account, p. 17.
One of the first that made use of the Viper in medicinal Purposes, was (as my learned Author thinks) Antonius Musa, the famous Physician to Octavius Cæsar; of whom Pliny tells, that when he met with incurable Ulcers, he ordered the eating of Vipers; and by this means they were quickly healed. The same Author adds from Porphyrius, that the great Greek Physician Craterus, very happily cured a miserable Slave, whose Skin in a strange manner fell off from his Bones, by advising him to feed upon Vipers, drest after the manner of Fish. Ibid.
A late eminent Physician, speaking of Vipers, says,——’Tis certain, very noble Medicines are prepared from them, and a Wine from their Flesh, singular in consumptive, leprous, and scorbutick Cases: They afford also a volatile Salt, the most generous Cordial in Nature[[67]].
[67]. Dr. Charles Leigh’s Natural History of —— p. 148.
In Italy is a subterraneous Cavern, called Grotto de i Serpi, large enough to hold two Persons, perforated like a Sieve; out of which, in the Spring, issues a numerous Brood of young Snakes, of divers Colours. In this Cave they expose their leprous, paralytic, arthritick Patients, where the Warmth of the Steams resolving them into Sweat, and then Serpents clinging variously all around, licking their naked Bodies, they are soon restored to Health, by repeating the Operation. This Serpentine Cave was visited by Kircher, the celebrated Philosopher and Mathematician; who says, he saw the Holes, and heard a murmuring hissing Noise in them, tho’ he did not see the Serpents, it not being their Season to creep out; yet he saw a great Number of their Exuviæ, or Sloughs, and an Elm at a small distance laden with them. The Discovery was by the Cure of a Leper going from Rome, who losing his way, and being benighted, happen’d upon this Cave, and finding it very warm, pull’d off his Clothes; and being weary and sleepy, had, says my Author, the Good-fortune not to feel the Serpents about him, till they had wrought his Cure. Musæum Wormian. in Cyclopædia.
IV. Serpents are not only Physick, but common Food in many Parts of the World, and esteemed a most delicious Entertainment. Formerly, nothing more terrible to Men than these veneniferous Animals, but now (Men being better acquainted with their natural Qualities) are very familiar to many People; insomuch that there are but few Persons of Distinction, in France, and other Places, where they may be had, but make use of them, as a good and most agreeable Diet; and the ingenious Virtuoso makes living Vipers his Domestick Divertisement.
The Italian and French Physicians do commonly prescribe the Broth and Jelly of Vipers, to purify and invigorate the Mass of Blood, exhausted with Age and chronical Diseases.
We read of the Ophiophagi, a People so called because they are Serpent-Eaters. It is observed from Aristotle, that the Troglodytes, who are Africans, not far from the Arabian Gulph, leading a pastoral Life, lived by hunting—and fed on Serpents[[68]].
[68]. Strabo, lib. 16. Βιος νομαδιχος—Cluverii Introduct.