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.