ARACHNIDES-SCORPION. 793 



other, which serves the animal as teeth, and with which it breaks its food, 

 ?na thrusts it into its mouth; these the scorpion can at pleasure pull back 

 into its mouth, so that no part of them can be seen. On each side of the 

 head are two arms, each composed of four joints; the last of which is large, 

 with strong muscles, and made in the manner of a lobster's claw. Below 

 the breast are eight articulated legs, each divided into six joints; the two 

 hindmost of which are each provided with two crooked claws, and here and 

 there covered with hair. The belly is divided into seven little rings ; from 

 the lowest of which is appended a tail, composed of six joints, which are 

 oristly, and formed like little globes, the last being armed with a crooked 

 stinar. This is that fatal instrument which renders the insect so formida- 

 ble ; it is long, pointed, hard, and hollow ; it is pierced near the base by two 

 small holes, through which, when the animal stings, it ejects a drop of 

 poison, which is white, caustic, and fatal. The reservoir in which this 

 poison is kept, is a small bladder near the tail, into which the venom is dis- 

 tilled by a peculiar apparatus. If this bladder be gently pressed, the venom 

 will be seen issuing out through the two holes above mentioned ; so that it 

 appears, that when the animal stings, the bladder is pressed, and the venom 

 issues through the two apertures into the wound. 



There are few animals more formidable, or more truly mischievous, than 

 the scorpion. As it takes refuge in a small place, and is generally found 

 sheltering in houses, so it cannot be otherwise than that it must frequently 

 sting those among whom it resides. In some of the towns of Italy, and in 

 France, in the province of Languedoc, it is one of the greatest pests that 

 torment mankind; but its malignity in Europe is trifling, when compared 

 to what the natives of Africa and the East are known to experience. In 

 Batavia, where they grow twelve inches long, there is no removing any 

 piece of furniture, without the utmost danger of being stung by them. 



Bosman assures us that, along the Gold Coast, they are often found 

 larger than a lobster ; and that their sting is inevitably fatal. In Europe, 

 the general size of this animal does not exceed two or three inches ; and its 

 sting is very seldom found to be fatal. Maupertuis, who made several 

 experiments on the scorpion of Languedoc, found it by no means so invaria- 

 bly dangerous as it had till then been represented. 



From his experiments, indeed, it appears that many circumstances, which 

 are utterly unknown, must contribute to give efficacy to the scorpion's 

 venom; but whether its food, long fasting, the season, the nature of the 

 vessels it wounds, or its state of maturity, contribute to or retard its malig- 

 nity, is yet to be ascertained by succeeding observers. 



The scorpion of the tropical climates being much larger than the former, 

 is probably much more venomous. Helbigius, however, who resided many 

 years in the East, assures us, that he was often stung by the scorpion, and 

 never received any material injury from the wound; a painful tumor gene- 

 rally ensued ; but he always cured it by rubbing the part with a piece of iron 

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