OF SERPENTS. i$ 



The Learned in the Faculty tell us, Foifom operate in various 

 manners ; Tome by diiTolving the Blood, others by coagulating it, 

 and fome by corroding and deftroying the Solids. The Learned 

 Sir Hans ^loane fays, " Some attack equally all Parts, fome on- 

 " ly a particular one. Thus the Lepiis Marlnus is an Enemy to 

 " the Lungs, Cantharides to the Bladder *." 



Some Vegetables again, which prove Poifon to Man, ferve 

 for Food to other Animals. Thus, fays that learned Gentleman, 

 Mandragora and JaJquiamJius that feed Hogs, kill Man. 



HEMLOCK, that is hurtful to Man, is wholefome for 

 Goats J yea, the Cafavi Plant poifons unprepared ; but prepared, 

 is the very Bread of the IVeJi-lndians, particularly Jamaica and 

 the hotter Parts, with which they vidual Ships. Ibid. Tea is 

 faid to be poifonous before it is cured. 



This perhaps may ferve to obviate an Objection made againft 

 the Goodnefs of the Deity, in planting a Tree in Paradife that 

 had fuch malignant Influences; becaufe, fuppofmg that it had any 

 Properties, which might tend to the Diffolution of the human 

 Syftem, yet the fame Tree might be very falutary and ufeful to 

 other Beings in the Creation. 



Having divided Poifon into T^hree Parts, I fhall, in the next 

 Place, confider them diftindlly. 



L THIS Contrivance of Divine Wifdom is Jo univerfal, that 

 we find, in the Vegetable Kingdom, Jomething more than what is 

 merely analogous to Poifon, both in Land and Water-Plants -, as 

 the Napellus, Caffivi, Nux Vomica, Aconite, Cicuta Aquatica, 

 Solaniim Lethale, Aconitum Hyemale, Some Poifons are of a 

 Narcotic Quality, as Poppy and Henbane — being taken in too 

 great a Qu.antity, become poifonous. I ihall only add fome In- 

 ftances of Perfons killed by eating poifonous Plants, Roots, and 

 Herbs. The Wife of W. Matthews, near Salop, who having 

 gathered a quantity of Dog-Merctiry, which flie took to be 

 another Herb, boiled it for their Supper, which very fenfibly af- - 

 feded the whole Family. One of the Children ilept from 

 Thurfday Night till Monday Evening, then jufL opened her Eyes, 

 and died immediately. The other two Children jQept about 24 

 Hours, and, upon their awakening, fell a vomiting and purging, 



D 2 which, 



* Hn Voyage. 



