28 A NATURAL HISTORY 



Both thefe are ingenious Men; their Syftems are oppofite, 

 yet both maintain'd by well-attefled Experiments. The Publick, 

 however, give into the Sentiments of Seig}iior Redi, asanfwering. 

 the beft to the Mechanifm of the Parts. 



Seignior Vigani has in fome meafure reconciled thefe two 

 Learned Combatants, who alledges, that xh^ yellow Liquor where- 

 with Dr. Redi kill'd Pullets, ^c. after the Death of the Viper, 

 was either faturated with the Spirits of the enraged Viper, by 

 whipping it before, or elfe (as 'tis probable) in the hot and dry 

 Climates of Italy^ thofe Creatures are more venemous than in 

 Golder Countries. 



This Poifon of Vipers feems to lie in their hollow Teeth, 

 becaufe the Mountebanks of old, to impofe on the People, ufed 

 to flop thofe Cavities, or hollow Places in the Teeth, with fome 

 kind of Pajie^ before they fufifered the Vipers to bite them in fight 

 of Spectators; which was commonly done, and fucceeded ac- 

 cording to their Wifh; — and fometimes, with a Needle fcratch'd 

 the Gums, and prefs'd out the Poifon*. Pliny fays,- they have 

 but one venemous Tooth. 



D R. Mead J having given the various Symptoms attending vene- 

 mous WoundSj proceeds to the Remedies ; and in particular, 

 mentions the volatile Salt of Vipers^ as alone fufficient to do the 

 Work, if given in due time, in proper quantities, and duly re- 

 peated -f-. 



M R. Robert Burdet^ an EngliJJj Merchant at Aleppo (in Turkijh 

 Afia) was bit by a Serpent about ten in the Morning, and died a- 

 bout three in the Afternoon. The People of that Country fay, 

 the only Cure in that Cafe, is immediately to fuck the Wound; 

 but they mufi: rub firft their Gums and Teeth with Oil, that none 

 of the Poifon may touch any place where the Skin is broken, 

 and fpit out immediately what they fuck ||, 



The Learned Batavian obferves, as a prefent and efFe(5lual 

 Remedy in the Cafe of the Bite of a mad Dog, or other venemous 

 Animal, immediately to burn the afFed:ed Part with a hot Iron, 

 or rather thruft deep into the Wound ; for by this means, the 

 Juices about the Part being coagulated, and an Efcar produced^ 

 all Communication of the Poifon to any other VefTels is ffopt, 



and 



* Loxctborp's Abridg. vol- ii. p. 815. f McchaJiicaJ Account. II Loivttorfs 

 ^hrid^. vol. ii. p. 814. 



