jS A NATURAL. HISTORY 



icorbutick Cafes : They afford alfo a volatile Salt ^ the moji genrt'mt 

 Cordial in Natuj-e *, 



In Italy is a fabterraneoiis Cavern, called Grotto dei S'erpi^ 

 large enough to hold two Perfons, perforated like a Sieve ^ out of 

 which, in the Spring, iffues a numerous Brood of young Snakes,, 

 of divers Colours. In this Cave they expofe their leprous, para- 

 lytick, arthritick Patients, where the Warmth of the Steams refolv- 

 ing them into Sweat, and then Serpents clinging varioully all 

 around, licking their naked Bodies,, they are foon reftored to 

 Health, by repeating the Operation. This Serpentine Cave wa& 

 vifited by Kircher^ the celebrated Philofopher and Mathemati- 

 cian ; who fays, he faw the Holes, and heard a murmuring hilling 

 Noife in them^ tho' he did not fee the Serpents, it not being their 

 Seafon to creep out; yet he fiw a great Number of their Exu- 

 via, or SloughSj and an Elm at a fmall diftance laden with them. 

 The Difcovery was by the Cure of a Leper going homRomej who 

 loUng his way, and being benighted, happen'd upon this Cave, 

 and finding it very warm, pull'd off his Clothes; and being weary 

 and fleepy, had, fays my Author, the Good-fortune not to feel 

 the Serpents about him, till they had wrought his Cure. Mn" 

 faum Wormian, in Cyclopadia. 



IV, Serpents are ?iot only Phyfick^ but commo?t Food in many 

 'Tarts of the World, and efleemed a moft delicious Entertainment. 



Formerly, nothing more terrible to Men than thefe ve- 

 neniferous Animals, but now (Men being better acquainted with 

 their natural Qualities) are very familiar to many People; info- 

 much that there are but few Perfons of Diftindtion, in France^ 

 and other Places, where they may be had, but make ufe of them, 

 as a good and moji agreeable Diet ; and the ingenious Virtuofo 

 makes living Vipers his domeflick Divertifement. 



The Italian and French Phyficians do commonly prefcribe 

 the Broth and Jelly of Vipers, to purify and invigorate the Mafs 

 of Blood, exhaufted with Age and chronical Difeafes. 



W E read of the Ophiophagi, a People fo called becaufe they 

 are Serpent -Eaters, It is obferved from Arijlotle^ that the Trc^- 



lodytes, 



f Dr. Charles Leigh's Natural Hiflory of p. 14S. 



