OF SERPEN TS. 153 



Dance, an Exerclle that lafls fix or feven Days.- — ^A^. B. Every 

 fick Perfon muft have his particular and fpecific Tune, and al- 

 ways one that is very fprightly and moving. 



The Poiibn of the T^araiitula, adds he, thickens the Blood, 

 and flops feveral of its Paffagesj thence the Numbnefs : The 

 Blood being thick, furnifhes but a fmall Quantity of animal Spi- 

 rits, their Canals are flirunk up in the Brain : The Nerves being 

 deflitute of Spirits, relax ; thence proceed the Inadivity, and De- 

 fed of Knowledge and Motion : But the Vibrations of the quick 

 Airs which are play'd, agitate the Blood and the reft of the ani- 

 mal Spirits, which are foon increafed by the Agitation of the 

 Blood : Being agitated and multiply'd, they run into the Fibres 

 and Nerves, which being put into JJniJon with the fbnorous Strings, 

 receive their Vibrations, and are lliorten'd or extended fucceflively ; 

 whence proceeds the fucceflive Motion of the Fingers, Arms, 

 Legs, ^c."^ 



The A(5lion of Dancing augments the Agitation of the Blood, 

 and makes the Patient fweat. The Poifon being agitated and at- 

 tenuated, is exhaled by Tranfpiration ; in proportion as the Poi- 

 fon is exhaled, the fick Perfon perceives himfelf eafed j this Eafe 

 continually inclines him to dance : When all the Poifon is diffi- 

 pated by Agitation and Sweat, the Blood recovers its Fluidity 

 and ufual Courfe. 



I Shall conclude this hiflorical Account, with a PafTage 

 taken out of 2l formed Hijiory of the tarantula -f*, writ by a learned 

 Author, who having defcribed the Difeafe, proceeds to the man- 

 ner of Cure, viz. The falivous Poifon of that Spider feizes prin- 

 cipally on the Nerves and Mufcles — the manner of Cure thus— 



The Air moved by the mufical Motion of Inftruments, moves 

 the next, and fo onwards (as we fee in the circular increafing 

 Motion of the Water, when a Stone is caft into it) till the like 

 be produced in the Spirits of the Body, to which the Air is im- 

 pelled. Now, adds he, the Commotion of the Paffions depends 



upon the Spirits, and the vifcous Kumour of the Tarantula is a 

 very capable Subje^ft of Sound : Hence the next Air being moved 

 by a mufical Tone fuitable to the Patient, the lurking Poilbn, and 



X 2 Spirits 



* Father Regnauh. Phil. Conv. or NewSyJiem of Fbyfic, vol. ii. Conierfatiojiidy. 

 p. ^.SBj— 9. 



t Printed at Ley deny iu I2wp. A,D. \66%. 



