52 ON THE PIITSIOGONOMY OF SERPENTS. 



we may cither employ caustic or the cautery to destroy 

 the flesh in that part. After having again Avaslicd the 

 wound, let it be pressed, and strive to prevent the absorp- 

 tion of the poison, by sucking the part, or, what is prefer- 

 able, employing the cupping-glass. A ligature over the 

 wound itself, and another tied above the wound, if its form 

 will permit, to prevent the communication of the poison to 

 other parts of the system, has been acknowledged to be of 

 essential service, provided they be not too tightly drawn. 

 We need not mention the various internal remedies that 

 have been administered, except sudorifics, which have been 

 stated to have good effects. M. Lenz* has successfully 

 employed chlorine, and recommended both its internal and 

 external use ; one may take daily, without inconvenience, 

 an ounce or more of this cliemical preparation. Frictions 

 made with good olive oil have been recognised as effica- 

 cious in several instances. Some naturalists ascribe 

 to ammonia qualities which others deny to it : it is the 

 same with arsenic, and many other remedies, wdiich 

 should only be employed with caution, and after ha\ing 

 administered ineffectually those which we have already 

 mentioned.! 



OF THE TONGUE. 



The tongue of Ophidians is peculiarly remarkable, 

 from its great extensibility. Covered by very firm tunics, 

 weak, slender, and divided at its point into two filaments 

 more or less fine, it can be retracted within a sheath, the 

 mouth of which opens at a short distance before the glottis. 

 The position of this organ differs in each species. In 

 the Hydrophis, for example, they lie near the point of the 

 snout, whilst they are placed farther back in terrestrial 

 and tree snakes. The tongue of Ophidians, although 

 perfectly similar to that of certain Saurians, as the Moni- 

 tors and the Tejus, &c. is distinguished by the great sim- 

 plicity of the hard parts which support it ; in fact, in- 



* P. 246. 



t Consult, besides, the dissertations already cited, the Toxicology of 

 Orfila. 



