ON THE POISON OP THE RATTLESNAKE. 



Then- an- few authorities of the present daj inclined to 

 place much faith in the volatile alkali as an antidote for th< 

 specific effects of the bite of the viper; bul as tin- constitu- 

 tional symptoms, produced by the bite of venomous reptiles, 

 are generally adynamic in their nature, tlii- remedy, together 

 with other diffusible stimulants, i< calculated to counteract 

 this state of the system, and may prove verj serviceable in 

 supporting the vital powers, and thus suspend the fatal opera- 

 tion of the poison. To this conclusion I have been led bj 

 • \|m riment 



The next remedy fur accidents of this nature worth} of 

 notice; i- the "Proii/n/Iiis serpentaria" ofPursh. This plant 

 i> held in high esteem l>\ the inhabitants of Virginia, as a 

 remedy for the bite of the Rattlesnake, and is known to 

 them by the familiar name of " Lionafoot" Pursh states 

 that he had an opportunity of being a witness to the efficacy 

 of this plant. A man living in Cove mountains, near the 

 Sweet-springs, "was hit in the foot by a Mockeson, [Cenchris 

 Mockeson: Dandin,] a species of snake considered toe most 

 dangerous. An inflammation and swelling of the whole leg 

 took place immediately: hut by taking the milky juice of 

 this plant, hoi led in milk, inwardly, and applying to the wound 

 the steeped leaves, which were frequently changed, In was 

 cured in a few days. The plant is frequently confounded 

 with another species of the same genus, from which it is im- 

 portant to distinguish it .- this last the inhabitants name ■■ j',i/.m 

 Lionsjbot" Gronovius, in his Flora, page I I >■ mentions 

 l)r Witt's make-root under P. autumnalw, or Willdenow's 

 ■ nihirinidii." as a rented j for the bite of the Rattlesnake, which 

 shews that he had information of the use made of this plant, 

 though he did not know the genuine species. — Vid. Pursh's 

 'Flora America; Septentrionalis," p. 199. 



onous to its own body, or to that of its own snecii I; enomi i it equtllj 



.ill animals. '>. The poison i di itbi r acid, alkalim . qoi saltish 



t. It ha.-t no positin nd taken into the month does not cause the ton 



li i- not inflammable. I , Mixed with ••■ ki to the bottom; 



when shaken it renders the water turbid^and whitish." — Vuh- Pontans "Ricer hi 

 fisich< sopra il releno defla ripen." 

 vol. in. — 4 G 



