POISON-SNAKES. 



minutes his eyes began to look red and fiery, 

 and to water much : in less than an hour he 

 perceived the venom seize his heart with a 

 pricking pain, which was attended with faintness, 

 shortness of breath, and cold sweats ; in a few 

 minutes after this his belly began to swell, with 

 great gripings and pains in his back, which 

 were attended with vomitings and purgings : 

 during the violence of these symptoms his sight 

 was gone for several minutes, but he could hear 

 all the while. He said that, in his former ex- 

 periments, he had never deferred making use 

 of his remedy longer than till he perceived the 

 effects of the venom reaching his heart ; but 

 this time, being willing to satisfy the company 

 thoroughly, and trusting to the speedy effects 

 of his remedy, which was nothing more than 

 olive oil, he forbore to apply anything till he 

 found himself exceeding ill, and quite giddy. 

 About an hour and a quarter after being bit, 

 a chafing-dish of glowing charcoal was brought 

 in, and his naked arm was held over it, as near 

 as he could bear, while his wife rubbed in the 

 oil with her hand, turning his arm continually 

 round, as if she would have roasted it over the 

 coals : he said the poison soon abated ; but the 

 swelling did not diminish much. Most violent 

 purgings and vomitings soon ensued ; and his 

 pulse became so low, and so often interrupted, 

 that it was thought proper to order him a repe- 

 tition of cordial potions : he said he was not 

 sensible of any great relief from these ; but 

 that a glass or two of olive oil drunk down 

 seemed to give him ease. Continuing in this 

 dangerous condition, he was put to bed, where 



