66 OPHIDIANS. 
of the mouth), is slightly prolonged and curved backwards; 
this tooth has its anterior part deeply grooved from base to 
point; a minute filament terminating in a sheath (in line with 
this groove and at the base of the tooth), connects with a 
minute bladder (containing the poison), which lies in a con- 
cavity in the bony process of the upper jaw, and in the same 
relative position as in the Crotalus horridus. By a slight 
pressure on the point where the poison-bladder lies, the fila- 
ment will be seen to protrude from its sheath, adjust itself to 
the groove down which it slides, and when it reaches the 
extremity of the tooth, a drop or more of poison flows from 
its point; at the same instant a small quantity of greenish, 
viscous mucus flows down towards the point of the tooth 
from a gland situated at its posterior part; a drop is seen to 
form on the point of the tooth; the reptile makes a hissing 
sound, with the mouth still open, and these drops of mucus 
are thus expelled. 
This latter is bitter to the taste. In fact, as far as it is 
possible to judge (without entering into the details of a 
chemical analysis), it seems to be gall mixed with saliva. 
What are its use and functions? Evidently a small quantity 
of the poison may possibly have remained on the lower point 
of the tooth after its ejection by the filament, and this mucus 
is discharged by its apparatus upon just that portion of the 
tooth which may have been moistened by the poison; palpably 
and undoubtedly it is a disposition of nature to antidote 
the poison by a secretion generated in the reptile’s own 
organs; this antidote is the gall, and experience proves it 
to be the most efficacious one known, as may be seen in 
another page. This conclusion was the result of a micro- 
scopical examination of a Copperhead, killed several years 
since near Covington, Ky. 
