of Vcjlilcniial Fluids. ^f . 



any thing of the kind; but obfeivcd, ♦' that the niifchievous 

 matter would be found to le a gas, and an analyfis of a 

 portion of the atmofpiiere tliere would not fail to deleft 

 v.-hatfort of gas it luas." 



Being devoted to other purhiits, the fubjetSl of poifons 

 hardly occurred to liim afterwards, that he rccollcfts, as a 

 theme for contemplation, until the year 1795, when (hu 

 following incidents fet him ferioufly to thinking. "Wiiile c;i 

 a tour, that fummer, towards the northern country, he had 

 afcended towards the fources of the Kaats-kill, and been 

 engaged among the fublimc and pi£lurefque fccncry of the 

 Clue Mountains, in the Slate of New York. On a fhouldcr 

 of the caftern fide of a ridge, called the Pine Orchard, he 

 very narrowly efcaped being bitten by one of the raltle- 

 fnakes which infelt that zone of the mountains. This for- 

 pent, of the full-grown and largeft fize, lay bafl^ing in the 

 fun-fliine. The voyager had walked \\ithin a foot and a half 

 cf him before he was difcovered. The agitation and whii:- 

 zingnuife of his rattle led firfl; to his delettion. When fecn, 

 he was bent into a coil, ard his head was crc(!:tcd apparently 

 to ftrike. The fuddennefs of the furprife, and the grand and 

 novel afpect of the animal, prevented for a moment the 

 emotions of fear. Dr. Miteliiil, however, v\'as foon brought 

 to his recollection by the cries and Ihouts of his companions, 

 wiio were terrified at the extremity of his danger. In the 

 mean time the animal crept quietly away, and Dr. Mitchill 

 efcaped unhurt. By the joint efibrts of the company, thi.s 

 Lrpent and his mate were drawn from their lurking-place 

 and killed, In the diflcction of their bodies, in which h.e 

 was aided by William Cutting, Efi. and others, Dr. Milchill 

 had an opportunity of examining tli'/Jr fang;^, jaws, and re- 

 ceptacles of venom. So narrnw an tfcnpe, as it induced 

 him to rcflecSt, led him afterwards to conclude, that theic 

 was very little of pliilofopliical information to be derived 

 fi'.ni Mgad's Mechanical Accowil of Pcifvs ; and that in 

 D 3 Fuutaua'a 



