37^ On the EffcBs of Oil 



Tons procure their livelihood by catching vipers. They are 

 employed by chemifts, apothecaries, &c. 



I remember, fome years before leaving England, to have 

 read, in the Philofophical Tranfa&ions of the Royal Society 

 in London, a curious circumftance relative to one of thefe 

 viper-catchers. 



A member of the fociety had received, cafually, informa- 

 tion that a man engaged in this bufinefs was frequently 

 bitten, and ihat he cured himfelf hy five et olive oil. After 

 confiderrble inquiry, the viper-catcher was found, and the 

 qucitions aflced, whether he did cure himfelf by the oil ? and 

 whether he was willing to gratifr a number of gentlemen of 

 the faft ? The man anfwered affirmatively to both queftion?. 

 Accordingly, a moll numerous meeting of the Royal Society 

 \\as convened, compofed of a conliderable number of the 

 nobility, &c. The viper-catcher attended, accompanied by 

 his wife, with a large viper; and laying his arm naked to the 

 flioukler, fuffered the irritated reptile to ftrike, which it did 

 very forcibly. His wife permitted the poifon to operate till 

 her hufband's head, face, and tongue were greatly fwelied, 

 bis arm and face alfo very black, and his fenfes much af- 

 fpftcd, when he applied the oil, by pouring a fmall quantity 

 down his throat, and bathing the part bitten. The man gra- 

 dually and foon recovered. 



This circumftance being flrongly impreficd upon my 

 mind, and knowing that the poifon of an Englifli viper is 

 confidered in that country tlic moft fubtile in nature, deter- 

 mined me to try its antidotal power in the bite of the rattlc- 

 fnakc, the firfl opportunity which ihould ofler, on my retire- 

 ment from Charlcftown to the back cnimtry, now called 

 Pendleton County. I was alfo particularly impelled to make 

 the trial, from a confiden^ion of the newncfs find wildncfi 

 of the country, and the number of my family, bcfide which 

 there were hardly a dozen more 'n\ the country. This wai 

 \\\ the year 1786. 



In about a month after my arrival, a pcrfon in full fpccd 

 6 came 



