rilAPTKR XXX 



VKNOM 



' A LL venomous creatures act in the same way 

 A\* as the bee, wasp, and hornet. With a spe- 

 cial weapon needle, fang, sting, lancet placed 

 sometimes in one part of the body, sometimes in 

 another, according to the species, they make a slight 

 wound into which is instilled a drop of venom. The 

 weapon has no other effect than that of opening a 

 route for the venomous liquid, and this is what 

 causes the injury. For the poison to act on us, it 

 must come in contact with our blood by a wound 

 which opens the way for it. But it has positively no 

 effect on our skin, unless there is already a gash, a 

 simple scratch, that permits it to penetrate into the 

 flesh and mingle with the blood. The most terrible 

 venom can be handled without any danger if the skin 

 is not broken. Moreover, it can be put on the lips, 

 on the tongue, even swallowed without any bad re- 

 sults. Placed on the lips, the hornet 's venom pro- 

 duces no more effect than clear water; but if there 

 is the slightest scratch the pain is atrocious. The 

 viper's venom is equally harmless as long as it does 

 not mingle with the blood. Courageous experi- 

 menters have tasted, swallowed it, and yet after- 

 ward were no worse off than before." 



1 'Is that true, Uncle? People have had the cour- 



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