OF VENOMOUS SERPENTS. 36*7 



destroying their enemies, they seem to derive gratifi- 

 cation from their suffering an agonizing death. 



A serpent, called the whipsnake, is still more venom- 

 ous in its nature, as its bite is allowed to be certain 

 death : it generally measures about five feet, but is not 

 thicker than the thong of a coachman's whip. A Je- 

 suit missionary, entering an Indian pagoda, observed 

 one of these animals stretched upon the ground, and, 

 imagining it to be a piece of whipcord, thoughtlessly 

 took it up in his hand. Providentially he had seized 

 it by the head, in consequence of which it was unable 

 to bite: but his fears must have been excited to a pitch 

 of agony when he felt it entwine itself round his arm ; 

 however, he held it tight until some persons came to 

 his assistance and dissevered the body from the head. 



To this formidable class might be added the asp ; the 

 jaculus of Jamaica, the swiftest of the tribe; the seps; 

 the hermorrhois ; the coral serpent ; and the corbrad's 

 capello, which inflicts an incurable wound. This ani- 

 mal is from three to eight feet long, and has two large 

 fangs hanging out of the upper jaw; the head and 

 neck are covered with scales ; and the eyes are fierce 

 and full of fire. 



Sallad oil has been prescribed as a general remedy 

 for extracting the poison of this destructive race ; but, 

 in many, the quality is too corrosive to yield to the 

 efforts of human aid. The Indians themselves make 

 use of a composition, known by the name of the ser- 

 pent-stone, which has the power of adhering to the part 

 affected, and is said to diminish the inflammation and 

 pain. 



