148 



THE VITAL FUNCTIONS. 



representations of sections of the fangs of another 

 species of serpent, resembling the rattle-snake. 



288 290 



291 



Fig. 291 is a section of the young fang taken about 

 the middle : in this stage of growth, the cavity 

 which contains the pulp, almost entirely surrounds 

 the poison tube ; and the edges of the depression, 

 which form the suture, are seen to be angular, and 

 present so large a surface to each other, that the 

 suture is completely filled up, even in this early 

 stage of growth. Fig. 292 is a section of a full- 

 grown fang of the same species of serpent, at the 

 same part as the preceding ; and here the cavity 

 of the pulp is seen much contracted from the more 

 advanced stage of growth. 



It is a remarkable circumstance, noticed by Mr. 

 Smith, that a similar longitudinal furrow is per- 

 ceptible on every one of the teeth of the same 

 serpent : and that this appearance is most marked 

 on those which are nearest to the poisonous fangs : 

 these furrows, however, in the teeth that are not 

 venomous, are confined entirely to the surface, and 

 do not influence the form of the internal cavity. 

 No trace of these furrows is discernible in the teeth 

 of those serpents which are not armed with ve- 

 nomous fangs. 



