56S 



AMPHIBIA LA, 



covered person never fails of having annual pains* at the time they 

 were bit. They have likewise some roots which they prelend will 

 effect a cure, particularly a kind of asarum, commonly called heart- 

 snake-root, a kind of chrysanthemum, called St. Anthony's cross, 

 and some others : but that which they rely on the most, and which 

 most of the Virginian and Carolina Indians carry dry in their pockets, 

 is a small tuberous root, which they procure from the remote parts 

 of the country. This they chew, and swallow the juice, applying 

 some to the wound. Having, by travelling much with the Indians, 

 had frequent opportunities of seeing the direful effects of the bites of 

 these snakes, it always seemed and was apparent to me, that the 

 good effect usually attributed to these their remedies, is owing 

 more to the force of nature, or the slightness of the bite of a small 

 snake in a muscular part, &c. The person thus bitten I have known 

 to survive without assistance many hours ; but where a rattle-snake, 

 with full force penetrates his deadly fangs, and pricks a vein or 

 an artery, inevitable death ensues, and that, as I have often set n, 

 in less than two minutes. The Indians know their destiny the mi- 

 nute they are bit, and when they perceive it mortal, apply no re- 

 medy, concluding all efforts in vain: if the bite happeueth in a 

 fleshy part ? they immediately cut it, to stop the current of the 

 poison. 



" The colour of the head of this rattle-snake is brown, the eye 

 red, the upper part of the body of a brownish yellow, transversely 

 marked with irregular broad black lists. 1 he rattle is usually or a 

 brown colour, composed of several horny membraneous cells, of an 

 undulated pyramidal figure, which are articulated one with another, 

 so that the point of the first cell reaches as far as the basis or protu- 

 berant ring of the third, and so on ; which articulation being very 

 loose, gives liberty to the parts of the cells that are inclosed within 

 the outward rings, to strike against the sides of them, and so to 

 cause the rattling noise which is heard when the snake shakes its 

 tail. 



" The charming, as it is commonly called, or attractive power 

 this snake is said to have, of drawing to it small animals, and de- 

 vouring them, is generally believed in America ; as for my own part 

 I never saw the action, but a great many from whom I had it related, 

 all agree in the manner of the process ; which is, that the animals, 



* This may perhaps be considered as doubtful, or may depend on other cir- 

 cumstances than the bite of the rattle-snake.- 



