THE VlPEtt. 81 



William Oliver's experiment. 



the application of olive oil, however, its bite is 

 effectually cured. William Oliver, a viper* 

 catcher at Bath, was the first who discovered 

 this admirable remedy. On the 1st of June, 

 1735, in the presence of a great number of per- 

 sons, he suffered himself to be bit by an old 

 black viper, brought by one of the company, 

 upon the wrist and joint of the thumb of the 

 right hand, so that drops of blood came out of 

 the wounds: he immediately felt a violent pain, 

 both at the top of his thumb and up his arm, 

 even before the viper was loosened from his 

 hand ; soon after he felt a pain, resembling that 

 of burning, trickle up his arm; in a few minutes 

 his eyes began to look red and fiery, and to water 

 much : in less than an hour he perceived the ve- 

 nom seize his heart, with a pricking pain, which 

 was attended with faintness, shortness of breath, 

 and cold sweats; in a few minutes after this his 

 belly began to swell, with great gripings and 

 pains in the back, which were attended with 

 vomitings and purging. During the violence of 

 these symptoms his sight was gone for several 

 minutes, but he could hear all the while. He 

 said that in his former experiments he had never 

 deferred making use of his remedy longer than 

 he perceived the effects of the venom reached 

 his heart; but this time, being willing to satisfy 

 the company thoroughly, and trusting to the 

 speedy effects of his remedy, which was nothing 

 inore than olive o\\, he forebore to apply any 

 vol., vj. NO. 40. J, 



