VERTEBRATA. 



Vertebrated Animals. 



No. 24. 

 CROTALUS HORBJDUS. 



THE RATTLESNAKE. 



The animal substance. Lachesis. A medicinal agent. 



Geog. Position. United States, Guiana. 

 Quality. Infectious, malignant. 

 Power. Alterative. 



Use. Sufferings of drunkards, from the abuse of mercury, 

 fainting-fits, erysipelas, hydrophobia, &c. 



i SCIENTIFIC ANALYSIS. 



Natural Classification. 

 1. DIVISION Vertebrata. CLASS Reptilia. 



Dr. Barton, Memoirs, &c., 1796. Owen, Zool. Trans., Vol. I. Annales des Sc. 

 Nat, Tom. XXVI., par M. Duvernay, M. D. Jones, An. King. 558. Wyatt, 

 Nat. Hist. 84. British Journal of Homeopathy, Jan. 1853. 



THE ESSENTIAL CHARACTERS. 



Body extremely elongated, entirely without limbs, moving 

 itself by means of the folds it makes while in contact with 

 the ground. 



Vertebral column very movable, composed of a vast number 

 of vertebrae supporting themselves ; a great number of ribs 

 employed in respiration. No sternum, nor movable eyelids, 

 nor tympanum. 



Tongue very extensible, terminated by two long, movable 

 points, of a consistence nearly like horns, and contained, 

 while at rest, in a membranous case ; the mouth furnished 

 with teeth fit only to retain the prey. 



Heart with two auricles and only one ventricle ; only one 

 lung, extending far towards the posterior portion of the 

 body. 



Voice, when any, consisting in a dull hiss. 



Method of reproduction by eggs, agglutinated in the form of 

 a chaplet, and quite soft, although enveloped in a calca- 

 reous substance. 



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