ADDER BITE, a 93 



of these symptons, his sight was gone for several minutes, but 

 he could hear all the while. He said, that in former experiments 

 he had never deferred making use of his remedy longer than he 

 perceived the effects of the venom reaching his heart ; but this 

 time, being willing to satisfy the company thoroughly, and 

 trusting to the speedy effects of his remedy, which was nothing 

 more than olive oil, he forbore to apply anything, till he found 

 himself exceedingly ill and quite giddy. About an hour and a 

 quarter after the first of his being bit, a chaffing dish of glowing 

 charcoal was brought in, and his naked arm held over it as long 

 as he could bear, while his wife rubbed in the oil with her hand, 

 turning his arm continually round, as if she would have roasted it 

 over the coals : he said the poison soon abated, but the swelling 

 did not diminish much. Most violent purging and vomitings 

 soon ensued ; and his pulse became so low, and so often inter- 

 rupted, that it was thought proper to order him a repetition of 

 cordial potions : he said he was not sensible of any great relief 

 from these ; but that a glass or two of olive oil drank down, 

 seemed to give him ease. Continuing in this dangerous condi- 

 tion, he was put to bed, where his arm was again bathed over a 

 pan of charcoal, and rubbed with olive oil heated in a ladle over 

 the charcoal, by Dr. Mortimer's direction, who was the physician 

 that drew up the account. From this last operation he declared, 

 that he found immediate ease, as though by some charm; he 

 soon after fell into a profound sleep, and after nine hours' sound 

 rest, awaked, about six the next morning, and found himself very 

 well ; but, in the afternoon, on drinking some rum and strong 

 beer, so as to be almost intoxicated, the swelling returned, with 

 much pain and cold sweats, which abated soon, on bathing the 

 arm, as before, and wrapping it up in brown paper soaked in 

 the oil." 



