VOL. XXXIX.3 PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS/ 107 



300 or 600 feet. Now in the case of the moon, the deceit is helped, because 

 the vapours, through which we see it when low, diminish its brightness, and 

 therefore have the same effect as would (or does) happen in the experiment, 

 when the light of the ball op strikes the eye no stronger than the light of the 

 ball CD. 



Some Observations on a Man and JVoman bitten by Vipers. By Joseph Atwell, 

 D. D., F. R. S. and Principal of Exeter College, Oxford. N° 444, p. 394. 



The man who had been bitten by a viper in the presence of several members 

 of the R. S., was again bitten in the presence of several besides Dr. A. in the 

 public hall of Exeter college at Oxford. He received two punctures in the 

 wrist, a little above the thumb : the blood issued, and more venom lay on 

 the orifices, than could be immediately imbibed. He complained in about half 

 an hour's time, that the poison was got up to his shoulder, and was entering 

 his body ; but notwithstanding this, he was not suffered to apply his medicine 

 [sallad oil] till an hour and 10 minutes after he was bitten : by which time he 

 began to be flushed and in a sweat, his hand swoln and discoloured. 



On an application of his medicine, he found some abatement of his pain ; 

 but the swelling appeared more visible, and spread itself farther into his arm. 

 In about a quarter of an hour the man sunk under the table, and complained of 

 violent pains in his back and bowels, and he could not bear to be moved. At 

 last, his pulse failing, his jaw being fallen, his countenance changed, and eyes 

 fixed, he was stretched upon the table, and the medicine was applied to his 

 belly and stomach. Soon after which, recovering a little, he began to vomit, 

 and brought up more than a quart of phlegm and bile. In this condition he 

 lay for more than an hour ; and then was removed into Dr. A.'s lodgings ; 

 where he was seized again with a fit of vomiting, and also purging, and so con- 

 tinued till midnight. Dr. A. kept him in his own house above an hour, in 

 hopes of his growing better ; but his disorder still continuing, and the man be- 

 ing too weak and feeble even to stand, he sent him in a chair home to his own 

 lodgings; where he was put into bed, and after midnight fell asleep, and awaked 

 the next morning perfectly well ; excepting that his arm was still swoln, and 

 the flesh pitted, as if it had been dropsical. His arm was bound up in papers, 

 dipped in his own medicine; and this was all, as far as the Doctor could observe 

 or learn, that was applied to it. 



The same day they caused 2 young chickens to be bitten ; one died in 2 

 hours, and the other in 4 hours time. A third was bitten 3 times, and then 

 had the medicine applied ; but it died at the end of 10 hours. The flesh of 



p 2 



