VOL. XLIV.]' PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. 22Q 



loaded with an iron ball f, of 12lb. weight, being let down in water 100 fathoms 

 deep, will go down to the bottom, and the trunk will return in 1 minute and 3 

 seconds. 



^n Account, by Mr. J. Breintal, of what he felt after being bitten by a Rattle- 

 Snake. Dated Philadelphia, Feb. 10, 1746. N° 179, p. 147. 



Mr. B. walking up a stony hill, his foot slipped, and falling on his knees, he 

 laid his hand on a broad stone to stay himself; and he supposes the snake lay on 

 the opposite side, and might be offended by some motion of the stone, so bit his 

 hand in an instant, without any warning or sight ; then slid under the stones, 

 and sounded his rattles. 



Mr. B. felt a sort of chilliness when he heard the sound ; because he had a 

 constant thought, that if ever he was bitten his life was at an end. Without 

 stop he tore up the stones, resolving to slay his murderer ; at last he found him, 

 on which he crushed his head to pieces with a stone ; then took him up in his 

 left hand, and ran to his quarters, sucking the wound on his right hand as he 

 went, and spitting out the poison. 



This kept it easy ; but his tongue and lips became stiff and numb, as if they 

 had been frozen. So getting quickly home, he exclaimed, " I am bitten by a 

 rattle-snake, and there lies my murderer !" casting him down on the threshold. 



The first thing applied was a fowl ; its belly ripped up, and put on his hand 

 alive, like a gantlet, and there tied fast. This drew out some of the poison ; for 

 immediately the fowl swelled, grew black, and stunk. He kept his elbow 

 bent, and his fingers up, to keep the poison from his arm. Thus he walked 

 about, and set some of the company to make a fire on the green ; which was 

 done quickly, and there they burnt the snake. Another got some turmerick ; 

 this they bruised well, tops and roots ; so made a plaster, and bound it round 

 the arm, to keep the poison in the hand : but night came on, or else he believed 

 it had never gone farther than the hand ; for this kept the arm secure, till mid- 

 night, or past. Nor all this while had he much pain : his hand grew cold and 

 numb, but did not swell very much ; but now puffed up on a sudden, and he 

 grew furious ; so he slit his fingers with a razor, which gave some ease. He 

 also slit his hand on the back, and cupped it, and drew out a quart or more of 

 ugly poisonous slimy stuff. But his arm swelled for all they could do : then he 

 got it tied so fast, that all communication might be stopped with the body, that 

 it seemed almost void of feeling ; yet would it work, jump, writhe and twist like 

 a snake in the skin, and change colours, and be spotted ; and they would move 

 up and down on the arm, which grew painful in the bone. 



Thus was it tied 1 days, and all things applied that could be got or thought 



