178 



ON ANIMAL AND 



consequence, vary much in different individuals 1 . 

 Should the bite be confined to the external 

 branches of the arteries, though severe, it it pro- 

 bable, the effects will be local only. Should it 

 penetrate deeper, so as to wound a larger vessel, 

 unless a remedy be speedily applied, the proba- 

 bility is, that the poison will reach the system, 

 and produce a very distressing train of symptoms 

 which in young subjects may terminate in death : 

 a circumstance, however, not of very frequent 

 occurrence in this, and in the other cooler lati- 

 tudes of Europe. 



The symptoms produced by the bite of the 

 viper, are, in the first instance, similar to those 

 occasioned by the sting of a wasp, or bee : the 

 part becomes immediately inflamed, feels hot, 

 is swollen and extremely painful. The colour 

 of the affected part soon changes from a deep 

 red, to a dirty yellow ; which, with the swelling 

 and pain, by degrees extend over a very consider- 

 able surface, following the course of the vessels 

 towards the heart ; and these symptoms, if not 

 removed, are succeeded by fainting fits, a quick 

 weak puke, considerable nausea, bilious vomit- 

 ing, and when it proves fatal, by jaundice, a 

 swelling and livid appearance of the whole body, 

 delirium, convulsions, and death. In the course 

 of my practice, I have had an opportunity of 

 seeing three persons who had been wounded by 

 the viper, and these were all children. 



