HUNTING DIRECTORY. 87 



and Remedy. 



There is, however, another very essential difference : — 

 the snake is destitute of teeth ; while the adder is not only 

 prepared in this respect, but has one particular tooth, in 

 the side of the jaw, which has a communication with a 

 sort of alembic, situated in the reptile's head, and which 

 contains the venom : in this tooth, there is a slit ; and 

 when the creature becomes irritated and bites, the pi'es- 

 sure thus occasioned upon the tooth, causes the venom 

 to ooze through the slit, and it is thus injected into the 

 blood. 



I have heard of a reptile, called the slow worm, the 

 bite of which is said to be venomous ; but I never saw 

 one. The snake is perfectly harmless ; the bite of the 

 adder or viper will be attended with serious consequences 

 if a remedy is not speedily applied. The remedy, how- 

 ever, is simple — the immediate application of sweet oil 

 rubbed upon the affected part, counteracts the effects 

 of the venom most surprisingly : as I have witnessed it, 

 I speak with confidence. Indeed, I am of opinion, that 

 any vegetable oil (or animal either, perhaps) will answer 

 the purpose ; and have little doubt, that what will cure 

 the bite of the adder will cure that of the slow worm also. 

 Yet, for a further illustration of this subject, I will bor- 

 row the account of a favourite author. I am aware that 

 the same account has already appeared in various pub- 

 lications ; but, from a conviction that much good may 

 result from its becoming generally known, I shall tran- 

 scribe it without hesitation : — 



" One William Oliver, a viper catcher, of Bath, was 

 the first who discovered this admirable remedy. On the 

 first of June, 1735, in the presence of a great number 



