362 CLASS REPTILIA. 



the pituitary membrane of a second frog, and these two rep- 

 tiles were not sensibly incommoded, while a third individual 

 of the same species, having had the edge of the nostrils just 

 scratched, gave way in a very little time, as did also some 

 pigeons, underneath whose integuments the poison was intro- 

 duced with a needle. 



The treatment for the bite of the viper, has been very weP 

 indicated by Celsus in his treatise of medicine, and it merits 

 some attention, especially as naturalists are frequently ex- 

 posed to accidents from this reptile. 



The first precaution to be observed in a case of this kind, 

 is, when the disposition of the parts will permit, to fix a liga- 

 ture above the wounded place, and not to tighten it too much, 

 for fear of giving rise to mortification. 



Immediately after, a cupping-glass is applied on the wound, 

 the parts adjacent being first scarified, and this mode, highly 

 praised by Celsus, has very recently been attended with 

 happy results in the hands of Messrs. Mangili, Barry, and 

 Bouillaud. This method, from analogy, affords an additional 

 recommendation to employ the plan of suction, which has 

 received the further confirmation of professional experiments 

 tried by a number of physiologists and physicians. 



When the cupping-glass has performed its office, the lips 

 of the wound, already scarified, should be cauterized deeply 

 and extensively. This should be done with a red-hot iron, 

 chlorine of antimony, or concreted potassum. 



According to Dr. Barry, the cupping will produce a good 

 effect, in considerably mitigating the symptoms, even though 

 they have declared themselves previously to its application. 

 Dr. Barry's experiments were repeated in the presence of a 

 commission composed of the members of the Royal Academy 

 of Medicine, in Paris. One fact, indeed, was opposed to in- 

 validate the results of those experiments. It was the case of 

 a man mentioned by M. Richard, in which the cupping did 



