SNAKE-POISON LITERATURE, 53 



CHAPTER II. 



Francesco Redi — The viper as a symbol of 

 Divine power — The Psylli and Ma rsi — 

 Poisoned arrows — Dr. Richard Mead, his theo- 

 ry and microscopic examination of the viper's 

 venom, — Various antidotes — The bite of the 

 rattlesnaJce a cure for elephantiasis — Felix 

 Fontana's researches — Discovery of the poison- 

 gland — Tricks of old viper-catchers of Europe — 

 Schlegel — Fontana's criticisms: De Buffon — 

 Fontana appeals to posterity — Fontana's theo- 

 ries — M. Sage on amTnonla — Quantity of viper 

 venom shed at one bite — Effects of viper-poison 

 on the blood — Fontana refutes the ammonia 

 theory — Dr. Patrick Russell's experiments — The 

 mangoose — A fight between the cobra and man- 

 goose — Mr. Boag recommends ammonia — Mr. 

 Boag's theory — Suction, &c. — Artificial respira- 

 tion — Mr. John Williams and his cases — Dr. 

 Macrae and Mr. Breton — Dr. Butler recom- 

 mends opium, — Recurrent symptoms after snake- 

 bite —Living stone's case — Snakestone — Davy's 

 researches — Fayrer and Brunton's theory. 



