SNAKE-POISON LITERATURE. 



55 



complete in all its details, but a picture never- 

 theless ; and the microscope has been the 

 principal means by which the theory has been, 

 and is still being, sifted to the most minute 

 particular. 



From time immemorial the viper has been 

 the symbol of divine power, not only in Asia and 

 Europe but in other parts of the world. It was 

 as sacred to the Egyptians and Arabians as it 

 is now to the Indian snake-charmer, and a man 

 who could manipulate the reptile or was bitten 

 without injury was honored as a god. We have 

 an instance of this in the history of St. Paul, 

 who, after being shipwrecked- off the island of 

 Malta, was received by the " barbarous people " 

 of the island, and while lighting a tire was 

 a,ttacked by a viper, which he shook off into 

 the fire, whereupon "the people said that he 

 was a god." The Psylli, an ancient nation of 

 Africa, and the Marsi, in Italy, were supposed 

 to be' able to resist the fatal effect of the 

 poison of the viper, and the most marvellous 

 stories are related of them, but, as in the case 

 of our Indian snake-charmers, there was evi- 

 dently some trick at the bottom of their sup- 

 posed immunity from the ill effects of the poison. 



Tho viper, the 



symbol of 

 divine power. 



The Psj'lli and 

 Marsi. 



