SNAKE-POISON LITEEATURE. 



67 



poison-gland, he informs us that Mead, and after 

 him, Dr. James, asserted that the true reservoir 

 of the poison was the sheath which covered the 

 fangs, but he very clearly shows the position of 

 the poison "vesicle" which is found above and 

 behind the fang. He asserts that the poison of 

 the viper is not a poison to itself, and in this 

 statement he is confirmed by more recent au- 

 thorities.* Arguing from the fact " that certain 

 substances are known to be poisonous to certain 

 animals, whilst far from being hurtful to some 

 others," he thought that the venom of the viper 

 may not be a poison to all animals. " He made 

 several experiments with a view of determining 

 the point, and came to the conclusion that the 

 poison was perfectly harmless to such cold-blood- 

 ed animals as leeches, slugs, snails, and three 

 kinds of innocent snakes. Regarding the effects 

 of the poison on warm-blooded animals, he re- 

 marks, " I am not afraid to advance, that the 

 venom of the viper is a poison to all warm- 

 blooded animals." " There is not," he says, " a 

 warm blood animal in all Italy that can with- 

 stand the effects of the poison." 



The venom of 

 the viper not 

 poisonous to 

 cold-blooded 

 animals. 



* As has been previously pointed out, Weir Mitchell 

 is doubtful whether the rattlesnake cannot poison itself. 



