OF SERPENTS. ,9 



The Learned in the Faculty tell us, Poifons operate in various 

 manners -, fome by diffolving the Blood, others by coagulating it, 

 ^nd fome by corroding and deftroying the Solids. The Learned 

 Sir Hans Shane fays, " Some attack equally all Parts, fome on- 

 " ly a particular one. Thus the Lepus Marinus is an Enemy to 

 " the Lungs, Cantharides to the Bladder *. 



So MP Vegetables again, which prove Poifon to Man, ferve 

 for Food to other Animals. Thus, fays that learned Gentleman, 

 MandragQra and Jufquiamms that feed Hogs, kill Man. 



HEMLOCK, that is hurtful to Man, is wholefome for 

 Goats ; yea, the CaJJ'avi Plant poifons unprepared -, but prepared, 

 is the very Bread of the Wejl-Indians, particularly Jamaica and 

 the hotter Parts, with which they visual Ships. Ibid. Tea is 

 laid to be poifbnous before it is cured. 



This perhaps may ferve to obviate an Objedlion made againft 

 the Goodnefs of the Deity, in planting a Tree in Paradife that 

 had fuch malignant Influences ; becaufe, fuppofing that it had any 

 Properties, which might tend to the DifToluticn of the human 

 Syftem, yet the fame Tree might be very falutary and ufeful to 

 other Beings in the Creation. 



Having divided Poifon into Three Parts., I (hall, in the next 

 Place confider them diftindlly. 



I. THIS Contriva?2ce of Divine Wijdom is fo univerfal, that 

 wejindj in the "vegetable Kingdom, Jomething more than what is 

 merely analogous to Poifon, both in hand and Water-Plants ; as 

 the Napellus, Caffivi, Nux Vomica, Aconite, Cicuta Aquatica, 

 Solanum Lethale, Aconitiim Hyemale. Some Poifons are of a 

 Narcotic Qi^ality, as Poppy and Henbane — being taken in too 

 great a Quantity, become poifonous. I fhall only add fome In- 

 ftances of Perfons kill'd by eating poifonous Plants, Roots, and 

 Herbs. The Wife of IV. Matthews, near Salop, who having 

 gathered a Quantity of T>og-Merciiry , which fhe took to be 

 another Herb, boiled it for their Supper, which very fenfibly af- 

 feded the whole Family. One of the Children flept from 

 Thurfday Night till Monday Evening, then juft opened her Eyes, 

 and died immediately. The other two Children flept about 24 

 Hours, and, upon their awakening, fell a vomiting and purging, 



D 2 which 



* His Voyage, 



