OF SERPENTS. 43 



I SHALL only add one Remark here, that if Serpents, and other 

 venemous Creatures, are hurtful to us, 'tis only by Accident, that 

 is, they are not vexatious to us, of NecefTity, but through our own 

 Ignorance, CarelefTnefs, or Miftake j e. gr. 



" The Birds we call Stares, fafely kt^u^pon Hemlock ; Storks 

 " feed on Adders, and Slow- Worms; which, and other hurtful 

 " Creatures, would be as harmlefs to ourfelves, had we always 

 " Caution enough to avoid them, or Wit enough to ufe them as 

 " we fhould. Thus Aloes has the Property of promoting Haemor- 

 " rhages; but this Property is good or^bad, as 'tis ufed : if by one 

 ** that has the Green Sicknejs, it will prove a good Medicine ; if 

 " by one fubjeft to a Dyfentery, or to fpitting of Blood, a per- 

 " nicious Poifon." * 



And it is very probable, that the moft dangerous Poifons fkil- 

 fuUy managed, may be made, not only innocuous, but, of all other 

 Medicines, the moft efFedlual. Opium corrected, lofes its narcotic 

 Quality, and is fafely given in great Dofes, in Fluxes, Catarrhs, 

 and convulfive Cafes. 



I T is generally agreed, there is no Part of a Viper, not even 

 the Gall itfelf, but may be fwallowed without harm j accordingly 

 the Ancients, and, as feveral Authors of Credit affure us, the In- 

 dians and others at this day, both of the Eaft and Weft, eat them, 

 as we do, Eels. 



Spontaneous Productions of the Earth were the firft Food, 

 and ftill are the Suftenance of numerous Nations. It was fome 

 time before they came to the Juices of Cattle, as Milk, and longer 

 before they commenced carnivorous, and devoured their Fellow- 

 Animals. 



Some think the Frui'cs of the Earth were intended as Man's 

 fole Food, and that nothing but Neceflity or Luxury firft promp- 

 ted to feed upon Flefh : And indeed, by the Structure of Man's 

 Teeth, it looks as if they were not proper to devour Flefli ; and 

 that Nature had rather intended and prepared them for cutting 



Herbs, Roots, than, for tearing of Flelli. Yea, Children don't \ 



affedl Animal Food, till their Palates be vitiated by Cuftom ; and, 

 further, when we feed upon Flefh, it muft be prepared by roafting 



62 or 



* Dr. Nth. Crew's Cofmologla Sacra, B. iii. cap, 2. p. 103. 



