OF SERPENTS. 



gerous, the Solar Rays not being fo ftrong in thofe Heights : and 

 what is yet more fiirprizing, is, that if they wound any out of 

 Apulia, though in places not remote from it, the Wounded re- 

 ceive no deadly Hurt *. 



When it bites, the Pain refembles that given by the Sting of 

 a Bee, and is attended with various Symptoms, according to their 

 different Natures: The Northern Tarantula is the mo ft terrible; 

 thofe that are inclin'd to the white Colour are not fo dangerous ; 

 the fpotted differs from both. 



The Wound given by any of them is dangerous, and has dif- 

 ferent Indications. In fome that are bitten, an univerfal Stupor 

 follows ; others weep : Some tremble and vomit ; others laugh, 

 fancying themfelves to be Kings. This perhaps made Dr. Cortielio 

 reprefent this as an imaginary Dileafe ; that thofe who imagine 

 themfelves hurt, are moft of our young wanton Girls, who, fal- 

 ling from fome particular Indifpofition into Melancholy and Mad- 

 nefs, perfuade themfelves that they have been flung by a Taran- 

 tula -f-. 



SoM E grow pale, fick and faint, and die in a fhort time, un- 

 lefs relieved by Mufick, which alone, without the Help of Me- 

 dicine, performs the Cure. 



The Wounded are as Men half dead, but at the firfl Sound 

 of a mufical Inftrument, though they are very weak, and feem- 

 ingly unable to flir, they begin by degrees to move their Hands 

 and Feet, till at laft they get up, and then fall to dancing with 

 wonderful Vigour, for two or three Hours, their Strength and 

 Activity ffiil encrealing. Some will continue the Dance, without 

 Intermiflion for fix Hours ; and when tired they are put to Bed, 

 and after they are fufficiently recruited by Reft, they are called 

 up again by the fame Tune, and renew the Dance with great 

 Violence, the Mufick ftill playing ; and when the Patients grow 

 weary, they are put into Bed again, and kept warm to encourage 

 Perfpiration. Thefe Exercifes being continued fix or feven Days, 

 the Patient finds himfelf fatigued and unable to dance any longer, 

 which is the Charadteriftic of a Cure. 



They ufually fpend ten or twelve Hours a-day in this violent 

 Exercife, and continue it for three or four, or fix Days ; by which , 



X time 



* BagUvii de Jnatowe, Morfu & Efe^. Tara^itnltS D'ljfertatio i. p. 27. & cap. V. 

 p. 20. t fbilof. Tranj'aH. 



M 



