OF SERPENTS. 155 



Dance, an Exercife that lafts fix or feven Days.' - N . B. Every 

 fick Perfon muft have his particular and fpecific Tune, and al- 

 ways one that is very fprightly and moving. 



The Poifon of the Tarantula, adds he, thickens the Blood, 

 and flops feveral of its PafTages ; thence the Numbnefs : The 

 Blood being thick, furnifhes but a fmall Quantity of animal Spi- 

 rits, their Canals are flirunk up in the Brain : The Nerves being 

 deflitute of Spirits, relax ; thence proceed the Inactivity, and De- 

 fed: of Knowledge and Motion : But the Vibrations of the quick 

 Airs which are play'd, agitate the Blood and the reft of the ani- 

 mal Spirits, which are foon increafed by the Agitation of the 

 Blood : Being agitated and multiply'd, they run into the Fibres 

 and Nerves, which being put into JJnifon with the fonorous Strings, 

 receive their Vibrations, and are fhorten'd or extended fucceffively ; 

 whence proceeds the fucceffive Motion of the Fingers, Arms, 

 Legs, ©"<:.* 



The A(ftion of Dancing augments the Agitation of the Blood, 

 and makes the Patient fweat. The Poifon being agitated and at- 

 tenuated, is exhaled by Tranfpiration ; in proportion as the Poi- 

 fon is exhaled, the fick Perfon perceives himfelf eafed ; this Eafe 

 continually inclines him to dance : When all the Poifon is diffi- 

 pated by Agitation and Sweat, the Blood recovers its Fluidity 

 and ufual Courfe. 



I Shall conclude this hiflorical Account, with a Paffage 

 taken out of o. formed Hijlory of theTarantula -f-, writ by a learned 

 Author, who having defcribed the Difeafe, proceeds to the man- 

 ner of Cure, viz. The falivous Poifon of that Spider feizes prin- 

 cipally on the Nerves and Mufcles — the manner of Cure thus-— 



The Air moved by the mufical Motion of Inftruments, moves 

 the next, and fo onwards (as we fee in the circular increafing 

 Motion of the Water, when a Stone is caft into it) till the like 

 be produced in the Spirits of the Body, to which the Air is im- 

 pelled. Now, adds he, the Commotion of the Paffions depends 



upon the Spirits, and the vifcous Humour of the Tarantula is a 

 very capable Subjeft of Sound : Hence the next Air being moved 

 by a mufical Tone fuitable to the Patient, the lurking Poifon, and 



X 2 Spirits 



* Father T!.egnault. Phil. Conv. or NewSyflem ofPhyJic, vol. ii. Conierfatiorfxiv, 

 p. 2(S8>— 9. 

 t Primed at Leydeit) in izmo. A.D, i()58. 



