%o VIPER. CiAssIIL 



rarely hear of the bite being fatal. The reinecly, 

 if applied in time, is very ceitain, and is nothing 

 elfe but fallad oil, which the viper-catchers feldom 

 go without. The dxmigia viperina^ or the fat 

 of vipers, is alfo another. Do6tor Mead fufpedls 

 the efficacy of this lafi, and fubfl-itutes one of his 

 ov7n in its place ^ ; but we had rather truft to vul- 

 gar receipts which perpetual trials have ihewnto be 

 infallible. 



The fymptoms of the venom, if the v/ound is 

 neglected, are very terrible : it firft caufes an a- 

 cute pain in the place afteded, attended with a 

 fwelling, firft red, afterwards livid, which by de- 

 grees fpreads to the neighboring pares -, great fain.t- 

 nefs, and a quick tho' low and interrupted pulfe 

 enfue -, great ficknefs at the ftomach, bilious 

 convulfive vomitings, cold fweats, and fometimes 

 pains about the navel ; and in confequence of 

 thefe, death itfelf. But the violence of the fymp- 

 toms depends much on the feafon of the year, the 

 difference of the climate, the fize or rage of the 

 animal, or the depth or fituation of the wound. 



Dreadful as the effeds of its bite may be, yet its 

 fklli has been long celebrated as a noble medi- 

 UsEs. cine. Dodor Mead cites from Plm}\ Galen, and 

 other antients, feveral proofs of its efficacy in the 

 cure Q)i ulcers^ the ekphantiqfis^ and other bad com- 

 plaints. He even fays he has feen good effeds 



* EJay on Poi/ons, 47* 



fro.T) 



