SER 
"WJlrds the point, through which, when the fang is 
preflcd down on the bladder, a part of the venom 
is immediately fcen to ifiue. To ilhiftrate this 
operation: when the Serpent is irritated to inflidl 
a venomous wound, it opens it's jaws to their 
wideft extent; the moveable bones of the upper 
jaw (lide forward; the fangs, which before lay re- 
clining, are thus eredled; they are then ftruck 
with force into the flefh of the obnoxious perfon ; 
and, by meeting refinance at the points, they prefs 
on the bladders of venom from whence they 
grow: the polfon iftues up through the hollov/of 
the tooth; and is prefTed out through it's flit into 
the wound which the fang has already made in the 
{k\n. Thus, from a flight punfture, and the in- 
fufion of a very minute drop of poifon, the part is 
quickly inflamed ; and, without a proper antidote, 
the whole frame is contaminated. 
The appearances which this venom induces are 
different, according to the degree of malignity in 
the Serpent, the part afFedled, the v/annth of the 
feafon or climate, and the fl:rength of the animal 
that gives the wound. However, the various ca- 
lamities which the poifon of Serpents is capable of 
producing, are not only inflidled by the creatures 
themfelves, but by men more mifchievous even 
than Serpents, who prepare their venom purpofely 
to deflroy each other. With this poifon the fa- 
vages imbue their arms, and alfo prepare their re- 
vengeful potions. The ancients ufed to preferve 
it for the purpofes of fuicide; and, even among 
femibarbarous nations at this day, the venom of 
Serpents is employed as a philter. But though 
tliis poifon be juflrly terrible to mankind, it isbe- 
ftowed by Providence for the reptile's own proper 
fupport and defence. Without it. Serpents 
would, of all other animals, be the mofl: expofed 
and infecure: without feet for efcaping a purfuit; 
without teeth capable of inflidling a dangerous 
■wound; without fl:rength for refifl:ancej incapa- 
ble, from their fizc, of finding fecurity in very 
fmall retreats, like earth-worms; and highly dif- 
gufting becaufe of their deformity; whatelfe mufl: 
have been the confequence but a fpeedy extirpa- 
tion ? But, furniflied as they are with powerful 
poifon, all n-nks of animals approach them with 
dread, and never feize them but at an advantage. 
Nor is this all the prote6lion they derive from 
their poifon: the malignity of a few ferves for the 
fecurity of all. Though not one tenth part of 
their number is aftually venomous, the fimilitude 
they bear to each other excites a general terror of 
the whole tribe; and the uncertainty of their ene- 
mies in which individual the poifon chiefly re- 
fides, makes even the mofl: harmlefs Serpents 
formidable. Thus Providence feems to have 
afted with a double precaution : it has imparted 
poifon to fome of them for the general defence of 
a tribe naturally feeble; but it has alfo thinned 
the numbers of thofe v/hich are abfolutely venom- 
ous, lefl: they fliould prove too potent for the refl: 
of animated nature. 
Confidering thefe noxious and dlfgufl:ing qua- 
lities in the Serpent tribe, it is not at all furprif- 
ing, that not only man, but alfo beafls and birds, 
carry on incefl!ant hoftilities againfl: them. The 
ichneumon of the Indians, and the pecary of the 
Americans, defl:roy them in prodigious numbers: 
thefe animals poflefs the art of feizing them near 
their heads; and it is likewife faid that they can 
flay them widi great dexterity. The vulture and 
the eagle likewife prey on them in great abund- 
SER 
ancej and often darting on huge Serpents from 
the clouds, fnatchthem upfl:ruggling and writhing 
into the air. Dogs alfo aflifl: in exterminating th& 
fpecies. Father Feuillee informs us, that he was 
attacked in the woods of Martinico by a large 
Serpent; when his dog infl:antly coming to his 
relief, feized the aflailant with great courage. The 
fnake entwined and preflTed him with fuch vio- 
lence, that the blood guflied from his mouth ; 
neverthelefs, the dog never quitted the reptile till 
he had torn it to pieces. During the conflid, the 
dog feemed infenfible of his wounds; but, loon 
after, his head fwelled prodigioufly, and he lay on 
the ground as if dead. His mafler, however, 
having luckily difcovered a banana-tree, applied 
it's juice, mixed with treacle, to the wounds; 
which recovered the dog, and fpeedily healed the 
parts affetfted. 
But man is the mofl: formidable enemy which 
thefe venomous creatures have to encounter. The 
Pfylli of old are faid to have been famous for 
charming and deftroying Serpents. Some moderns 
have alfo pretended to the fame art ; and Cafau- 
bon informs us, that he knew a man who could at 
any time fummon a hundred Serpents togetiier, 
and draw them into the fire. Philofl^ratus has 
given us a particular defcription of the manner 
in which the Indians charm thefe reptiles. < They 
take,' fays he, ' afcarlet robe embroidered with gold 
letters, and fpread it before their holes : thefe let- 
ters poflefs a kind of fafcinating power; and by 
looking ftedfafi:ly on them, the eyes of thefe ani- 
mals are overcome, and themfelves laid afleep.' 
Thefe, with many other devices, have often 
been pradifed on Serpents by artful men, who 
had firfl: prepared the reptiles for their exercife, 
and then exhibited them as if adventitioufly af- 
fembled at their call. Nothing is more common 
in India than dancing Serpents, which are carried 
about in broad flat veflTcls, fomewhat refembling 
fieves. They eredt and put themfelves into dif- 
ferent attitudes at the word of command. When 
the owner fings a flow tune, they feem, by the 
vibration of their heads, to keep time with his 
voice; and when he fings one of a quicker mea- 
fure, they appear to move with more briflcnefs and 
vivacity. From this deception, artfully praftifed 
before the vulgar, probably have arifen all the- 
boafled pretenfions which fome have made to the 
incantation of Serpents ; an art to which the na- 
tive Americans fliill lay claiin. A pupil of the 
celebrated Linnasus is faid to have purchafed the 
fecret from an Indian, and then difclofed it to his 
teacher; but, like all others of the kind, it con- 
fiflied of only a few unmeaning words of no parti- 
cular efficacy. 
Notvviihft:anding the horror with which man- 
kind generally regard this tremendous race of ani- 
mals, there have been various nations in remote 
antiquity, and there are fome even at prefent, 
who regard them with a kind of veneration. The 
adoration paid by the ancient Egyptians to a 
Serpent is well known; and many nations now 
inhabiting the weflern coafl; of Africa retain the 
fame ridiculous fuperftition. In traverfing the 
Gold and Slave Coafl:s, a fliranger is often fur- 
prifed to fee fwarms of Serpents clinging to the 
roofs of cottages which the Ample natives have 
reared, neither molefliing nor molefl;ed: but his 
aflronifliment is increafed, when, proceeding far- 
ther fouthward to the kingdom of Whidah, he 
finds that a Serpent is worfljipped as x,h,Q deity 
