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i : « : 4 'J -!-■'! • . O' . I ’• ’J; . ' 
I. Conjectures on the Charming or Fafcinating 
'Power attributed to theKa.tt\e~Sntike:gromded 
on credible Accounts , Experiments and Obfer- 
Vations. ’Ey Sir Hans Sloane, (Bart. Brefi- 
dent of the Royal Society, and College of 
Phyficians, &C. 
T H E various Relations not only of curious and 
credible Authors, who have given usAccounts 
of Virginia, Carolina i an& the neighbouring 
Countries, but alfo the Teftimonies of feveral Men 
of Integrity by word of Mouth, concerning what they 
call Charms, Inchantments or Fafcinations by Snakes, 
have often feemed to me greatly furprizing, without 
my being able to fatisfy myfelf of the true Caufe 
of fuch Appearances. 
Thefe Opinions are the greateft Support of a com- 
mon Notion, that feveral chronical wafting Difeafes, 
and fuch Diforders of the Nerves as are not eafily 
accounted for, not only in Men, but in Cattle, are 
believed to be the Effects of an evil Eye of old mali- 
cious Women, &c. thought to be Witches and Sor- 
cerers, or aflifted by the Devil. 
In particular as to Rattle-Snakes , they all a- 
gree in their Relations, that thofe Snakes keeping 
their Eyes fix’d on any fmall Animal, as a Squirrel, 
Bird, or fuch like, though fitting upon the Branch of a 
Tree of a confiderable Height, (hail, by fuch ftedfaft or 
earneft Looking, make or caufe it to fail dead into their 
U u Mouths. 
