XV 
American Poifon called Ticunas. 
in by the mouth muft extend itfelf over a very large furface 
which is always moift, and mix itfelf with the food in the fto- 
mach, and that theabforbing veffels are extremely fmall, it will 
no longer feem ftrange, that it is not noxious when taken in a 
fmall quantity, which we have juft feen to be the cafe with the 
American poifon. 
I began my experiments on the activity of this poifon by wound- 
ing different parts of animals with a lancet wetted in the poifon 
diffolved in water. I wounded a fmall Guinea-pig with it in the 
thigh three times at different intervals. The lancet was full of 
poifon, yet the animal fuffered no harm. I made the fame trial 
on three other little pigs and a rabbit, but none of them either 
died or fuffered any injury In all thefe cafes the blood flowed 
evidently from the wounds : from which I fufpefted that the 
poifon could not diffiife itfelf, but that it was driven back, as I 
had obferved in the cafe of the poifon of the viper., which, for 
this reafon, is frequently harmlefs. 
My fufpicion was foon confirmed by the following experi- 
ments, I foaked a fingle thread in the poifon, and pafied it 
through the fkin of a Guinea-pig near one of the nipples, but 
yet no diforder followed. I then foaked another thread thrice 
doubled, and let it firft dry a little, for fear the poifon fhould 
remain behind on the fkin, in drawing the thread through it. . 
I paffed it through the fkin of the thighs of a fmall rabbit near , 
the belly: in fix minutes the rabbit began to fhake and (hew, 
figns of weaknefs. In another minute it fell down motionlefs, . 
appeared convulfed at intervals, and was quite dead in fix, 
minutes more. 
I repeated this fame experiment, of the foaked double thread, , 
on two other rabbits, and on three Guinea-pigs ; all of which , 
fell down, and were convulfed in fix or feven minutes, and died 
within the half hour. 
I had the curiofity to try if the American poifon could com- 
municate itfelf to animals, and kill them when applied to the 
fkin barely fcratched, or fcarcely wounded with the point of a. 
lancet. 
I had obferved at Paris, that the poifon of the viper commu- 
nicated a local diforder in fuch cafes, and that it affefted and 
4 disordered . 
