VIPER. 
93 
and pains in the back, attended with violent eva- 
cuations ; during which his sight failed him for se- 
veral minutes, but he never lost his hearing. He 
said, that in his former experiments he had always 
used the remedy when he found that the venom 
was reaching his heart ; but this time, being willing 
completely to satisfy the company, and trusting en- 
tirely to the beneficial quality of his olive oil, he 
forbore to apply it till he found himself exceedingly 
ill and quite giddy. About an hour and a quarter 
after he had been bitten, a chafing-dish of glowing 
charcoal was brought in, and his naked arm held 
over it as near as he could bear, while his wife 
rubbed in the oil with her hand, turning his arm 
continually round, as if she would have roasted it 
over the coals : he said the poison abated, but the 
swelling was not much diminished. This operation 
was succeeded by most violent purgings and vomit- 
ings, and his pulse became so low and irregular, 
that it was thought proper to administer some cor- 
dial remedies : from these, however, he received 
no benefit ; but a glass or two of olive oil, which he 
took soon after, seemed to give him ease. He was 
put to bed in this dangerous state ; where his arm 
was again bathed over a pan of charcoal, with heated 
salad oil, by the direction of Dr. Mortimer, who 
was the attending physician. This last operation 
acted like a charm, and he declared that he found 
immediate relief ; soon after this he fell into a pro- 
found sleep, in which he remained nine hours, and 
