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CHAP. XXXI. 
Of the Poison of a Viper. 
T HE Mifchief done by the Viper, or any 
other Serpent, is not efFedted by Means 
of a Sting (for what is darted out of its 
Mouth, and by the Vulgar fuppofed a Sting, 
is nothing but the Tongue of the Animal, 
and perfectly harmlefs) : but its ’Teeth are 
the dreadful Weapons wherein the Poifon 
lies ; and its Bite is all we need to fear. 
Dr. Mead, in his mod: valuable EfTay on 
the Poifon of the Viper, has defcribed thefe 
Teeth and their Poifon fo much better 
than it is poffible for me to do, that I fhalt 
beg Leave to borrow the chief I have to fay 
from him. 
The poifonous Fangs or great Teeth are 
crooked and bent : they are hollow from 
the Root a conliderable Way up, not to the 
very Point (which is folid and /harp to pe¬ 
netrate the better), but to within a little Dis¬ 
tance of it ; as may be feen byfplittiog a Tooth 
through the Middle. This Cavity ends in a 
vilible Slit refembling a Nip or Cut of a Pen. 
See Plate XIII. Fig. XI. The Poifon is 
ejected through this Slit from a Bag at the 
Root of the Teeth, into which it is difcharged 
by a Dudt juft behind the Orbit of the Eye, 
from 
