496 Reptiles. 
young ones, about the size of full-grown earth-worms. 
This little fry issued into the world with the true Viper 
spirit about them, showing great alertness as soon as 
they were disengaged from the body of their parent. 
They twisted and wriggled about, set themselves up, and 
gaped very wide when touched with a stick ; exhibiting 
manifest tokens of menace and defiance, though as }*et 
no fangs could be discovered, even by the help of glasses. 
Vipers attain their full growth in seven years ; they 
feed on frogs, toads, lizards, and other animals of that 
kind, and it is even asserted that they catch mice and 
small birds, of which they seem very fond. They cast 
their skin every year. The two front teeth in the upper 
jaw of the Viper are furnished with a small bladder 
containing poison. There is no doubt but this poison, 
which appears to have been infused into the jaws of the 
Viper and other serpents by Providence, as a means of 
revenge upon their enemies, is so harmless to the animal 
itself, that when swallowed by it it only serves to ac- 
celerate its digestion. These venomous teeth or fangs 
stand, each by itself, upon a small movable bone ; this 
arrangement enables the creature to fold down its fearful 
weapons in the mouth, and to erect them instantly when 
it has occasion to make use of them. The Viper is very 
patient of hunger, and may be kept more than six months 
without food. When in confinement, it refuses all sus- 
tenance, and the sharpness of its poison decreases in 
proportion : when at liberty, it remains torpid through- 
out the winter ; yet, when confined, it has never been 
observed to take its annual repose. 
The Viper is a native of many parts of this island, 
chiefly the dry and chalky counties. Its flesh was for- 
merly used for broth, and much esteemed in medicine, 
particularly to restore debilitated constitutions. It was 
also used as a cosmetic, being supposed to render the 
complexion fair. It was probably from the use made 
by the ancients of, this animal in medicine that Escula- 
pius is represented with a serpent. The best remedy 
against the bite of the Viper is to suck the wound, which 
may be done without danger, and after this to rub it 
with sweet oil, and poultice it with bread and milk. 
