The Remarkables here are,

I. That a small Portion of this venemous Liquid should in so short a time do such terrible Executions: That it should so soon infect so great a Quantity of Fluid, as the whole Mass of Blood in the wounded Animal. A very learned Physician accounts for it thus, viz.

“That in the Drop of Poison are pungent Salts, by which little Bladders in the Blood are prickt, and the elastick Matter in them being let out, carries those acute Salts thro’ the whole Region of Fluids; upon which follows a Coagulation^[57].”

All venemous Creatures hurt, by instilling a liquid Poison into the Wound, suppose the Wound to be given by the Tooth or Tail. The aforesaid ingenious Physician says, viz. “This venemous Juice it self is of so inconsiderable a Quantity, that it is no more than one good Drop that does the Execution.”——In order, adds he, to examine the Texture of the Liquor, I enrag’d a Serpent till it bit upon something solid, so as to void its Poison; whose Parts I view’d with a Microscope as nicely as I could.

“Upon the first Sight, I could discover nothing but a Parcel of small Saks nimbly floating in the Liquor, which soon shot out, as it were, into Crystals of incredible Tenuity and Sharpness, with something like Knots here and there, from which they seemed to proceed; so that the whole Texture in a manner represented a Spider’s Web, tho’ infinitely finer, and more minute; and yet withal so rigid were these pellucid Spicula or Darts, that they remain’d unalter’d upon my Glass for several Months^[58]”.

——N. B. These saline Particles appeared to be Acids.

Most surprising this! to see an Army of Flesh and Blood, tremble and fall before a single Atom of Matter! to see the Cedars of Lebanon demolish’d by the single Stroke of a contemptible Worm. So in the Moral World. Even in the Paradisaical State, how malignant the Poison of forbidden Fruit that spread Mortality over the whole human Race, and will affect Millions; dreadful Effects of once eating forbidden Fruit! What a World of Evils flows from one Disease or Disorder in the human Nature! It was by one false Step the unquenchable Fire was first kindled.

II. That Poison is not so dangerous, if it does not mix with the Blood. Even that venemous Liquid may be tasted, yea, and swallow’d without mortal Effects, say some of the Learned. Hence it is, wounded Persons have been directed to get the Venom immediately suck’d out, which has been practis’d without ill Consequences to the Sucker.

For this Method of curing venemous Wounds by Suction, Avicenna, an old Arabian Philosopher and physician, is quoted; who says, that those who suck out the Poison are in no danger, so their Teeth be sound and perfect, and their Mouths be free from all Ulcers. At Rome was an Order of Servants whose Office was to suck venemous Wounds, which they did with Safety and Applause^[59].

“Many acid Substances taken into the Stomach, are, by its action turned into Alcalious; so there is no question but these saline Spicula are, partly by the muscular Motion of the Fibres, partly by the salival Juice, all broken and dissolved; or if any escape into the Intestines, the Balsam of the Bile will be an Antidote for them. p. 14.”

Creatures reputed venemous, are indeed no Poisons when swallowed, tho’ the Venom may prove so when put into Wounds.

The Venom that falls upon the Skin, is not so mischievous as that which enters into the Stomach, or is communicated by a Wound. “Yea, the Venom of a Viper, in itself, is not mortal to a robust and strong Body; and tho’ very unhappy and mischievous Accidents attend it, as Convulsions, Vomitings, &c.” yet in eight or ten Days at most, these are over; tho’ the Patient may be very ill, yet he recovers, while the Poison having run thro’ divers Parts of the Body, at last always throws itself into the Scrotum, and is discharg’d by a great Quantity of Urine: This Evacuation being the ordinary and most certain Crisis of the Disease^[60].

The Water—which amphibious Serpents frequent, receives no venemous Tincture from them. When Marcus Cato commanded in Africa (the Element of poisonous Animals) he had in his Army a Number of those Natives called Psylli and Marci, the supposed Aversion of Serpents, and who suck’d the Wounds of those hurt by them. It is said, these Psyllians inchanted Serpents, who fled at the sight of them, as if their Bodies exhaled some corpuscular Effluviums that were most offensive to Serpents, and put them into such pain that made them run. To these, the General added another Set of Persons, famous for curing the wounded by other Methods; and all little enough, Serpents being the Lords of the Country through which they were to pass^[61].

The Author of the Description of Cato’s marching the Remains of Pompey’s Army through the Lybian Deserts, observes, how the Army being almost choak’d with Thirst, and coming to a Brook full of Serpents, durst not drink for fear of being poisoned, till convinced by their Superiors, that their being in the Water, did by no means infect it: Upon which they refreshed themselves with Water from the Serpentine River^[62].

Add to this, the Example of Queen Cleopatra, who, to prevent her being carried to Rome in Triumph, ’tis said, poisoned herself, by holding a Serpent to her own Breast. Galen mentioning this Story, relates from Authors, that she killed herself, by pouring the Poison of an Asp into a Wound made in her Arm by her own Teeth; as if under Conviction, that the Poison would not effectually answer the End, without touching the Blood. Ibid. Of which more in the Second Part of this Discourse.

III. In Serpents is an inexhaustible Store of Poison. If they discharge all their Artillery to-day, their Arsenal will be full to-morrow. ’Tis true, by a speedy repeated Emission of Poison at one time, the Viper loses its force, probably by a Diminution in Quantity; but is recruited in a Short space. Thus, one Viper cannot poison six Creatures, one immediately after another; the Truth of which is confirmed by uncontestable Facts.——An Experiment was made by Dr. Areskine, when he was at Paris.—Having got a large female Viper, he made it bite six Pigeons, one immediately after another. The first and second that were bit, died within half an Hour; one a little before the other; the third lived about two Hours; the fourth seem’d to be very sick for a while, but recover’d; the fifth and sixth that were bitten, were no more hurt than if prick’d with a Pin. Ibid.

The learned Italian, Seignior Redi, says, that having, at the Entrance of Winter, a Scorpion sent him to Rome from Tunis in Africa, he irritated it to sting Pigeons and Pullets, without any bad Effects; but upon the approach of warm Weather, after eight Months fasting it was provoked to sting two Pigeons successively, which soon died; but the third and fourth received no hurt from its Wound. The Author of the Natural History of Carolina, speaking of the Rattle-Snakes, says, they can’t renew their Poison as oft as they will; for he had seen a Person bit by one of them, who never rightly recovered, and very hardly escaped with Life; and another Person immediately after being bit by the same Snake, received no more Hurt than if bit by a Rat. p. 129.^[63]

N. B. Poison in different Countries, is more or less dangerous according as it is exalted and heighten’d by various Degrees of Heat; for by Increase of Heat, that venemous Quality is increased.

How is it consistent with Divine Goodness to create such venemous Animals, that are so dangerous and destructive to their Fellow-Creatures? I answer,

I. That as the Power of God shines in the Formation of all Creatures, so does his Goodness in their natural Perfections, which is the Goodness of their Being. Every Creature is good, and if any Branch of the Creation be hurtful to another, ’tis the Effect of moral Evil, and not any necessary Consequence arising from their Creation.

This noxious Quality in Serpents, is God’s Creature, and must answer some valuable Purpose, tho’ concealed from an Eye blinded by the Venom of Sin. Nor must we forget that they seldom hurt their Fellow-Creatures, but when they are provok’d; and when they hurt, they present us with a healing Remedy, that is, the volatile Salt of Vipers, which if rubbed into the Wound, has been generally applied with Success.

II. Their poisonous Liquid must some way be beneficial to themselves. We are not told what their original Food was; but now they live by Plunder, and by their Venom they are enabled to make sure of their Prey, which otherwise might escape, or grow too strong for them, and so they might starve for want of proper Means to support Life; and what they take by their venemous Fangs and Stings, is good Nourishment.

Their Poison also, is to them as a Life-Guard. Were there not something terrible in their Weapons of War, every one would trample upon them. Add to this, that perhaps their Constitution may be so modify’d and framed, that this venemous Liquid may be as useful to digest their Food, as our Saliva is to us in that respect.

III. SERPENTS, tho’ venemous, are of special Use to Mankind, as they are Part of the Materia Medica, and bear a great Share in some of the best Antidotes, or Remedies against Poison. Vipers make a considerable Article in Medicine; their Flesh either roasted or boiled, the Physicians unanimously prescribe as an excellent Restorative, particularly in Consumptions, Leprosy.——

The learned Dr. Mead recommends the Broth or Jelly of Vipers; or, as the Antients did, to boil and eat them as a Fish, or at least to drink Wine, wherein they have been long infused: The Apothecaries sell the Pulvis Viperinus, which is only dried Vipers pulverized, Heart, Liver, and all other Parts, and past through a fine Sieve. Some call it, Animal Bezoard.

BEZOAR is a Persian Word, Pazahar, primarily denotes Counter-Poison, and is applied to several chymical Compositions of that Intention. Theriaca, or Treacle, a Name given by the Antients to various Compositions, is reckoned good against Poison.—The Basis or Foundation of the Composition is Viper’s Flesh^[64].

Even in Tartary, an uncultivated Nation, the Viper’s Flesh is reckoned to be wonderful good Physick. In some of the Rivers of Siam, are many Crocodiles, which the Siamese call Cayman, and use them as good Physick with Success^[65].

It is supposed, when Viper-Catchers were hurt, they immediately cured themselves by rubbing this volatile Salt of Vipers into the wounded Part. An Experiment was made by enraging a Viper to bite the Nose of a young Dog: The Part began to swell; to which was applied this volatile Salt, and the Dog was very well next day. The Viper was made to bite the Dog again in the Tongue, and no Application being made, he died within a few Hours^[66].

One of the first that made use of the Viper in medicinal Purposes, was (as my learned Author thinks) Antonius Musa, the famous Physician to Octavius Cæsar; of whom Pliny tells, that when he met with incurable Ulcers, he ordered the eating of Vipers; and by this means they were quickly healed. The same Author adds from Porphyrius, that the great Greek Physician Craterus, very happily cured a miserable Slave, whose Skin in a strange manner fell off from his Bones, by advising him to feed upon Vipers, drest after the manner of Fish. Ibid.

A late eminent Physician, speaking of Vipers, says,——’Tis certain, very noble Medicines are prepared from them, and a Wine from their Flesh, singular in consumptive, leprous, and scorbutick Cases: They afford also a volatile Salt, the most generous Cordial in Nature^[67].

In Italy is a subterraneous Cavern, called Grotto de i Serpi, large enough to hold two Persons, perforated like a Sieve; out of which, in the Spring, issues a numerous Brood of young Snakes, of divers Colours. In this Cave they expose their leprous, paralytic, arthritick Patients, where the Warmth of the Steams resolving them into Sweat, and then Serpents clinging variously all around, licking their naked Bodies, they are soon restored to Health, by repeating the Operation. This Serpentine Cave was visited by Kircher, the celebrated Philosopher and Mathematician; who says, he saw the Holes, and heard a murmuring hissing Noise in them, tho’ he did not see the Serpents, it not being their Season to creep out; yet he saw a great Number of their Exuviæ, or Sloughs, and an Elm at a small distance laden with them. The Discovery was by the Cure of a Leper going from Rome, who losing his way, and being benighted, happen’d upon this Cave, and finding it very warm, pull’d off his Clothes; and being weary and sleepy, had, says my Author, the Good-fortune not to feel the Serpents about him, till they had wrought his Cure. Musæum Wormian. in Cyclopædia.

IV. Serpents are not only Physick, but common Food in many Parts of the World, and esteemed a most delicious Entertainment. Formerly, nothing more terrible to Men than these veneniferous Animals, but now (Men being better acquainted with their natural Qualities) are very familiar to many People; insomuch that there are but few Persons of Distinction, in France, and other Places, where they may be had, but make use of them, as a good and most agreeable Diet; and the ingenious Virtuoso makes living Vipers his Domestick Divertisement.

The Italian and French Physicians do commonly prescribe the Broth and Jelly of Vipers, to purify and invigorate the Mass of Blood, exhausted with Age and chronical Diseases.

We read of the Ophiophagi, a People so called because they are Serpent-Eaters. It is observed from Aristotle, that the Troglodytes, who are Africans, not far from the Arabian Gulph, leading a pastoral Life, lived by hunting—and fed on Serpents^[68].

Among the Andesian Mountains in America, is a Serpent called Juanna, big as a Rabbit, has a spotted Skin, four Feet, and is never observed to have any Voice, is much eaten by the Inhabitants, and counted better Meat than Rabbits, as it is prepared by the Barbarians^[69].

The Kanina Serpent that feeds upon Birds, is eaten by the Inhabitants, the Brasilians, and their Negro-Labourers, after they cut off the Head and Tail. Ibid. The Dutch, Portuguese, and others in that Country, feed upon the Lyboya Serpent; ’tis of a prodigious, large Bulk, and described in another Place. Ibid. In old Mexico, we read how the Indians took a certain Serpent that carried thirty Young’s, which were each a Finger long, and crept about immediately; and the old one being above 20 Foot long, served the Natives for Venison^[70].

AMERICUS Vespusius, (a Florentine, who was the first, after Columbus, that discover’d America, and wrote the History of his four Years Voyages) says, he saw some Serpents in America, which the Inhabitants commonly feed upon: They were of diverse Colours, and as big as Kids. In the History of that Country, we find the Natives of the Land fed upon Adders, Serpents, Toads,——without any Scruple of Mind, or Injury to their Health.

The Natives of Tonquin, a large Kingdom of India, beyond the Ganges, in treating their Friends, give them Arrack, a rich Cordial, in which Snakes and Scorpions have been infus’d; and is esteem’d an Antidote against all Poisons.

INDIA breeds Serpents in abundance of all Sizes, and Variety of most charming Colours: The People of Siam catch prodigious Numbers of them in the Woods, and expose them to Sale in the Markets, as Eels in England, for Animal Food^[71].

Experiments have been made upon Animals, as Pigeons, Chickens—that were bit by Serpents, which have been eaten without any manner of Hurt, or painful Sensation; yea, Serpents that were slain have been given to Dogs, who fed upon them without danger, or any uneasiness^[72].

The Circulatores, or Dealers in Serpents, devour’d at their Tables even their Heads, and pour’d the Gall into their Cups when they drank, laughing at their Neighbours Timidity, who transform their Imaginations into Bug-bears.

The Inhabitants of Mount Athos, between Macedonia and Thracia, are called Macrobii, that is Long-livers, or long-liv’d; and their Longevity is attributed to their feeding on Viper’s Flesh, which is a most elegant Nutritive^[73].

The Ethiopians are number’d among those who feed upon Serpents, as one valuable Branch of their sustenance.

In the Kingdom of Congo in Africa, the Negroes roast the Adders, and not only greedily feed upon them, but esteem them as a most delicious Food^[74].

ST. HELENA, one of the African Islands, abounds with Serpents which the Dutch eat as a greater Dainty than Eels^[75]. We read of a Man who liv’d at Colonia Agrippina in Germany, that fed upon Spiders, as the most delicate Dish.—N. B. This Cologne is called Agrippina from Agrippina the Mother of Nero (who poison’d Claudius her own Husband, to make Nero her Son Emperor) and would have the Town honoured with a Roman Colony, as being the Place of her Birth^[76].

In Cuba, an American Island, they were pester’d with many sorts of Serpents, not so much from the ill Condition of the Soil, as by an old superstitious Whim of the Savages, who in former Times were not suffered to kill them, (this being a royal game, and a nice Dish reserved for the Higher Powers) and were not able afterwards to destroy them, when it would have been suffered^[77].

The Kalmuck Tartars feed very much upon Snakes, Adders and Foxes——The Syrians eat Crocodiles, which live on the Land only.

MITHRIDATE, formerly one of the Capital Medicines in the Shops, has the Name from the Inventor, viz. Mithridates King of Pontus, who being overcome by Pompey, would have poison’d himself; but no Poison would work upon him, having accustom’d himself to eat Poison; thus described in an old Doggrel Rhyme, viz.

After King Mithridates was vanquish’d, Cneus Pompeius found in his Closet the following Receipt, against Poison, writ with his own Hand, in this Manner, viz.

TAKE two dry Walnut-kernels, as many Figs, of Rue twenty Leaves, stamp all these together into one Mass, with a Grain of Salt.——Under this Receipt was writ——Whoever eats this Confection in the Morning fasting, no Poison shall hurt him that Day^[78]. In America, where Lizards are very good, they eat them, and so large, that one Lizard is enough to satisfy four Men. ’Tis very probable that they were eaten in Arabia and Judea, since Moses ranks them among the unclean Creatures^[79].

Though the Flesh of venemous Creatures be nutrimental, and eaten with a good Relish, in many Places, yet it must be allow’d our old Historiographers in some Things hyperbolize upon the Subject. Thus Avicenna, the great Arabian Doctor, and others, speak of a young Maid, who was fed with the Flesh of poisonous Creatures, from her tender Age; by which her Breath became venemous to those who stood by her. And thus Porus, a certain Indian King, is said to use Poison every Day, that he might kill others. It is a known History, adds he, of a young Woman, fed with Poison, with which the Persian Kings destroy’d whom they pleas’d.

Add to this another traditional Opinion, viz. that some particular Persons have an evil Eye, which affects Children and Cattle; yea, that some have this unhappy Faculty, tho’ at the same Time void of any ill Design. This has been an old Tradition, as appears from that of the Poet^[80].

On the Mountains of Ceylon in the East-Indies, are Serpents of such vast Size, that they swallow young Cattle: Their Flesh is very delicate, and has a most pleasing Taste; therefore is very much eaten.

This Island of Ceylon is one of the most charming Situation on the Earth, the Key and Glory of the Indies; the Air so temperate, that, properly speaking, they feel neither Heat nor Cold; the Vales and Hills are always covered with Flowers, the Fields cover’d with Fruits of all Sorts; and in the Woods are Serpents call’d Lizards, full three Hands long, whose Flesh is excellent Meat^[81].

In the second Part is a more ample Description of Ceylon.

The Iguana Serpent is amphibious, lays numerous Eggs, grateful to the Taste, is very good Nourishment, preferable to Spanish Rabbits; and in the City of Mexico these Serpents are brought to the Markets, especially in the quadragesimal Days.

A Spanish Historian says, the Iguanas are shap’d like the Alligators, very ugly, as big as Lap-dogs, of several Colours; the Spaniards observe, that their Flesh tastes like the Pheasants, and feed upon it with pleasure^[82].

The learned Ray, speaking of the Liboya, that monstrous American Serpent, says, that after it has swallow’d a large Animal, its Head grows heavy and sleepy, that it can neither run nor fight; the Hunters finding it in this stupid Posture, soon strangle him with a Rope; and being kill’d, cut the Carcass into Parcels, and sell the Flesh for Food, which is reckon’d a delightful Entertainment^[83]. The same Author adds, that both Africans and Americans having cut off the Head and Tail of the Kanina Serpent, eat the Body as part of their constant Repast. Ibid. 328.

BRASILIAN Serpents call’d Lizards are slay’d, broil’d as little Fishes, and eaten by the Negroes or Blackmoors that are transported into that Country from Africa.

I am inform’d of a Gentleman of the Law at Ludlow, who having prick’d a living Toad in various Parts, sucks its Moisture, and leaves it as must a Skeleton as the Purse of a Client.

Thus we see that the Almighty is so far from being chargeable with Defect of Wisdom and Goodness, in forming of Serpents, that both as Food and Physick, they may be equally improv’d to our Advantage.

I shall only add one Remark here, that if Serpents, and other venemous Creatures, are hurtful to us, ’tis only by Accident, that is, they are not vexatious to us, of Necessity, but through our own Ignorance, Carelessness, or Mistake; e. gr.

“The Birds we call Stares, safely feed upon Hemlock; Storks feed on Adders, and Slow-Worms; which, and other hurtful Creatures, would be as harmless to ourselves, had we always Caution enough to avoid them, or Wit enough to use them as we should. Thus Aloes has the Property of promoting Hæmorrhages; but this Property is good or bad, as ’tis used: if by one that has the Green Sickness, it will prove a good Medicine; if by one subject to a Dysentery, or to spitting of Blood, a pernicious Poison.”^[84]

And it is very probable, that the most dangerous Poisons skilfully managed, may be made, not only innocuous, but, of all other Medicines, the most effectual. Opium corrected, loses its narcotic Quality, and is safely given in great Doses, in Fluxes, Catarrhs, and convulsive Cases.

It is generally agreed, there is no Part of a Viper, not even the Gall itself, but may be swallowed without harm; accordingly the Ancients, and, as several Authors of Credit assure us, the Indians and others at this day, both of the East and West, eat them, as we do, Eels.

Spontaneous Productions of the Earth were the first Food, and still are the Sustenance of numerous Nations. It was some time before they came to the Juices of Cattle, as Milk, and longer before they commenced carnivorous, and devoured their Fellow-Animals.

Some think the Fruits of the Earth were intended as Man’s sole Food, and that nothing but Necessity or Luxury first prompted to feed upon Flesh: And indeed, by the Structure of Man’s Teeth, it looks as if they were not proper to devour Flesh; and that Nature had rather intended and prepared them for cutting Herbs, Roots,——than, for tearing of Flesh. Yea, Children don’t affect Animal Food, till their Palates be vitiated by Custom; and, further, when we feed upon Flesh, it must be prepared by roasting or boiling, which makes it harder of Digestion, than all other Animal Food; and therefore forbid in Fevers, and other Distempers.

SECTION VIII.

That venemous Creatures have been made Instruments of divine and human Vengeance, is most evident. The romantic Account given in Antiquity, of strange Feats done by a poisonous Breath—does not affect the Truth of this Proposition.

The Antients divided Serpents, into good and evil Ministers; thus the Egyptians looked upon some of them to be Administrators of Mercy, and others to be Messengers of Justice. Osiris^[85] one of their Gods, is said to send out Serpents, to chastise Evil-Doers^[86].

When the Church of Israel murmured against God in the Wilderness, and censured the Conduct of Providence, he employs an Army of Serpents as his Agents, to correct the Rebels.——Plagues, and other pestilential Diseases, were, in old times, reputed to be the Messengers of the Gods, and commissioned by them, to execute Wrath upon the Wicked.

Some of the Heathens had exalted Notions of Virtue, and believed Men of Virtue to be the Favourites of the Gods, and that a vicious Life, being opposite to the Sanctity of their Nature, they could not let it pass with Impunity.

An Instance to this purpose we have in the History of the Apostles, Acts xxviii. 1-6. The Island was called Melita. And when Paul had gathered a Bundle of Sticks, and laid them on the Fire, there came a Viper out of the Heat, and fastened on his Hand. And when the Barbarians saw the venemous Beast hang on his Hand; they said among themselves, No doubt this Man is a Murderer, tho’ he has escaped the Sea, yet Vengeance (δικη, Justice) suffers not to live——They looked when he should have swoln, or faln down—And when they saw no harm come to him, they changed their Mind, and said he was a God. How came they to alter their Opinion? Because, according to their Divinity, none else could thus command, and controul a venemous Serpent, which was one of the Messengers of the Gods.

“No venemous Beasts, according to the fabulous Tradition, will live in the Island, which they ascribe to St. Paul’s Blessing, when he was shipwreck’d there.” They shew the Cave where they pretend he resided, and reckon the Earth of it, an Antidote against Poison.

From this historical Passage, ’tis evident, that these Barbarians did believe a Providence, and the Doctrine of Divine Justice, which Justice they openly adored, under the Name of Vindicta, or Nemesis, which was the Goddess of Revenge, whose Province was to inspect the moral Conduct of all Men, and distribute Rewards and Punishments as the Case required. It was painted in the same manner as Justice, with a Pair of Scales in one hand, and a Sword in the other.

In Ethiopia, we read of a large Country, this side the Cynamolgi, that was laid waste, and entirely depopulated by Scorpions, before whom, the Inhabitants not being able to stand, fled for their Lives. The same Desolation was made by the Scorpions at Salamin, an island not far from Athens, called the Island of Dragons, for which Lycophron is quoted^[87].

The Inhabitants of Amyclæ, a Town in Italy, were destroyed by Serpents, being, as ’tis said, of the Pythagorean Race, whose Laws forbid to kill Animals, and by suffering these venemous Creatures to multiply without Controul, they became insufferable^[88].

The Inhabitants of Pescara, an antient City in Africa, were constrained to forsake their Habitations in Summer, by reason of Scorpions that were very numerous, and in that Season, their Sting most dangerous: In Winter, when their Wounds were less dangerous, the Refugees turned to their Houses^[89].

DIODORUS SICULUS observes how many Regions have been deserted, for this reason; both People and Cattle being driven away by an Army of Scorpions, and their Allies.

In the Canary-Islands, these venemous Animals are more dreaded than the Pestilence. ’Tis said they are hunted and taken by the Turks, who prepare the Oil of Scorpions from them^[90]. In India, about the Arrahban-Lake, the Country has been intirely dispeopled by these mischievous Creatures. Ibid.