Part 2

And here I must refer to the Treatise of _Bellini de Fermentis_, who has with great Clearness shewn, that there is in all _Fluids_ not only a simple _Contact_ of their Parts, but also a _nisus in Contactum_, or _Cohæsion_, and this of a certain _Degree_ or _Force_, and besides, of a particular _Direction_; which is indeed, tho’ express’d in other words, the very same thing with the _Attraction_ of the Particles one to another; This Mr. _Newton_ has demonstrated to be the great Principle of Action in the Universe, has taught us the Laws of it in the greater Quantities and Collections of _Matter_; and he who rightly Studies his Philosophy will understand that the same obtains in the most Minute and Finest Corpuscles, which do unite into Bodies of different _Solidity_ and _Make_, according to the Degree with which they do mutually _attract_ each other, and to the _Superficies_, by which, when drawn, they do _touch_ and _adhere_. To this if we add a _Pression_ of the several Parts of the Fluid every way, and consider withal, that this _Uniform_ Attraction of the Parts to one another must be variously changed by the different Attraction of Heterogeneous Bodies mixt with them, we have the great Principles of all Fluids, upon which their several _Phænomena_ do depend.

And hence it follows, that whatsoever _Power_ is sufficient to make a Change in this Attraction, or Cohæsion of the Parts, makes an Alteration of the Nature of the Fluid; that is, as the Chymists express it, puts it into a _Fermentation_. And if any one shall think it necessary to enquire into the particular Manner of producing such an Effect, we may perhaps in so abstruse a Matter not improbably Conjecture _thus_, That our Blood consisting chiefly of Two Parts, a simple _Lymph_, and an infinite Number of small _Globules_, containing a very subtle and elastic Fluid, these acute Salts, when mingled with it, do prick those Globules, or _Vesiculæ_, and so let out their imprisoned active Substance, which expanding it self every way, must necessarily be the Instrument of this speedy Alteration and Change (15). From such an _Hypothesis_ as this (and, it may be, not very easily from any other) we may account for many of the surprizing Phænomena in the Fermentations of Liquors; and as precarious as it seems, its Simplicity, and Plainness, and Agreement with the forementioned Doctrine, will, I believe, recommend it before any other to those who are not unacquainted with _Geometrical_ Reasonings. But I wave these Considerations at present, and shall only add One Remark or Two with Relation to the purpose in Hand, and so proceed.

In the first place then, we may from this _Theory_, learn, how it comes to pass that so small a Portion of Juice should infect so great a quantity of Liquor; for in order to do this, it is not necessary that the Venom should be at the very first mixt with all its Parts; but it is sufficient that it prick some of the _Bladders_, and the elastic Matter of these being let out, will be a nimble _Vehicle_ to the acute Salts, and not only by its activity disperse them thro’ the Fluid, but restore to them their decreasing _Force_, and thus continue their Effects, till a great part of the Liquor undergoes at least, in some Degree, the like Alteration.

And this will the more easily happen in the present Case, because the _Force_ with which this Poison is thrown into the Blood, as appears from the Mechanism of the discharging Organs, is very great, and consequently its Effects will be proportionably violent, or the Mischief more large and diffused.

The want of this may be one Reason why the Experiment of first making a Wound in the Flesh with any sharp Instrument, and then dropping in the _Sanies_, may not always succeed so well in killing Animals, as one would from the preceeding Doctrine be ready to expect. Tho’ if some amends be made for this Defect, by taking a greater quantity of the Juice, and carefully instilling it, It proves equally Fatal this way, as when immediately discharg’d from the Viper it self. Thus it might happen that those Trials of this kind, which were happily made by S^r _Redi_, might not however convince M^r _Charas_, in as much as there is oftentimes a great deal of difference in the Event of Experiments, when made with Purpose, and a Design that they should succeed, and when Timorously and Cautiously managed, lest they should unluckily overthrow a darling _Hypothesis_.

The other Observation I shall draw from the foregoing Theory, is this, That it appears from hence what a vast _variety_ there may be in the Fermentations even of one and the same Fluid; for these being no other than _Changes_ made in the _Cohæsion_ of the compounding Particles, are capable of as many Alterations as _Motion_ in its _Degrees_ and _Directions_ can admit of, which are really Infinite.

This I mention with regard to some of the following _Essays_, in which, if we ascribe many Symptoms seemingly very different, to a Ferment rais’d in the Blood, it may be consider’d, that the Nature of this Cause is such, as according to the several Properties of the _Primum Agens_, or _Fermenting Power_, to bear by far more Varieties than any one can be aware of.

To return to the Viper; the Effects of such an Agitation of the Blood, as we have been describing, must not only be whatever are the Consequences of a disturbed _Circulation_, and irregular and interrupted _Secretion_ of the Spirits, as low Pulse, Faintings, Sickness, Palpitation of the Heart, Convulsive Vomitings, Tremblings of the Body, _&c._ but also the _Texture_ of this Fluid being thus broken, those Parts of it which are of the slowest Motion, and greatest Viscidity, will be easily separated from the others; such they are, which when united together do compound the _Bile_, and therefore these will tinge the Capillary Vessels, and fine _Ducts_ in the Skin, with a Yellowish Colour; that is, will induce an _Icterus_, or Jaundice.

For it is not only (if at all _Primarily_) from an Obstruction of the _Biliary Canals_ that this Symptom does proceed, but also from any Cause whatsoever, which either destroys the Saline Part of the Bile, by the means of which its Oil is kept mixt with the Water of the Blood, or else increases the Oily and Sulphureous Part to that Degree, that tho’ it be duly impregnated with Salt, yet the Watery Part of the Blood, which can only take up a certain Proportion of it, being already _Saturated_, can receive no more; or lastly, does, by _disuniting_ the compounding Particles of the Blood, alter that _Intestine_ Motion and Agitation which is necessary to carry along thro’ the Vessels, together with the more volatile Parts, those which are more Clammy and Glutinous. For in all these Cases ’tis plain that the Bilious Corpuscles must be _præcipitated_ upon those Parts of the Body where there is least Motion, that is, upon the extreme Superficies.

And tho’ this Theory may perhaps appear extravagant, because new and uncommon, yet it will not, I believe, seem ill grounded or irrational to those who understand the Doctrine of the _Mixture_ of Heterogene Fluids, and their _Separation_; and who withal know, that the Vessels are rarely obstructed, unless it be from the fault of the Liquid they carry, and consequently that a Defect in the Bile it self must be (excepting some extraordinary Cases) antecedent to the Obstruction of the Biliary Ducts.

In short, the different Cure of this Disease confirms these Notions; for an _Icterus_ from the first Cause assign’d, which is generally owing to a sedentary Life, want of Exercise, _&c._ and attended with an extreme Costiveness and white _Fæces_, is cured by Volatile, Acrimonious, and Bitter Salts. From the Second produced oftentimes by drinking strong Liquors, Spirits, _&c._ and accompanied with a _Diarrhœa_, partly by Diluting and Temperating, partly by Stomachic and Strenghning Medicines. As the last Species of it (for the sake of which we have mention’d the other) is removed by such _Antidotes_ as overcome and destroy the Venomous Ferment, corrupting the Blood, and breaking its _Compages_. But to have hinted these things may abundantly suffice for the present.

We must however take Notice, That _tho’_ the _main_ Alterations made by this Poison be in the Fluid of the Arteries, _yet_ that _That_ of the Nerves may hereby be considerably _changed_ too; for _This_ consisting, as well as the Blood of differing Parts, and being dispersed in small _Tubes_ all over the Body, is not only very capable of _various_ Degrees of _Force_, _Impulse_, _&c._ but _Undulating_ continually towards the Brain, and being the chief Instrument of Motion and Action, may perhaps sometimes more immediately convey the Mischief to the sensile Membranes, and thus be the Cause of those violent Pains, Convulsions, Sickness, _&c_ with which Those who are Bitten are presently seiz’d.

Many are the Experiments I could relate to evince the Truth of this Reasoning concerning the Viperine Venom, which do entirely agree with those made by S^r _Redi_, whose Judgment and Sincerity in Observations of this Nature no Body ever called in Question, till Monsieur _Charas_ having espous’d a Notion, that this Poison does not lie in the Yellow Liquor of the Gums, but in the enraged Spirits of the Viper, rais’d new Difficulties about the Success of some Trials made in _France_, endeavouring thereby to invalidate the Force and Authority of those made in _Italy_.

I shall therefore, in order to put this Matter out of all doubt, mention Two or Three Experiments made by Dr. _Areskine_, when at _Paris_, that it may appear how defective those of Mr. _Charas_ are, and that the Difference of the Climate does not (as some began to imagine (16)) make any considerable Alteration in the Effects of this Venom, or its manner of Killing.

First then, having got a large Female Viper, he made it to Bite Six Pigeons, one after another; the First and Second that were bit, died within about half an Hour, one a little Time before the other; the third liv’d about two Hours; the Fourth seem’d to be very sick, but recovered; the Fifth and Sixth were no more hurt than if they had been prick’d with a Pin or Needle.

Then he cut off the Head of a brisk Viper, and let it lie twenty four Hours, with the Fangs of which he wounded One Pigeon in the Breast, and another in the Thigh, which both expired as soon after, as if they had been biten by a living Viper. After this, having got a great many Vipers together, he made them bite upon a peice of Glass of a Cylindrical Figure, by this means preserving the Yellow Juice which they emitted, and slightly wounding two Pigeons, he first let the Bleeding be stopt, then put some of this Liquor into the Wounds, upon which both the Pigeons died about two Hours after.

The same Ingenious Person tells me, that Monsieur _du Verney_ made not only These, but also several other Experiments of the same Nature, in the _Royal Acamy_, with the like Success.

These Proofs are so convincing and full, that no one, I think, can desire more; but they will receive yet a farther Confirmation from the _Apparatus_ or Mechanism of the Organs, with admirable Nicety contrived for the Discharge of this Venom, of which more by and by.

Nor is it any Objection against all _This_, that the _Liquor_ is innocent and harmless in the Mouth or Stomach of any one, so as that it may be safely tasted or sucked out of the Wound, and swallowed; for, _as_ we observ’d before, that many _Acid_ Substances taken into the Stomach are by the Action of that Part turned to _Alcalious_, so there is no Question but these Saline _Spicula_ are partly by the Muscular Force of the Fibres, partly by the Salival Juice, all broken and dissolved; or if any can pass into the Intestines, the Balsam of the _Bile_ will be an _Antidote_ for Them; the Reason of which will appear when we come to the Cure.

In the mean time it may not be amiss to Remark, That even the Ancients seem to have known thus much concerning the Nature of this Poison; of this _Galen_ gives us Testimony in severl Places; particularly in his Book _de Temperamentis_ (17), where he takes notice, that _nothing has the same Power upon the human Body outwardly as inwardly; Thus_ (says he) _neither the Venom of the Viper, nor of the Asp nor frothy Spittle of the Mad Dog, are alike Mischievous when they fall upon the Skin, or enter into the Stomach, as when outwardly communicated by a Wound._

The chief of the _Latin_ Physicians (18), _Celsus_ has elegantly express’d the Matter in few Words, when advising to _Suck_ the Wound made by the Bite; he adds, _Neq; Hercules Scientiam præcipuam habent hi qui Psilli nominantur, sed audaciam usu ipso confirmatam, nam Venenum Serpentis, ut quædam etiam Venatoria Venena, quibus Galli præcipuè utuntur, non gustu sed in vulnere nocent_.

And therefore brave _Cato_, when marching the Remains of _Pompey_’s Army thro’ _Africa_, very wisely told the Soldiers, almost choak’d with Thirst, yet afraid to drink of a Spring they came to, because full of Serpents (19),

_Noxia Serpentum est admisto sanguine Pestis, Morsu Virus habent, & Fatum Dente minantur, Pocula Morte carent_――

In the like manner it was in those times also known, that the virulent Juice had the same bad Effects, when mixt with the Blood, by means of a common Wound, as when communicated by the Venomous Bite. This made _Celsus_ (20) advise in sucking out the Poison, to take care there be no Ulcer in the Mouth; tho’ this Caution be rather slighted and ridiculed by _Severinus_ (21), and others; who do hereby discover how little they understood of the Seat and Nature of this Poison. And _Galen_ (22) mentioning the Story of _Cleopatra_, relates from other Authors, that she killed her self _by pouring the_ Virus _of an Asp into a Wound made in her Arm by her own Teeth_.

In short, it is upon this Foundation, that _Pliny_ (23) assures us, the _Scythians_ Poison’d their Arrows with the _Sanies_ of Vipers mixt with human Blood; the way of doing it _Aristotle_ (24) has at large related; and the _Tartars_ are said to use the like Trick to this Day. After the same manner the _Indians_ make use of the Venom of the Lizard, called _Gecco_; this Creature they hang up by the Tail, and by Whipping exasperate till it discharge its _Virus_, in which they tinge their Darts; and a very slight Wound with these Weapons is speedy Death (25).

It is worth the while in the next Place to consider the Cure of this Mischief, which without all doubt ought to be by such External Mannagement of the Wound as may immediately destroy the infused Venom.

Mr. _Boyle_ (26) experienced a hot Iron held as near the Place as the Patient could possibly endure it very effectual to this Purpose. But the same Method did not answer Expectation in the famous Case related by Monsieur _Charas_ (27).

An extraordinary Virtue against this and other venomous Bites is ascribed to the _Snake-stones_ brought from the _East-Indies_, one of which is to be presently apply’d to the Part, and let stick till it drop off; these are said to be taken out of the Head of the Serpent called by the _Portugueze_, _Cobra de Capelo_; and to suck the Poison out of the Wound. S^r _Redi_ (28) made Trials with several of them, but found no Service from any. Yet _Baglivi_ (29) tells us of a terrible Bite of a Scorpion cured this way. Monsieur _Charas_ (30) his Pigeons all died, tho’ _these_ were immediately clapped on, and stuck close to the Wound: But Dr. _Havers_ saw a good Effect of _one_ upon a Dog, who tho’ severely bitten, suffered no Harm, nor any farther Mark of the Poison than a livid Circle round the Place.

In plain Truth, _as_ these celebrated _Stones_ do not seem to be what it is pretended they are, but rather Factitious Bodies compounded, it may be, of Calcined Bones, and some Testaceous Matters mixt together; _so_ by Reason of their spongy and porous Texture, they do very readily adhere to any moistened Part of the Flesh, and imbibe whatsoever humidity they meet with. This their Quality any one may experience by holding one of them to the Roof of his Mouth; and it is upon this Score, that when put into Water, Bubbles are raised by the Air in their Interstices, which some have too fondly thought to be the Effects of their throwing out the Venom they had sucked in.

Their _make_ being thus, some Part at least of the Poisonous Juice may easily be drawn out of the Wound by such an Application, and yet so much of _it_ may sometimes happen to remain in the Flesh, as may make the Bite however to prove Mortal. And thus it fared with a Pigeon, to the Thigh of which, first bitten by a Viper, I applied one of the Stones; for tho’ it stuck fast to the Wound, and thus saved the Life for about four Hours; (whereas others usually died in about half an Hour) yet after this the Mortification of the Part prevailed to that Degree as to become fatal to the tender Creature.

But our _Viper-Catchers_ have a Remedy far beyond all these, in which They do place so great Confidence, as to be no more afraid of a Bite than of a common Puncture, immediately curing themselves by the Application of their _Specifick_.

This, tho’ they keep as a great Secret, I have however upon strict Enquiry found out to be no other than the _Axungia Viperina_ presently rubbed into the Wound. And to convince my self of its good Effects, I inraged a Viper to bite a young Dog in the Nose; both the Teeth were struck deep in; he howled bitterly, and the Part began to swell; I diligently applied some of the _Axungia_ I had ready at Hand, and he was very well the next Day.

But because some Gentlemen who saw this Experiment were apt to impute the Cure rather to the Dog’s Spittle, (he licking the Wound) than to the Virtue of the _Fat_, we made him to be bit again in the Tongue, forbearing the Use of our Remedy, and he died within four or five Hours.

At another time I made the like Trial with the same Success.

_As_ this _Axungia_ consists of Clammy and Viscid Parts, which are withal more Penetrating and Active than most other Oily Substances, _so_ these, without all doubt, do involve, and as it were sheath the Volatile Salts of the Venemous Liquor, and thus prevent their Shooting out into those Crystalline _Spicula_, which we have observ’d to be the main Instruments of that deadly Mischief which attends the Bite.

By this means it comes to pass, that this Cure, if rightly manag’d, is so easie and certain, as not to need the help of any _Internal_ Medicines to forward it; but _These_ however must take place, where, thro’ Want of the other, the Poison is spread farther, and has tainted the whole Mass of Blood.

Nor yet is it necessary even in this Case to fatigue the Patient with a _Farrago_ of _Theriacas_, _Antidotes_, &c. for the _Volatile Salt_ of Vipers is alone sufficient to do the Work, if given in just Quantities, and duly repeated; provided moderate Sweats be incouraged in Bed; thus it succeeded with Monsieur _Charas_ in the before cited Case, and in some others I could relate; in one of which the Mischief had gone so far as to induce an universal _Icterus_.

This leads me last of all to hint something concerning the Use of the Viper in _Physick_; because Authors are very large in enumerating its Virtues against many, and those too some of ’em very obstinate, Distempers.

One of the first whom we find in Antiquity to have made use of the Flesh of this Creature to Medicinal Purposes, was, I think, _Antonius Musa_, the Famons Physician to _Octavius Cæsar_; of whom _Pliny_ (31) tells us, That _when he met with incurable Ulcers, he ordered the eating of Vipers, and by this means they were quickly Healed_.

It is not improbable that he might have learned this from the Great _Greek_ Physician _Craterus_, mention’d often by _Cicero_ in his Epistles to _Atticus_, who, as _Porphyrius_ (32) relates, _very happily cured a miserable Slave, whose Skin in a strange manner fell off from his Bones, by advising him to feed upon Vipers dressed after the manner of fish_.

Be this as it will, in _Galen_’s time the profitable Qualities of the Viper were very commonly known; himself relating (33) very remarkable Stories of the Cures of the _Elephantiasis_, or _Lepra_, done by the Viper Wine.

_Aretæus_, who most probably liv’d about the same time with _Galen_, and of all the Ancients has most accurately described the _Elephantiasis_, commends, as _Craterus_ did, the eating of Vipers instead of Fish in the same Diseases (34). And to this purpose I remember, that _as Lopes_ (35) in his Relations of the Kingdom of _Congo_ in _Africa_, takes notice how greedily the _Negroes_ eat _Adders_, roasting them, and esteeming them as the most delicious Food; _so Dampier_ (36) also informs us, that the Natives of _Tonquin_ in the _East Indies_ do treat their Friends with _Arack_, in which _Snakes_ and _Scorpions_ have been infus’d, accounting this not only a great Cordial, but also an Antidote against the _Leprosie_, and all other sorts of Poison.

The Physicians in _Italy_ and _France_ do very commonly prescribe the Broth and Gelly of Vipers Flesh for much the same Uses, that is, to invigorate and purifie the Mass of Blood exhausted with Diseases, or tainted with some Vicious and Obstinate _Ferment_.

From all this it appears, That the main Efficacy of the Viperine Flesh is to quicken the Circle of the Blood, promote its due Mixture, and by this means cleanse and scoure the _Glands_ of those stagnating Juices, which, turning to Acidity, are the Origine of many, at least, of those troublesome Distempers in the Surface of the Body, which go under the Names of _Scrophulous_, _Leprous_, &c.

These good Effects are owing to that penetrating, strong _Salt_, with which the Substance of these Creatures does, in a very great Proportion, abound; and the Reason of _this_ is from the Food they live on, which we have observ’d before to be Lizzards, Moles, _&c._ whose Nature every one knows to be such as must necessarily, when they are dissolv’d in the Stomach, supply the Blood with a great Quantity of Active and Volatile Parts. And herein lies the Difference between the Flesh of Vipers, and _that_ of other Innocent Serpents, which feeding upon Grass, Herbs, _&c._ do not recommend themselves to us by any of those Properties which are in so Eminent a Degree found in the former.

Whosoever reflects on what has been said on this Head, will very readily Acknowledge, That our Physicians deal too Cautiously or Sparingly with a Remedy which may be apply’d to very good Purposes, when they prescribe a few Grains of the _Pouder_ of dried Vipers, or make up a small Quantity of their Flesh into _Troches_; whereas, if Service be really to be done this Way, the Patient ought to eat frequently of Viper-Gelly, or Broth; or rather, as the ancient manner was, to boil Vipers, and eat them like Fish; if this Food will not go down, (tho’ really very Good and Delicious Fare) to make use at least of Wine, in which Vipers have for a long time been infused, by which I know a very obstinate _Lepra_ has been removed; or lastly, in some Cases, especially where Wine is not Convenient, to take good Quantities of their _Volatile Salt_, in which alone the Virtue of the before-named Medicines does principally reside.

An APPENDIX to the Foregoing Essay; Containing

_Some Anatomical Observations on the VIPER, and an Account of some other_ Venomous Animals.

In repeated Dissections of the _Viper_, comparing the _Descriptions_ given Us by Authors with the _Parts_ themselves, I have found them in many Particulars to be very Defective. I shall however at present confine my self to some Observations made chiefly on those Organs which serve to prepare and emit the _Poison_.