ly had an
opportunity, by the great number of Vipers, brought to the _Grand Duke_ of
_Toscany_ for the composing of _Theriac_ or _Treacle_, to examine what is
vulgarly delivered and believed concerning the Poyson of those Creatures,
hath, (according to the account, given of it in the French _Journal des
Scavans_, printed _January_ 4. 1665/6) performed his undertaking with much
exactness, and published in an Italian tract, not yet come into _England_,
these Observations.

1. He hath observed, that the poyson of Vipers is neither in their _Teeth_,
nor in their _Tayle_, nor in their _Gall_: but in the two _Vesicles_ or
_Bladders_, which cover their teeth, and which coming to be compressed,
when the Vipers bite, do emit a certain yellowish Liquor, that runs along
the teeth and poysons the wound. Whereof he gives this proof, that he hath
rub'd the wounds of many Animals with the _Gall_ of Vipers, and pricked
them with their _Teeth_, and yet no considerable ill accident follow'd upon
it, but that as often as he rubbed the wounds with the said yellow Liquor,
not one of them escaped.

2. Whereas commonly it hath hitherto been believed, that the poyson of
Vipers being swallowed, was present death; this _Author_, after many
reiterated Experiments, is said to have observed, that in Vipers there is
neither Humour, nor Excrement, nor any part, not the _Gall_ it self, that,
being taken into the Body, kills. And he assures, that he hath seen men
eat, and hath often made Bruit Animals swallow all that is esteem'd most
poysonous in a Viper, yet without the least mischief to them. Whence he
shews, that it needs not so much to be wondred at, that certain _Empiricks_
swallow the juyce of the {161} most venomous Animals without receiving any
harm thereby; adding, that, which is ascribed to the vertue of their
_Antidote_, ought to be attributed to the nature of those kinds of Poysons,
which are no poysons, when they are swallow'd, (for which Doctrine he also
alledges _Celsus_) but onely when they are put into wounds. Which also has
been noted by _Lucan_, who introduces _Cato_ thus speaking;

_Noxia serpentum est admisto sanguine pestis,_
__Morsu_ virus habent, & fatum _dente_ minantur;_
__Pocula_ morte carent._

And what also some Authors have affirm'd, _videl._ That it is mortal, to
eat of the Flesh of creatures killed by Vipers; or to drink of the Wine
wherein Vipers have been drowned; or to suck the wounds that have been made
by