them, is by this Authour observed to be wide of truth. For he assures,
that many persons have eaten Pullets and Pigeons, bitten by Vipers, without
finding any alteration from it in their health. On the contrary, he
declares, That it is a soveraign Remedy against the biting of Vipers, to
suck the wound; alledging an Experiment, made upon a Dog, which he caused
to be bitten by a Viper at the nose, who by licking his own wound saved his
life. Which he confirms by the example of those people, celebrated in
_History_ by the name of _Marsi_ and _Psilli_, whose Employment it was, to
heal those, that had been bitten by Serpents, by sucking their wounds.

3. He adds, that although _Galen_ and many modern _Physitians_ do affirm,
that there is nothing, which causeth so much thirst, as Vipers-flesh, yet
he hath experimented the contrary and knows divers persons, who did eat the
flesh of Vipers at all their meals, and yet did assure him, they never were
less dry, then when they observed that kind of Diet.

4. As for the Salt of Vipers, whereof some _Chymists_ have {162} so great
esteem, he saith, that it hath no _Purging_ vertue at all in it; adding
that even of _All Salts_, none hath more vertue than another, as he
pretends to have shew'd in an other _Book_ of his, _De natura salium_;
which also hath not been yet transmitted into these parts.

5. He denies, what _Aristotle_ assures, and what _Galen_ saith to have
often tryed, that the _Spittle_ of a _Fasting_ person kills Vipers; and he
laughs at many other particulars, that have been delivered concerning the
_Antipathy_ of Vipers unto certain things; and their manner of Conception
and Generation, and several other properties, commonly ascribed to them;
which the alledged French Author affirms to be refuted by so many
experiments made by this _Italian_ Philosopher, that it seems to him, there
is no place left for doubting, after so authentick a testimony.

* * * * *

_Advertisement._

The _Reader_ of these _Transactions_ is desired to correct these _Errata_
in _Number_ 8. _viz._ page. 132. line penult. read _Wine_ for _Lime_; and
page 133. line 10. read _Thresher_ for _Trepher_, as some _Copies_ have it;
and page 136. line ult. read _purifie_ for _putrifie_.

* * * * *

_LONDON,_

Printed for _John Martyn_ and _James Allestree_, Printers to the Royal
Society. 1666.

{163}

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