A Mechanical Account of Poisons in Several EssaysMead, Richard
Science
A Mechanical Account of Poisons in Several Essays
Mead, Richard
Poisons -- Early works to 1800; Venom -- Physiological effect -- Early works to 1800
The Case is much the same with _Stinging_ Animals; of These the
_Scorpion_ is the Chief, whose _Virus_ in different Countries is more
or less dangerous, according as ’tis exalted by various Degrees of
_Heat_; thus in _Africa_ particularly its Effects are so dreadful,
that as _Joann. Leo_ (43) tells Us, the Town of _Pescara_ there is in a
manner left desolate by the Inhabitants in the Summer Time, by Reason
of the great Abundance of these Creatures, certain Death following
their _Sting_.
Some of this deadly kind (the same, tho’ not so large with _That_ in
the _East-Indies_, of which _Swammerdam_ (44) has given a very accurate
Description and Figure) S^r _Redi_ had sent him from _Tunis_ (45);
and it being _November_, irritated them to _Sting_ Pigeons, Pullets,
_&c._ without any bad Effect at all of their _Poison_; but upon the
approaching Spring, One of them which had been kept all the Winter,
nay, eight Months, without any Food, and the Wound of whose Sting
before was harmless, stung to Death two Pigeons successively; but a
Third and Fourth wounded in like manner, suffered no Hurt. Yet having
let the _Scorpion_ rest all Night, He killed another Pigeon the next
Morning.
At the _Point_ of the _Sting_ he very often could discern a small drop
of white _Liquor_, which when the Wound was made, entered into the
Flesh.
_As_ this _Liquid Venom_ is either not separated from the Blood into
the Cavity of the Sting, during the cold of Winter, or at least the
Scorpion wants Strength at that Time to throw it out with Force and
Energy. _So_ even in the hot Months, after it is exhausted by two or
three _Attacks_, the _Sting_ is no longer hurtful, till the Expence of
this _Juice_ is recruited by Time.
’Tis very remarkable concerning this _Insect_, what an ingenious
Gentleman who lived several Years in _Barbary_ told Me, he had many
times tried; That if it be surrounded with a Circle of _Burning Coals_,
It does, upon the Sense of the _Heat_, turn it self violently every way
to make an Escape; but finding it impossible, and the _Pain_ from the
Fire increasing, it strikes it self Twice or Thrice with the _Sting_ on
the _Back_, and immediately dies of the Wounds.
Others may make what Reflections They please on this _Self-Murder_, it
is to Me beyond all Dispute sufficient to decide the _Controversie_
between Writers, whether Poisonous Animals of the same _Species_ can
kill each other. Which is not only confirmed by what we before observed
of the _Spider_, but is likewise true of _Vipers_; for D^r. _Herman_
bringing from the _Indies_ Three of the _Cobras de Capelo_ all in one
Glass, Two of them were killed in the Voyage by _Fighting_.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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