Tho’ Brass in its natural State, may not be propitious to Health, yet when duly prepar’d it is beneficial: The Preparation of _Copper_ has been accounted an universal Remedy, and an excellent _Emetick_, having this singular Virtue, _that it exerts its Force, as soon as ever it is taken_: Whereas other Emeticks lie a long time dormant in the Stomach, creating nauseous Anxieties, _&c._ but a single Grain of _Verdegrease_ immediately vomits[363]. Footnote 363: _Boerhaave_’s Method. A Certain learned Gentleman of this Island, imagines that the _brazen Serpent_ was a kind of _Talisman_; that is to say, one of those Pieces of Metal, which are cast and engraven under certain Constellations, from whence they derive an extraordinary Virtue to cure Distempers, _&c._ Some impute their Effects to the old Serpent, others to the Nature of the Metal, and to the Influence of the Constellation. This Author therefore would make us believe, that the brazen Serpent cured just as the _Talismans_ cure certain Distempers, by the Sympathy there is between the Metals of which they are made, or the Influence of the Stars under which they are formed, and the Disease they are to cure. Every one may believe as he pleases[364]. Footnote 364: _Marsham Canon. Chronic._ quoted by _Calmet_. The Serpent that is always represented with _Esculapius_’s _Image_, and with _Salus_, the Goddess of Health, and often with the _Egyptian_ Deities, is a Symbol of Health, or of Healing, very probably derives those Ensigns of Honour from the brazen Serpent of _Moses_. SECT. V. _WHAT became of the brazen Serpent at last?_