The Learned observe, there is a great deal of geometrical Niceness in the sinuous Motion of Snakes, Vipers, and other Serpents; to assist them in the right Management of it, the annular Scales under their Bodies are very remarkable, lying cross the Belly, contrary to what those in the Back, and the rest of the System do; which Contrivance facilitates their Motion. This tortuous creeping Motion of the Reptile Species is very curious: The whole Body of a Worm is, as it were, but a Chain of annular or spiral Muscles, whose round Fibres, by contracting, make each Ring more strong. The Back-Bones of Serpents are a wonderful Composition: How thick are they with Joints? How numerous and strong are their co-operating Muscles? By this curious Articulation of the Joints, they can turn and wind their Bodies any way without any difficulty. The Outside of their Skin is a most elegant Composition: to a common Eye, their Tegument has a rugged uneven Aspect; but, to a proper Judge, the Scales of Vipers are found to be a most exquisite Piece of Mechanism; the Symmetry of the whole is geometrically exact, and vastly beautiful; not imitable by human Skill: Some of them are guarded by a coverture not penetrable by a human Arm, which is their Security in a perilous Situation; yea, a greater Security than many innocent Inhabitants of the Field are privileged with. Among Serpents, some are clothed as with a Coat of Mail, _i. e._ an Armature of strong Scales; and such of them as want that crustaceous Covering, have either a Sting in the Tail, or a Tooth in their Mouth, that bids the Assailant keep off, and observe his Distance. ---------------------------------------------------------------- SECTION VII. What is Poison? I answer, that, generally speaking, ’tis taken to be a malignant Quality in some Vegetables, Minerals, and Animals, a small Quantity of which is hurtful, and even mortal, _&c._ The Learned in the Faculty tell us, _Poisons_ operate in various manners; some by dissolving the Blood, others by coagulating it, and some by corroding and destroying the Solids. The Learned Sir _Hans Sloane_ says, “Some attack equally all Parts, some only a particular one. Thus the _Lepus Marinus_ is an Enemy to the Lungs, _Cantharides_ to the Bladder[33].” Footnote 33: _His Voyage._ Some Vegetables again, which prove Poison to Man, serve for Food to other Animals. Thus, says that learned Gentleman, _Mandragora_ and _Jusquiamnus_ that feed Hogs, kill Man. _HEMLOCK_, that is hurtful to Man, is wholesome for Goats; yea, the _Cassavi Plant_ poisons unprepared; but prepared, is the very Bread of the _West-Indians_, particularly _Jamaica_ and the hotter Parts, with which they victual Ships. _Ibid._ Tea is said to be poisonous before it is cured.