Footnote 65: _Struys_’s Voyages, _ad annum_ 1657. I. c. III p. 29. It is supposed, when Viper-Catchers were hurt, they immediately cured themselves by rubbing this _volatile Salt_ of Vipers into the wounded Part. An Experiment was made by enraging a Viper to bite the Nose of a young Dog: The Part began to swell; to which was applied this _volatile Salt_, and the Dog was very well next day. The Viper was made to bite the Dog again in the Tongue, and no Application being made, he died within a few Hours[66]. Footnote 66: Dr. _Mead_’s Mechanical Account, p. 17. One of the first that made use of the Viper in medicinal Purposes, was (as my learned Author thinks) _Antonius Musa_, the famous Physician to _Octavius Cæsar_; of whom _Pliny_ tells, _that when he met with incurable Ulcers, he ordered the eating of Vipers; and by this means they were quickly healed_. The same Author adds from _Porphyrius_, that the great _Greek_ Physician _Craterus, very happily cured a miserable Slave, whose Skin in a strange manner fell off from his Bones_, by advising him to _feed upon Vipers, drest after the manner of Fish_. Ibid. A late eminent Physician, speaking of Vipers, says,——’Tis certain, very noble Medicines are prepared from them, and a Wine from their Flesh, singular in consumptive, leprous, and scorbutick Cases: They afford also a _volatile Salt, the most generous Cordial in Nature_[67]. Footnote 67: Dr. _Charles Leigh_’s Natural History of —— p. 148. In _Italy_ is a subterraneous Cavern, called _Grotto de i Serpi_, large enough to hold two Persons, perforated like a Sieve; out of which, in the Spring, issues a numerous Brood of young Snakes, of divers Colours. In this Cave they expose their leprous, paralytic, arthritick Patients, where the Warmth of the Steams resolving them into Sweat, and then Serpents clinging variously all around, licking their naked Bodies, they are soon restored to Health, by repeating the Operation. This _Serpentine Cave_ was visited by _Kircher_, the celebrated Philosopher and Mathematician; who says, he saw the Holes, and heard a murmuring hissing Noise in them, tho’ he did not see the Serpents, it not being their Season to creep out; yet he saw a great Number of their _Exuviæ_, or _Sloughs_, and an Elm at a small distance laden with them. The Discovery was by the Cure of a Leper going from _Rome_, who losing his way, and being benighted, happen’d upon this Cave, and finding it very warm, pull’d off his Clothes; and being weary and sleepy, had, says my Author, the Good-fortune not to feel the Serpents about him, till they had wrought his Cure. _Musæum Wormian. in Cyclopædia._