_Le Comte_’s Memoirs, p. 504. Experiments have been made upon Animals, as Pigeons, Chickens—that were bit by Serpents, which have been eaten without any manner of Hurt, or painful Sensation; yea, Serpents that were slain have been given to Dogs, who fed upon them without danger, or any uneasiness[72]. Footnote 72: Sr. _Redi_, p. 178. The _Circulatores_, or Dealers in Serpents, devour’d at their Tables even their Heads, and pour’d the Gall into their Cups when they drank, laughing at their Neighbours Timidity, who transform their Imaginations into Bug-bears. The Inhabitants of Mount _Athos_, between _Macedonia_ and _Thracia_, are called _Macrobii_, that is _Long-livers_, or long-liv’d; and their Longevity is attributed to their feeding on Viper’s Flesh, which is a most elegant Nutritive[73]. Footnote 73: _C. Gesner_, p. 76. The _Ethiopians_ are number’d among those who feed upon Serpents, as one valuable Branch of their sustenance. In the Kingdom of _Congo_ in _Africa_, the _Negroes_ roast the Adders, and not only greedily feed upon them, but esteem them as a most delicious Food[74]. Footnote 74: _Purchas Pilgrim_, Part ii. l. 7. _ST. HELENA_, one of the _African_ Islands, abounds with Serpents which the _Dutch_ eat as a greater Dainty than Eels[75]. We read of a Man who liv’d at _Colonia Agrippina_ in _Germany_, that fed upon Spiders, as the most delicate Dish.—_N. B._ This _Cologne_ is called _Agrippina_ from _Agrippina_ the Mother of _Nero_ (who poison’d _Claudius_ her own Husband, to make _Nero_ her Son Emperor) and would have the Town honoured with a _Roman_ Colony, as being the Place of her Birth[76]. Footnote 75: _Atl. Afric._ p. 741. Footnote 76: _Tacitus_’s Annals, Vol. 1. B. iv. In _Cuba_, an _American_ Island, they were pester’d with many sorts of Serpents, not so much from the ill Condition of the Soil, as by an old superstitious Whim of the Savages, who in former Times were not suffered to kill them, (this being a royal game, and a nice Dish reserved for the Higher Powers) and were not able afterwards to destroy them, when it would have been suffered[77]. Footnote 77: _Heylin_’s Cosmography, B. iv. p. 151. The _Kalmuck Tartars_ feed very much upon Snakes, Adders and Foxes——The _Syrians_ eat Crocodiles, which live on the Land only. _MITHRIDATE_, formerly one of the Capital Medicines in the Shops, has the Name from the Inventor, _viz._ _Mithridates_ King of _Pontus_, who being overcome by _Pompey_, would have poison’d himself; but no Poison would work upon him, having accustom’d himself to eat Poison; thus described in an old Doggrel Rhyme, _viz._ _King_ Mithridates _cou’d not poison’d be, He drinking Poison oft, grew Poison-free_. After King _Mithridates_ was vanquish’d, _Cneus Pompeius_ found in his Closet the following Receipt, against Poison, writ with his own Hand, in this Manner, _viz._