In the folklore of the Gauls and Germans the white snake, when boiled, was considered to have the attribute of conferring wisdom in medicine. The white snake was also venerated by the Scottish highlanders, as well as by certain Arabian tribes, as a mighty agent and the king of all serpents. Following this thought into America, let us learn what the Indians believe in this respect. The general idea among them is that it brings happiness. Professor Agassiz tells us that he found the Maues Indians, who live in Brazil, whenever they assign a form to any _remedio_, give it that of a serpent. Among the Lenape Indians their famous doctors were called “big snakes.” We must not forget to look into Holy Writ for the symbolical influence and intelligence of the serpent in the history of the fall of man, where it is stated, “Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field.” In the story of the Exodus we have many allusions to the serpent as a power for deliverance. Aaron’s serpent rod is an instance. Also during the wanderings in the wilderness Moses placed a brazen serpent on a pole in the midst of the camp, which was preserved for many centuries, until the days of Hezekiah, when it was broken to pieces because it became an object of worship and tended to turn the people from their true God. During the Christian era the serpent was employed to signify the virtue of prudence and wisdom; the disciples were admonished, “Be ye wise as serpents.” In the Latin church of the early days the pastoral staff terminated at the top with a serpent, indicating power and wisdom. Whatever element of superstition or imagination may have been injected into these stories of mythology and the legends of more recent times, there is a wonderful history hidden behind them, all of which permeates the whole human race. Man in his primitive state and in his more civilized life believes there was a superior power for good, and his mind, requiring a material expression of that unseen source, used the serpent as a symbol of power and wisdom. Without this the rod of Esculapius would be impotent over disease and the wand of Mercury would have no authority over trade or commerce. The cultured Greeks, therefore, having great respect for the healing art, honored it with the most significant and expressive symbol of the highest attributes conducive to the welfare of the race.