Volume 1

Treatise on the venom of the viper; on the American poisons; and on the cherry laurel, and some other vegetable poisons. To which are annexed, observations on the primitive structure of the animal body; different experiments on the reproduction of the nerves; and a description of a new canal of the eye ... / Translated from the original French of Felix Fontana ... by Joseph Skinner.

  • Felice Fontana
Date:
1787
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Treatise on the venom of the viper; on the American poisons; and on the cherry laurel, and some other vegetable poisons. To which are annexed, observations on the primitive structure of the animal body; different experiments on the reproduction of the nerves; and a description of a new canal of the eye ... / Translated from the original French of Felix Fontana ... by Joseph Skinner. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    63/454 (page 37)
    I did not fiop here, but fearing that the venom might have been enveloped and deadened by the glutinous humour of the leeches, which oozes out in sjreater abundance the moment the tooth of the viper has pierced the fkin, I made deep wounds iii feveral with a blftoury and with fciflars, and poured into them large drops of the venom. I introduced into the bodies of others, bits of tow moiftened wuth the venom, and paffed quite through, and this method, which I had alw'ays found mortal when tnied on other animals, was quite without effedt on this occafion, fince neither of the leeches died. I preferved for feveral months, in glaffes filled w'ith water, parts of leeches quite alive. Each of thefe pieces preferved the motions there, that it polTef- led when united with the other part of tht body. I had feveral of thefe bit by vipers, and made notches in others, paffing into them bits of tow fleeped in the venom : neitlier of them died. They pieferved all their motions, and did not feem at all incommoded. The leech then has the ])ro- perty of refilling the venom of the viper, whieh is quite innocent to it. I afterwards wifhed to try what \vould be the effedt of the venom of the viper, on fnails and flugs. I procured the largeft of them, and of difFcrcnt kinds. I had fome of them bit in feveral parts of the body, and by feveral vipers. 1 likewife made incifions, into which I introduced the venom., taking good care before hand to w'ij)e off the glu- tinous matter that covers them, that the poifon D 3 niight