Note 218 — PHARMACOLOGIA. ON THE OPERATIONS OF MEDICINAL BODIES, AND ON THE CLASSIFICATIONS FOUNDED ON THEM. (continued 2)

The introduction of poisons into the body through the medium of the circulation of the blood is frequently alluded to by the physiologists of the seventeenth century. I have lately met with a curious passage in a work entitled “Popular Errours in Physick, first written in Latine by the learned physitian, James Penrose, Doctor in Physick. London, 1651.” “The venome is carried by the veines and arteries, as appeares in that all the blood of them that have been bitten by a viper doth turne into a pale greennesse. And seeing that the veines in the papps are so very slender, and doe not come unto the heart, but with a great many long windings, I affirme, and it is more probable, that if the viper be applyed to the feet, which are farthest remote from the heart, it will sooner infect the heart than if to the papps, but soonest of all if it be applied to the armes. And now the story of Cleopatra comes to my minde. Petrus Victorius blames the painters, that paint Cleopatra applying the aspe to her papps, seeing it is manifest out of Plutarch in the life of Antonius, and out of Plinie likewise, that she applyed it to her arme. Zonaras relates that there appeared no signe of death upon her, save two blew spots on her arme. Cæsar also in her statue which he carryed in triumph, applyed the aspe to her arme; for in the armes there are great veines and arteries, which doe quickly, and in a straight way convey the venome to the heart, whereas in the papps the vessels are slender. And therefore in Saint Paul the miracle was so much the greater, in that he felt no harme from the viper, which layd hold on his hand, for if it had assailed him on the breast, he had had respite enough to take some antidote.”