Note i — BOOK IX.
Reading edition
That Vipers have their great Uses in Physick, is manifest from their bearing a great Share in some of our best Antidotes, such as Theriaca Andromachi, and others; also in the Cure of the Elephantiasis, and others the like stubborn Maladies, for which I shall refer to the medical Writers. But there is so singular a Case in the curious Collection of Dr. Ol. Worm. related from Kircher, that I shall entertain the Reader with it. Near the Village of Sassa, about eight Miles from the City Bracciano in Italy, saith he, Specus feu caverna (vulgò La Grotta delli Serpi) duorum hominum capax, fistulosis quibusdam foraminibus in formam cribri perforata cernitur, ex quibus ingens quædam, principio veris, diversicolorum Serpentum, nullâ tamen, ut dicitur, singulari veneni qualitate imbutorum progenies quotannis pullulare solet. In hæc speluncâ Elephantiacos, Leprosos, Paralyticos, Arabriticos, Podagricos, &c. nudos exponere solent, qui mox halituum subterraneorum calore in sudorem resoluti, Serpentum propullulantium, totum corpus infirmi implicantium, suctu linctuque ita omni vitioso virulentoque humore privare dicuntur, ut repetito hoc per aliquod tempus medicamento, tandem perfecta sanitati restituantur. This Cave Kircher visited himself, found it warm, and every Way agreeable to the Description he had of it; he saw their Holes, heard a murmuring hissing Noise in them; but although he missed seeing the Serpents (it being not the Season of their creeping out) yet he saw great Numbers of their Exuviæ, or Sloughs, and an Elm growing hard by laden with them.
The Discovery of this Cave, was by the Cure of a Leper going from Rome to some Baths near this Place; who losing his Way, and being benighted, happened upon this Cave; and finding it very warm, pull’d off his Cloaths, and being weary and sleepy, had the good Fortune not to feel the Serpents about him, till they had wrought his Cure. Vid. Museum Worm. L. 3. c. 9.
The before-commended Dr. Mead, thinks our Physicians deal too cautiously and sparingly, in their prescribing only small Quantities of the Viper’s Flesh, &c. in the Elephantiasis, and stubborn Leprosies: But he recommendeth rather the Gelly or Broth of Vipers; or, as the ancient Manner was, to boil Vipers, and eat them like Fish; or at least to drink Wine, in which they have been long infused. Vid. Mead. ubi supr. p. 34.