A t the point o f the fling he very often could difcern a fmall drop o f
white liquor, which when the wound was made, entered into the flefh.
A s this liquid venom is either not feparated from the blood into the
cavity o f the fling, during the cold o f winter, or at leaft the Scorpion
wants ftrength at that time to throw it out with force and energy ; fo,
even in the hot months, after it is exhaufted by two or three attacks,
the fling, is no longer hurtful, till the expend o f this juice is recruited
by time.
T i s very remarkable concerning this infod, what an ingenious
gentleman^ who lived lèverai years in Barbary, told me he had many
times tried, that if it be forrounded with a circle o f burning coals, it
does, upon the fenfe o f the heat, turn irfolf violently every way to make
an efoape 5 but finding it impoffible, and the pain from the fire increasing,
it ftrikes itfelf twice or thrice with the fling on the back:, and
immediately dies o f the wounds.
A s the viperine venom is the quinteffence, and mod adive part o f
thole animal juices with which the Viper is nourifhed, fo is alfo that o f
the Scorpion 5 for this infod lives chiefly upon locufts, & c . And the-
fame perfon from Barbary inform’d me, that foeing oftentimes locufts
flicking up in the ground, as i f they were let there, by looking, he found
that fome part o f them was always eat away, and that thofe places
were the holes o f Scorpions, who had dragg’d their prey thither, and fed
on it as they had occafion-
I n like manner as the amngia viperina cures the bite o f the Viper*
fo alfo the oleum Scorpionum, or oil in which Scorpions have been in-
fufod, is a prefent remedy for the fling o f this creature..
Obferv