In the 1840's A. Dorkin published a catalogue of the "natural curiosities" in the Suffolk Museum. The original notes on some of the bats included in the catalogue were given in White Admiral 42. The original notes on two more of the "curiosities" from Dorkins' catalogue are given here. My own comments are added in italics below each note.
Vipers are found in many parts of this island, but the dry stony, and particularly chalky countries, abound with them. The four canine teeth are placed, two on each side the upper jaw; these instruments of poison are long, crooked, and moveable, and can be raised and depressed at pleasure; they are hollow from the point to their base, near which is a gland that secretes, prepares, and lodges the poison; and the same action that gives the wound, forces from the gland through the tooth, the fatal juice into it. The symptoms of the venom, if the wound is neglected, are very terrible; it first causes an acute pain in the place affected, attended with a swelling, first red, afterwards livid; which by degrees spreads to neighbouring parts, great faintness and sickness of the stomach, bilious, convulsive vomiting, and cold sweats; and in consequence of these, death itself. But the violence of the symptoms depends much on the size or age of the animals, or depth or situation of the wound. The most certain remedy for its bite is olive oil, applied to the wound; and a quantity taken inwardly; some recommend salad oil. (The Common Viper or Adder is now known as Vipera berus. Although the bite is extremely painful it very seldom caused the death of human beings - unless injected directly into the blood stream. If bitten, try not to panic and get hospital treatment as soon as possible. NEVER apply a tourniquet or try and cut the wound. The fangs of an adder are not considered to be canines today. They frequently break and are replaced, and are only 3-4mm long.)
The motion of this Serpent is slow, from which, and from the smallness of its eyes are derived its names: like others of the genus it lies torpid during Winter. Dr. Berlase mentions a variety of this Serpent, with a pointed tail, and adds that a man lost his life by the bite of one in Oxfordshire. I am inclined to think it was the Black Viper, for it is believed there is not Serpent poisonous in England excepting the viper.
(Luckily deaths from black, or any other colour form of viper are very rare. I have never known a Slow Worm to bite at all. A rather unusual use of the term "genus" here. I wonder what the writer had in mind?)
Geoff Heathcote