I. Conjectures on the charming or fascinating power attributed to the Rattle-Snake: grounded on credible accounts, experiments and observations

The various Relations not only of curious and credible Authors, who have given us Accounts of Virginia, Carolina, and the neighbouring Countries, but also the Testimonies of several Men of Integrity by word of Mouth, concerning what they call Charms, Inchantments or Fascinations by Snakes, have often seemed to me greatly surprizing, without my being able to satisfy myself of the true cause of such Appearances.