A Mechanical Account of Poisons in Several Essays

"A Mechanical Account of Poisons in Several Essays" by Richard Mead is an early 18th-century scientific book that examines different poisons and how they work. Through a set of essays, the book considers the mechanical features of poisons and their effects on the human body. It focuses on poisonous animals like vipers and how their venom works, using scientific observation instead of old superstitions. At the beginning, the writer shares his aim to explain poisons better than others have before. In the introduction, Mead thinks about how hard it is to understand poisons, focusing on the need for mechanical thinking to unravel their secrets. He starts with an essay about vipers, noting their symbolic meaning as dangers and punishments. The essay shares what happens after someone is bitten by a viper and how important venom is for the viper to live, leading to a detailed look at how venom interacts with the human body, its effects, and possible treatments.