Snakes did not acquire their poison for use against man but for use against prey such as rat s and mice, and the effects on these of viperine poison is almost immediate.

• 蛇不是为了对付人需要毒液，而是为了对付像家鼠野鼠这样的猎物，蛇毒对他们的效果几乎立竿见影。