Among the many different creatures that live in the world around us, snakes occupy a special place; most people either love them or hate them. Through the ages snakes have inspired fear or love, have been cast as gods or devils, as living representations of good or evil, and have even been used as fantastic medicinal tools. Many of the supernatural beliefs concerning snakes have been progressively eroded over the years by a number of great scientists, much of whose work is described in this book.
The Subtle Beast introduces the reader to the complex and absorbing world of snakes, tracing a fascinating journey from the macroscopic features of snakes to the molecular components of their venom. As the book progresses the reader will bear witness as the snake sheds its mythical skin to emerge in the full splendour of its true self.

Among the many different creatures that live in the world around us, snakes occupy a special place; most people either love them or hate them. Through the ages snakes have inspired fear or love, have been cast as gods or devils, as living representations of good or evil, and have even been used as fantastic medicinal tools. Many of the supernatural beliefs concerning snakes have been progressively eroded over the years by a number of great scientists, much of whose work is described in this book.
The Subtle Beast introduces the reader to the complex and absorbing world of snakes, tracing a fascinating journey from the macroscopic features of snakes to the molecular components of their venom. As the book progresses the reader will bear witness as the snake sheds its mythical skin to emerge in the full splendour of its true self.

The Subtle Beast: Snakes, from Myth to Medicine traces a fascinating journey from the macroscopic features of snakes to the molecular description of venom components. The first chapters detail how snakes inspired fear and worship, served as sources of medicine, and represented good and evil throughout the ages. The remaining sections describe the scientific work that has eroded supernatural beliefs during the past three centuries. The book examines the origin, features, and classification of snakes, and also offers a precise description of snake venoms and their components. The final chapter discusses how venoms can be applied toward medicinal purposes.