630 OPHIDIA CHAP. 



also made, and used, in Mexico, of charred hartshorn ; they are 

 called " piedras ponsonas." 



The use of the Snake-stone, called " Pamboo-Kaloo," has prob- 

 ably been communicated to the Singhalese by the itinerant 

 snake-charmers who resort to the island from the coast of 

 Coromandel. 



Although Sir E. Tennent describes several instances of 

 the successful application of snake-stones as well authenticated, 

 he has never himself been an eye-witness. Although two cases 

 have been fully described, they do not at all exclude the possi- 

 bility, nay the probability, that the Tamils imposed upon the 

 Europeans in order to sell the snake-stones. 



" No doubt the snake-stones, owing to their porous nature, 

 adhered to the bleeding wound, became saturated with blood, 

 and then fell off. Very likely, in case of a poisonous bite, some 

 of the venom would be sucked up too, but we do not know if 

 those snakes were still in the possession of their poison-fangs. 

 Properly conducted experiments with snake-stones have proved 

 as little efficacious as the application of dry cup. 



" Theoretically snake-stones as quick absorbent agents of the 

 blood with the poison are good ; they will certainly prevent 

 some of the poison from entering the system, but that would, at 

 best, be a partial cure only. 



"In March 1854 a friend of mine was riding, with some 

 other civil officers of the Government, along a jungle path in 

 the vicinity of Bintenne, when he saw one of two Tamils, who 

 were approaching the party, suddenly dart into the forest and 

 return, holding in both hands a Cobra de capello, which he had 

 seized by the head and tail. He called to his companion for 

 assistance to place it in their covered basket, but in doing this, 

 he handled it so inexpertly that it seized him by the finger, and 

 retained its hold for a few seconds, as if unable to retract its 

 fangs. The blood flowed, and intense pain appeared to follow 

 almost immediately ; but with all expedition the friend of the 

 sufferer undid his waist-cloth, and took from it two snake-stones, 

 each of the size of a small almond, intensely black and highly 

 polished, though of an extremely light substance. These he 

 applied, one to each wound inflicted by the teeth of the serpent, 

 to which they attached themselves closely ; the blood that oozed 

 from the bites being rapidly imbibed by the porous texture of 



