JOURNAL, BOMB. IV NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1890. 



In the study of Indian cattle crop up numbers of questions of 

 the utmost practical and theoretical importance into which I must 

 not enter here, but must ask you when you read in the newspapers 

 about traffic in hides, horns, bones, and hoofs, or concerning live 

 stock sales, the great fodder question, vaccination of cattle, inspection 

 of dairies, improvement of stock, cruelty to cart bullocks, cattle poi- 

 soning, ghee adulteration, meat markets, and murrains to take these 

 notices as evidences of the great part Indian cattle have in the wel- 

 fare of this grand and progressive country. 



CORRESPONDENCE. 



THE ECHIS CAJUNATA AND ITS ALLEGED ANTIDOTE. 



Sir, — -The appalling statistics of the mortality from the bite of the above snake, 

 brought to notice by Mr. G. W. Vidal, C. S., at the recent meeting of the Bombaj 

 Natural History Society, make one shudder. It is to be hoped that Mr. Vidal 

 will continue his interesting narrative, and let us have some authentic information 

 on the supposed antidote discovered by a medical officer at the above civil station. 

 In the interim please allow me to say a few words anent the " bite of the echis 

 carinata and the antidote." 



The bite from the echis (phursa or Jcapar) produces peculiar symptoms to any 

 other of the ophidian venenose family ; its virus liquefies, while the others 

 coagulate the blood. Besides, a severe bite from an echis causes excessive 

 haemorrhage from the part bitten, from the gums, and from any eruption that may 

 be on the body. Death ensues from continuous bleeding, and, I am told, is 

 accelerated when ammonia is administered. Of course, I am open to correction. 



Mr. Vidal, C. S., is doubtless aware that there exists a shrub — Pogostemoii 

 purpuricaulis — on the Western Ghats and at Poona, the root of which, if masti- 

 cated, and also if applied to the punctured part like a plaster, it will almost 

 instantly allay the haemorrhage, in fact, I have learnt, it acts like a styptieal charm, 

 but only in case of the echis ? Has the root been tried, if so, what has been the 

 result? I have not seen Dr. Dymock's book on Indian Botany; perhaps the 

 properties of this apparently valuable medical plant has been fully noticed by him. 

 Mr. G. Carstenseu, of the Victoria Gardens, will be able to further enlighten us 

 most probably ? 



The Poyostemon jmrpuricaulis — after a great deal of trouble (qv. Asian, 29th 

 October last) — I find to have a number of alias's or pet names, so commonly 



