REPTILES AND .SNAKE-STONES. \\ 



in themselves perfectly useless, and derived their 

 reputation in a great measure from their external 

 resemblance in form to the sinuous or coiled reptile. 

 In many others they are only stimulant or tonic. 



The most notable of remedies is the snake stone, 

 not only because of the wonderful powers ascribed 

 to it, but also on account of the belief still enter- 

 tained, even by many Europeans, of its marvellous 

 curative properties. There is some confusion with 

 regard to it, on account of its numerous imitations. 

 The true snake-stone of the East is undoubtedly a 

 kind of Bezoar or biliary concretion found in the 

 stomach of various animals. Factitious Bezoars are 

 generally either of calcined bone, gypsum, or other 

 absorbent material. The Zuhr Mohra or Zeher 

 Morah, as it is called in India, is a kind of Bezoar 

 celebrated in Eastern works as a remedy for snake- 

 bites, hydrophobia, &c, and Dr. Ainslie says it is 

 supposed by the Hindoos to possess sovereign 

 virtues as an external application in cases of snake- 

 bites or stings of scorpions ; and its various Oriental 

 names imply that it destroys poisons. Dr. Davy, on 

 examining what are called snake-stones in India, 

 found them to be Bezoars. The same kind of 

 substance is known in the island of Ceylon under 

 the name of Pamboo Kaloo. Berthollet mentions 

 eight kinds of Bezoar, which are chiefly phosphates. 

 These were deemed efficacious not only when taken 



