16 OUR REPTILES. 



any language but their own ; the cause of cachin- 

 nation is the same, simple ignorance." * 



Whether " snake-stones ' be the true Bezoar or the 

 factitious animal charcoal, the principal of action is 

 much the same; both are absorbents, and both 

 chiefly consist of phosphate of lime. The first ob- 

 ject appears to be inducing the blood to flow freely 

 to the wound, and then the remedy is applied. It 

 is very much like sucking out the poison ; and, of 

 course, the sooner this is done after the wound is in- 

 flicted the better. After the virus becomes dissemi- 

 nated through the blood, it is useless to suck at the 

 portal by which it entered. In cases of poisoning 

 by the bite of a viper, cupping, and the application 

 of leeches have been effectual ; such remedies, how- 

 ever, would be insufficient against the poison of the 

 more noxious tropical reptiles. 



We are not aware that the " stones " alluded to are 

 worn as charms, amulets, or preservatives against 

 the bites of venomous serpents, but such things are 

 not uncommon in Eastern countries. As the teeth 

 of a tiger are sometimes worn as a charm against 

 attack from that animal, so perhaps the fangs of a 

 serpent may be regarded as a preservative against 

 the venom of serpents themselves. It is a current 

 belief amongst the natives in some countries w T here 



* The Zoologist, p. 6983. 



