132 BRITISH SERPENTS. 



that he was ' very much better, and the parts were not 

 so black.' When seen, however, this improvement 

 was found to be fallacious. There was less discolora- 

 tion, but except that his mind remained clear, all the 

 symptoms were aggravated. 



"From this time towards midnight he continued 

 much the same. Death occurred at 1 a.m. Con- 

 sciousness was retained almost up to the moment 

 of his decease. There had been no convulsions at 

 any time in the illness. 



" Naturally the main interest in this connection 

 is the determination of the exact type of reptile. 

 Presumably it belonged to the adder species. In 

 any case, the great weakness of the heart's action, 

 and the slowing of the breathing later, coupled with 

 the absence of mental disturbance markedly shown 

 throughout, are facts of great interest." 



The following letter appeared in the ' British 

 Medical Journal ' of July 29, 1893 :— 



" The case of fatal poisoning by snake - bite in 

 Glamorganshire, reported in the ' British Medical 

 Journal' of July 15, is of great interest, inasmuch 

 as authenticated instances where this injury has 

 terminated in death are extremely rare. Indeed 

 Professor Bell, in his work on British Reptiles, 

 expresses a doubt as to whether a fatality from this 

 cause has ever actually occurred, he having been 

 unable to trace any quoted case to a valid source. As 



