156 VENOMS 



hold of anything. lu this way the most powerful snake is per- 

 fectly under control. 



At Pondicherry, where is collected the greater portion of the 

 venom of Naja ti-ipudians used by me for the vaccination of the 

 horses that produce antivenomous serum, it is customary to chloro- 

 form the snakes in order to render them easier to manipulate. 



The reptile is placed in a large covered jar, containing a pad 

 of absorbent wool impregnated with chloroform (hgs. 86, 87), and 

 in a few minutes it is stupefied. It is then grasped by the neck 

 with the hands, and the edge of a plate is slipped between its jaws. 

 On compressing the two poison-glands with the fingers, the venom 

 dribbles out on to the plate. 



A detailed description of this technique will be found in a note 

 kindly drawn up for me by my friend Dr. Gouzien, late head of the 

 Medical Staff of the French Settlements in India, and reproduced 

 further on in the section of this book devoted to documents. 

 The note in question was accompanied by figs. 17, 18, 19, 86, 87, 

 and 88, which are reproduced from photographs, for which I am 

 indebted to the kindness of M. Geracki, Engineer of the Savanna 

 Spinning Mill at Pondicherry, Dr. Lhomme, and M. Serph, Assistant 

 Surgeon-Dispenser. 



The collection of the venom having been completed, the snake 

 is put back into its cage again, the tail and the body being intro- 

 duced first, and then the head. The hd or trap-door is half closed 

 with the left hand, and, with a quick forward thrust, the right hand 

 releases its grasp of the reptile and is immediately withdrawn ; 

 at the same time the left hand completes the closure of the cage. 

 The snake is temporarily dazed, as though stunned, and it is only 

 after the lapse of a moment that it thinks of darting open-mouthed 

 at the walls of its prison. 



When it is desired to procure large quantities of venom, as is 

 indispensable in laboratories where antivenomous serum is j)re- 

 pared, the endeavour must be made to keep the snakes alive for 

 the longest possible time. It then becomes necessary to resort 



