X APPENDIX. 



35 minutes Nothing, it seems to me, can more 



strongly demonstrate the extremely subtle and virulent nature 

 of the Cobra poison than these experiments. Nothing I think is 

 more significant of the improbability of anything proving to be 

 an antidote. If the poison find entry into the blood vessels, and 

 be carried to the nerve centres, I am inclined to believe that 

 nothing can prove of any avail, excepting in those cases when 

 the bite is imperfect, the quantity or the quality of the poison 

 diminished or deteriorated, or the snake itself is young, weak, 

 exhausted, or is one of a less poisonous family, such I believe are 

 the only cases in which recovery occurs, through the inherent 

 vigour of the animal or person bitten, perhaps aided by stimulants 

 and excitement." Thanatophidia, p. 97. 



Still more instructive is the third case I will now quote, " A 

 very large and vigorous pariah dog was bitten in the marginal 

 fold of integument between the thigh and abdomen, by a Cobra, 

 at 3-55 P.M. The part was immediately cut out with a bistoury, 

 the places where the fangs had penetrated being completely 

 removed. The instrument was at hand, and the operation was 

 done at once. Two seconds, not more, might have intervened 

 between the bites and the excision. At 4 p.m., some brandy was 

 poured down the dog's throat; 4-6, another dose of brandy 

 administered; 4-16, he is excited, and respiration hurried, perhaps 

 from the brandy ; 4-25, the dog is not yet affected by the poison ; 

 4-33, much the same, the breathing rather hurried ; 4-42, no 

 symptoms of poisoning except the hurried breathing, and that 

 may be from excitement; 4-47, more brandy given; 4-50, no 

 symptoms of poisoning yet; 5-10, vomited, shows symptoms of 

 being poisoned; 5-15, vomited again; 5-30, restless, breathing 

 hurriedly, abundant flow of saliva ; 6 p.m., slight convulsions, 

 breathing hurried ; 6-30, dead. Bitten at 3-55, dead at 6-30, in 

 two hours and 35 minutes. 



Here again the extraordinary virulence of the poison is shown. 

 The snake bit in a fold of skin, which was immediately excised 

 yet in the slight interval — it could not have been more than two 



