SEA-SNAKES. 231 



Majesty's service, within an hour or two after 

 the bite of a Serpent which had been caught at 

 sea, and also to numerous experiments of his 

 own, in which fowls, fish, and other animals in- 

 variably died within a few minutes after the bite 

 had been inflicted."* 



Soon after the opening of the bar in October, 

 1815, reports prevailed at Madras, that a large 

 shoal of Sea-Snakes had entered the river, and 

 that many natives had been bitten while cross- 

 ing, and had died in consequence. A reward 

 was then offered for each specimen captured, 

 that should be brought to the Superintendent 

 of Police. Pandauls (or temporary hospitals ?) 

 were erected, opposite the two principal fords, 

 and skilful natives under the direction of Dr. 

 M'Kenzie, to whom we are indebted for the 

 account, were provided with eau-de-luce and 

 other remedies, and ordered to afford immediate 

 aid to those that were bitten. Many were 

 wounded, and all exhibited symptoms common 

 to those suffering from animal poisons ; but none 

 died. A native woman crossing near the custom- 

 house, was seen, on emerging from the stream, to 

 shake off some object from her foot, which to the 

 bystanders appeared to be a Water-Snake. After 

 proceeding a few paces, she fell down, and was 

 carried in a state of insensibility to the pandaul. 

 On examining her feet, two small but distinct 

 wounds were observed on the ankle of the right 

 leg ; her skin was cold, her face livid, her breath- 

 ing laborious, her pulse scarcely perceptible. A 

 ligature was immediately placed above the wound, 

 which had been previously enlarged with a lancet, 

 * " Proceedings of the Zoological Society," 1838, p. 80. 



