232 OPHIDIA. HYDROPHID^. 



and a piece of carbonate of ammonia, well moist- 

 ened Avith pure nitric acid, applied ; while thirty 

 di'ops of eau-de-luce were administered nearly at 

 the same time in a glass of water. In five 

 minutes a similar dose was poured down her 

 throat, which seemed to increase the spasmodic 

 action of the chest, but the pulse at the wrist 

 became distinct, though feeble. A third dose 

 w^as given in three minutes more, on which she 

 uttered a scream, and began to breathe more 

 freely. Ten minutes had now elapsed since she 

 had been brought to the pandaul, and in about 

 three minutes more a teaspoonful of eau-de-luce 

 was given, which almost immediately produced 

 violent nausea, and profuse perspiration. When 

 a little salt was put into her mouth, she declared 

 that it was not salt, but sugar : and this the 

 natives deemed an infallible sign of still continued 

 danger. She soon, however, entirely recovered, 

 and merely complained for three or four days of 

 a numbness in the limb, above the wound. 



Another case is recorded by a Lascar, who was 

 bitten while in the midst of the river ; the symp- 

 toms and the treatment were similar to the above ; 

 he also recovered, but complained for several 

 days, that he had no left leg. 



The consideration of the HydrophidcE naturally 

 suggests an allusion to an animal of great size, 

 and serpent-like form, beheved to inhabit the 

 ocean, and commonly spoken of as the Great Sea- 

 Serpent. For ages the conviction of its existence 

 has prevailed among the inhabitants of Norway; 



