CONSEQUENCES OF BEING BITTEN. IQI 
the delicate membranes of the eyes. Several cases have come 
under my observation of total and permanent blindness ensuing 
after the entry of the venom into the eyes. As a general rule, the 
sight is either wholly recovered or partially so. I have known 
several instances of Europeans and natives who partially re- 
covered their sight, and after two or three months the cornea of 
the eye became opaque and the sight was permanently lost. I 
met a miserable-looking, blind old Hottentot one day, and on 
inquiry, his friends informed me that about twenty years ago a 
Ringhals spat in his eyes and blinded him. I noticed the corneas 
of his eyes were opaque. 
It is quite a common occurrence for dogs to lose the sight of 
one or both eyes. When out in the veld one day, my pointer dog 
became suddenly rigid and “‘ pointed.”’ Advancing to investigate, 
a Ringhals reared up, lunged forward, and the next instant the 
dog was running about and crying out most piteously. I did not 
know in those days what to do in such emergencies, so I got the 
dog home as best I could, but the poor beast never recovered his 
sight. 
On another occasion I lost a pointer dog, but this time a 
Ringhals bit him in the flank. He was dead in half an hour. 
The Ringhals died, too, for I shot his head off. 
CONSEQUENCES OF BEING BITTEN. 
If an adult Ringhals bite a man, and if the bite be full and 
complete, and no efficient antidotal measures be immediately 
taken, death is certain to take place, even if the person 
bitten be hale and healthy. A Ringhals is capable of in- 
jecting five to ten drops of venom at a time. One drop will kill a 
man. 
The fangs of the Ringhals, like those of the Cape Cobra, are 
grooved and short, and if one of these reptiles bite a man through 
his trousers, a certain amount of the venom will probably be 
absorbed by the cloth. In other cases, only one fang inflicts a 
wound, or the fangs may barely scratch the skin. In these 
instances recovery is very probable, even if no preventive measures 
be taken. Many worthless substances obtain a bogus reputation 
- as antidotes in consequence. 
