THE POISONOUS TERRESTRIAL 



SNAKES OF OUR BRITISH INDIAN 



DOMINIONS AND HOW TO 



RECOdNISE THEM. 



( Reprinted from papers ivhich appeared in the Bombay Natural 



History Journal hy special request of ths Inspector- General 



of Civil Hospitals, Central Provinces, and others.) 



By Major F. Wall, I.M.S.. C.M.Z.S. 



Introductory Eemarks. 



During the last decade a vast advancement incur knowledge of 

 snake venoms lias been acquired, both in the province of toxicology 

 and in the all-important one of therapeutics. 



Whilst many observers have been engaged in the intricate, laborious, 

 and minute researches connected with the investigation of the toxic 

 properties of various venoms, very little, if any, advance has been 

 achieved in that equally important and sister branch of the subject 

 which deals with the identification of snakes, and especially with the 

 distinction of the poisonous from the non-poisonous varieties. 



In the treatment of snake-bite these two fields, though very distinct, 

 are mutually interdependent. It is of little use to have the knowledge 

 derived from one set of investigators at one's finger's ends, and its 

 fruits — viz., antivenene — to hand in all our hospitals, if the medical 

 attendant is incompetent to recognise a poisonous snake. It is only this 



