362 VENOMS 
On an average, therefore, nearly three cobras are necessary to 
furnish 1 gramme of dry venom, since freshly collected venom 
weighs more, owing to the proportion of water contained in it, 
which is greater than half the total weight. Thus the quantity 
of fresh venom extracted from an average cobra may be estimated 
at about 80 centigrammes. It may be added that the product of the 
glands differs considerably in appearance, according as it is derived 
from a dead or living snake. In the former case it takes the form 
of extremely small, glistening lamellæ, of a golden-yellow colour, 
similar in appearance, when in bulk, to iodoform. Venom extracted 
from the living snake, on the other hand, is of an amber-brown 
colour, and forms much larger lamelle, which are translucent and 
slightly elongate, resembling particles of gum arabic. When the 
product is impure and mixed with a small quantity of blood, it 
has a dull appearance, and is of a dark, dirty brown, almost black 
colour. 
At the Pondicherry Hospital venom is collected in the following 
manner :! 
The snake is brought by the snake-charmer in a chatty, 
a kind of earthern pot, covered with a rag, or half a calabash. 
Ensconced at the bottom of this receptacle, the reptile has a 
difficulty in making up its mind to emerge, which it does only 
after having been stirred up several times. Once it is outside 
the charmer forces the cobra to uncoil, and, while the animal is 
moving slowly along, fastens it to the ground by placing the end 
of a bamboo on its neck, quite close to the head. The Indian 
then cautiously seizes the head of the cobra with his forefinger 
and thumb, and, with a rapid movement, throws it into a jar pre- 
pared for the purpose, containing a few tampons of absorbent wool 
impregnated with chloroform. As soon as the snake is inside, an 
assistant quickly slips a metal plate over the opening of the jar 
and presses his hand firmly down upon it. In a few minutes the 
! The photographs, by which this note was accompanied, are reproduced in 
Chapter IV. of this volume, pp. 155, 157, 158. 
