2 ON THE XATUKE AND ACTION OF THE 



4th. To ascertain and make known the actual state of our 

 information in connection with these three points of inquiry, 

 and to substitute scientific and rational knowledge for vague, 

 empirical, and dangerous theories. 



He has had the honour of submitting a copy of this work to 

 the Eoyal Society ; and it is therefore unnecessary to occupy 

 its time by repeating much of what is therein related on tlie 

 1st, the 3rd, and part of the 4th heads. 



But on that which is involved in the 2nd, and partly in the 

 4th, much is still required to be done ; and therefore on the 

 question of the nature and physiological action of the virus on 

 life, and the application of that knowledge in the treatment of 

 those poisoned, the following investigations have been made. 



That the subject is one of interest in a purely scientific as 

 well as sanitary point of view we believe will be admitted ; for 

 it is as important to humanity as to science that the nature 

 and properties of a poison which, in India alone, probably 

 destroys over 20,000 human beings annually should be 

 determined. 



We are aware that these figures may excite astonishment 

 and even mistrust ; but the sources from which the informa- 

 tion is derived place it, we thhik, beyond a doubt, being derived 

 from official returns for the year 1869, supplied to Dr. Fayrer 

 by the Government of India. 



He has received reports from Bengal, the North-west 

 Provinces, Punjaub, Oude, Central Provinces, Central India, 

 Eajpootana, British Burmah, showing the loss of life from 

 snake-poisoning in those provinces in the year 1869. 



These records represent, it is true, only a portion of India, as 

 the Madras and Bombay Presidencies, as well as other parts of 

 India, are not included. Had similar information been 

 obtained from these provinces, the list of mortahty would 

 doubtless have been much larger; as it is, the number of 

 deaths is perfectly appalling, and the subject merits considera- 

 tion, with the view of providing, if possible, some remedy. 



He has roughly classified the deaths under the headings of 

 the snakes that inflicted the fatal wound ; but the records are 

 rather vague on this point, and the information not perhaps 



