566 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXII. 



Although cobra venom does not directly depress the heart, other 

 influences are very likely to affect that organ in cases of cobra 

 poisoning. Pain, fright, and cold are all powerful depressants 

 to cardiac activity, and may seriously endanger life. It is most 

 essential therefore in treating cobra poisoning to look for any 

 tendency to faintness, and treat this vigorousl) 7 . Antivenene of 

 unquestionable activity, administered intravenously in adequate 

 doses cannot be expected to save a patient who is suffering from 

 cardiac weakness due to non-toxic causes. A feeble or rapid 

 pulse, with cold body surface, specially noticeable in the extremities, 

 and a subnormal temperature are though silent, vociferous appeals 

 from an inarticulate subject for vigorous stimulation of the heart. 

 The non-professional attendant can do much in such cases. He 

 can subdue if not actually relieve pain by hot fomentations. He 

 can apply friction with powdered ginger or mustard to various 

 parts of the body in turn, whilst the rest of the body is covered up 

 with blankets, and can pursue this course until eight or a dozen 

 hot water bottles can be filled, when they should be wrapped in 

 flannel garments or blankets, and applied all round the patient. 

 He can give hot stimulating drinks, such as coffee, bovril, etc., if 

 the patient can swallow. These should be given in small quantities 

 (half a coffee-cupful or so) every ten minutes. Alcohol should not 

 be given. He can further seek to gain the patient's confidence, 

 allay his fears, and reassure him as to his fate. Possibly the 

 neglect of attention to syncope has been responsible for the dis- 

 appointing results of antivenene as shown in the table above. 



Freaks. — Albinism is a very rare freak in reptiles, and the only 

 albined cobra I have heard of is the one mentioned by Tennent* in 

 his book on Ceylon. Melanism, on the other hand, is a common 

 condition in snakes, and, as already mentioned, I regard the black 

 cobras usually classified iinder variety cceca as melanotic specimens 

 of variety typica. Double-headed snakes are rareties, but a fair 

 number have been collected in various Institutions. The Indian 

 Museum owns a double-headed cobra (an example of anterior 

 dichotomy) presented by the Nawab of Dacca. 



Lepidosis. — Rostral — Touches 6 shields ; the rostro-internasal 

 sutures much the largest. Intemasals — Two ; in contact with pra3- 

 oculars ; the suture between them less than that between the 

 prefrontal fellows, much less than the internaso-prasfrontals. 

 Prefrontals. — Two ; in contact with the internasals, prasoculars, and 

 supraoculars ; the suture between them greater than the prasfronto 

 frontal. Frontal. — Touches 6 shields ; the fronto-supraocular 

 sutures about twice the fronto-parietals. Supraocular — Longer than, 

 but about as broad as the frontal. Nasals — Two ; in contact with 



* Vol. l. P . 192. 



