tqz On the Care ofVerfons bitten 



peated every eight or ten minutes, till a fmall phialful was 

 expended : it was near two hours before it could be faid he 

 was- out of danger. A numbnefs and pricking fenfation was 

 perceived extending itfelf up to the knee, where a ligature 

 was applied fo tight as to (lop the returning venous blood, 

 •which Teemingly checked the progrcfs of the deleterious poi- 

 fun. The foot and leg, up to where the ligature was made, 

 were ftiff and painful for feveral days, and, which appeared 

 very (Ingular, were covered with a branny fcale. 



The above was the ffrfl cafe in which I tried the efre6ts of 

 the volatile alkali, and, apprehending that the elTential oils 

 in the compofition of Eau de Luce, though made of the 

 llrong cauftic volatile fpirit, would confiderably diminiHi its 

 powers, I was induced, the next opportunity that offered, 

 to try the effeds of pure volatile cauftic alkali fpirit, and ac- 

 cordingly prepared Ibnic from quicklime and the fal ammo- 

 niac of this country. 



ir. In July 1782, a woman of the Brahmen caft, who 

 lived in my neighbourhood at Chunar, was bitten by a Co- 

 bra de Capello between the thumb and fore-finger of her 

 right hand. Prayers and fuperfiitious incantations were 

 praclifcd by the Brahmens about her, till (lie became fpccch- 

 lefs and convulfcd, with locked jaws, and a profufe difcharge 

 of faliva running from her mouth. On being informed of 

 tlic accident, I immediately fcnt a fcrvant with a bottle of 

 the volatile cauftic alkali fpirit, of which he poured about a 

 tea-fpoonful, mixed with water, down her throat, and applied 

 Ibme of it to the part bitten. The dofe was repeated a few 

 minutes after, when flie was evidently better, and in about 

 half an hour was perfeftly recovered. 



This accident happened in a fmall hut, where I faw the 

 fnake, which was a middle-fized Cobra de Capello. The 

 Brahmens would not allow it to be killed. In the above 

 cafe, no other means whatever were ufed for the recovery of 

 the patient than are here recited. 



III. A wcman-fervant in the family of a gentleman at 



Benares, 



