Snakes. Delhi 291 



circumstances, even when excision is immediately 

 resorted to, settle any affairs you have to settle in 

 this world as quickly as possible, if bitten by a full- 

 grown cobra or tik-polanga" 



Snake poison is essentially a neurotic ; and when 

 it takes full effect it kills by annihilating in some 

 unknown way the source of nerve force. The poison 

 enters the circulation, and so reaches the nerve-centres. 

 If it finds entry by a large vein life may be destroyed 

 in a few moments ; as a rule it is a case of from two 

 to four hours. The blood itself appears to be affected 

 by the poison, which is also an irritant and causes 

 violent inflammation. 



A man in the vigour of life is stricken down in a 

 moment, and his life ebbs away. A thick cord, about 

 twice as thick as a lead pencil, is wound and tied 

 round the limb as tightly as it can be fastened, above 

 the bitten place ; at the same time, the tiny wound 

 itself is burnt with a hot iron or lanced, in order to 

 promote bleeding. The patient must never be allowed 

 to lie on his back, nor to sleep, nor eat ; he should 

 keep moving as long as possible. But in spite of the 

 ligature and cauterisation, the poison works its way ; 

 choking in the throat and terrible pains follow, the 

 eyes grow dim, and then, happily, unconsciousness 

 usually ensues. Breathing becomes more difficult, and 

 convulsions precede death. 



Such is the extraordinary effect of the poison. .The 

 blood, after one little injection of it, assumes an 

 absolutely inky hue. Speaking of the <c little injection," 



