Snakes* Delhi 297 



was from the great swelling and pressure of the two 

 ligatures. At the same time an escharotic was applied. 

 About an hour after he was bitten, Jahm said he 

 felt intoxicated, his eyelids began to droop, and he 

 staggered when walking. He was kept moving by 

 my brother-in-law, but he began to speak with diffi- 

 culty, being inclined to choke. Ammonia was injected 

 into his left arm, and at first it roused him wonderfully ; 

 but pain was by this time shooting up the right arm 

 and extending all over the body. His pulse beat 

 steadily, and he was perfectly conscious. His relations 

 were all sent for. The paralytic symptoms increased, 

 and he could no longer walk, however much he was 

 helped. Choking became worse, and it was impossible 

 for him to speak. My brother-in-law injected a 

 second dose of ammonia, but it roused him less ; after 

 which his legs became paralysed and his breathing 

 more difficult. Artificial respiration was resorted to. 

 The poor fellow died four hours 'from the time he 

 was bitten. 



But snakes are not all evil, and they fill an important 

 place in the animal world. Out in India their beautiful 

 shape helps them to penetrate into dense and noisome 

 morasses where no other flesh-eating animal could find 

 footing, and they clear miles upon miles of jungle, bog, 

 and swamp of swarms of lesser vermin which would 

 otherwise die and produce pestilences ; while they are 

 themselves food for badgers, weasels, rats, hedgehogs, 

 hogs, and goats. 



A snake belonging to Mr. Thomas Bell, F.L.S., 



