J 12 SHI JOSEPH FAYREE, K.C.S.i.., ETC., 



Mr. Leonard, I think, spoke of the action of Government in 

 dealing with this important question of snake-bite. I am sure no 

 one would do more to recognise, or to do justice to the Govern- 

 ment of India than I would, and if I appear to criticise it, it is not 

 because I think they have not done enough, but because I think 

 their efforts have not always been well directed. When you find 

 in one place all attempts to do any thing repudiated as useless, and 

 elsewhere a good deal done, there is a want of consistency. I am 

 satisfied that if sustained efforts were made to destroy these 

 creatures the evil would, to a great extent, be remedied ; and that 

 there can be any difficulty in recognising the poisonous snakes I 

 cannot believe — for anyone who runs may read. I can imagine 

 that here and there you may find one snake looks like another, 

 but the moment you investigate you can distinguish the venomous 

 from the innocent. And if an organised and a systematic attempt 

 were made to desti-oy the creatures, it would be beneficial. 



I do not agree with Dr. Beatson, that they breed snakes. It 

 would be far too costly, but money is wasted in giving it away for 

 innocent snakes. It is easy to recognise the four or live kinds 

 that do mischief.- — I am convinced that the evil might be mitigated. 

 That poisonous snakes could be exterminated altogether I have 

 never suggested, nor do I believe it ; but the death rate from snake 

 bite might be brought down from tens of thousands to a much lower 

 number. I am glad to see that the returns from India show the 

 desire to do something. They have said " We will not pay more 

 money for snakes ; but we will cut down all the jungles round 

 the villages." That would do if all lived there ; but they do 

 not. Any efforts made I recognise with gratitude ; but I do not 

 think the authorities have always quite realised the necessity as 

 much as they might have done. 20,000 or 25,000 deaths from 

 snake-bite may not seem so great a number out of 250,000,000 

 people, but it is one in ten thousand or twelve thousand, and 

 if we had such a proportion in this country we should certainly 

 cry out about it. 



I was interested in what Surgeon- General Cornish said. It has 

 never been quite clear to me what amount of mortality is due to the 

 Echis. I know it is a very deadly snake, and the poison is very 

 virulent, but it can be easily avoided, for it is very demonstrative, 

 and makes its presence known by its rustling. The dahoia is a 

 more silent and dangerous snake and, happily, is not so common; 



