﻿326 ON THE CURE OF 



wound upwards; but no ligature was applied to the 

 limb. About sixty drops of the volatile caustic spirit 

 were given to her in water, by forcing open her mouth, 

 which was strongly convulsed: in about seven minutes 

 the dose was repeated, when the convulsions left her; 

 and in three more she became sensible, and spoke to 

 those who attended her. A few drops of the spirit 

 had also been applied to the wound. The snake was 

 killed and brought to me, which proved to be a Co- 

 bra de Capello. 



CASE V, 



As it is generally believed that the venom of snakes 

 is more malignant during hot dry weather than at any 

 other season, the following case, which occurred in the 

 month of July 1788, when the weather was extremely 

 hot, no rain, excepting a slight shower, having fallen 

 for many months, may not be unworthy of notice : — 



A servant belonging to an officer at Juanpoor, was 

 bitten by a snake on the leg, about two inches above 

 the outer ancle. As the accident happened in the 

 evening, he could not see what species of snake it was. 

 He immediately tied a ligature above the part bitten ", 

 but was in a few minutes in such exquisite torture from 

 pain, which extended up his body and to his head, 

 that he soon became dizzy and senseless. On being in- 

 formed of the accident, I sent my servant with a phial 

 of the volatile caustic alkali, who found him, when 

 he arrived, quite torpid, with the saliva running out 

 of his mouth, and his jaws so fast locked, as to ren- 

 der it necessary to use an instrument to open them, 

 and administer the medicine. About forty drops of 

 the volatile caustic spirit were given to him in water, 

 and applied to the wound ; and the same dose repeated 

 a few minutes after. In about half an hour he was per- 



