SNAKES OF CEYLON. 447 



overlooked. Within 5 minutes all local symptoms had 

 disappeared, the " fiery " pain relieved, and bleeding had 

 stopped. 



Mr. Fox was not in the least degree alarmed, having implicit 

 faith in his remedy. 



Nothing further was noticed till about 2 p.m., when he 

 complained of pain in the pit of the stomach, which he took 

 to be stomach-ache and associated with his lunch. It was 

 sufficiently disagreeable to cause him to take a " tot " of neat 

 brandy, after which he had eructations, but this pain persisted 

 until his admission to hospital. At 2.30 he said to his 

 friend "I've got some slight symptoms " and when asked 

 what these were he said he had " pins and needles " in his 

 legs. He and his friend were walking about, and his friend 

 began to notice that Mr. Fox tripped slightly, over little 

 irregularities in the ground, as though intoxicated. This 

 uncertainty of gait increased, and he next complained of 

 nausea, which culminated in actual vomiting at 3.30 p.m. 

 About 4 p.m. he complained that his vision was affected (but 

 there Was no sign of ptosis then noticed), and his gait was 

 pronouncedly " drunken " in type. 



About 5 p.m. drooping of the eyelids was distinctly evident. 

 He next complained of "sore throat," and his speech Was 

 obviously affected. At 5.30 he sat down voluntarily, and it 

 was noticed that his head drooped forwards. He complained 

 that breathing was becoming difficult, and his eyes were now 

 nearly closed. 



His friend was now thoroughly alarmed in spite of Mr. Fox's 

 sanguine composure, and took him to hospital where he 

 arrived at about 7 p.m. When seen by Captain Green - 

 Armytage, I. M.S., and Assistant Surgeon Warner, it was 

 noticed that the patient was conscious, though apathetic and 

 dull. He sat on the couch in a bowed posture, his head 

 dropped forwards, and his arms limp and extended, his 

 wrists and ankles dropped. He was unable to stand. His 

 lower lip was dropped, and his speech thick and blurred. 

 His face in the waning evening light appeared of a slate-gray 

 pallor. He expressed a wish to be left alone, and complained 

 of constriction and a feeling of swelling in the throat. He 



