490 SNAKES OF CEYLON. 



follows : " On a night in June, at about half -past 12 o'clock. 

 Dabu, a Hindu punkah cooly, was bitten on the shoulder by 

 a cobra, whilst sleeping. On inspecting the wound, there 

 were found over the prominence of the right deltoid muscle, 

 and about three-quarters of an inch apart, two large drops 

 of a clear serous-like fluid tinged with blood, which had 

 apparently oozed from two small punctures, so minute that 

 they could not be perceived by the naked eye. A burning 

 pain was complained of in the neighbourhood of the bite, 

 which rapidly increased in intensity, and extended so as to 

 affect a circular portion of the integument of the size of an 

 ordinary saucer ; and judging from the description given of 

 it, it was very similar in character to that produced by the 

 sting of a scorpion. 



"At 12.45 a.m., or about a quarter ot an hour after being 

 bitten, he complained of a pain in his shoulder shooting 

 toward his throat and chest, and said he was beginning to feel 

 intoxicated ; but there was nothing in his appearance at this 

 time to indicate that he was in any way under the influence of 

 the poison. On the contrary, he was quite calm and collected, 

 and answered all questions indifferently, at the same time 

 that he was fully alive to the danger of his condition. The 

 pupils were not dilated, and they contracted when exposed to 

 the light of a candle ; his pulse was normal and there was no 

 embarrassment of the respiration. About five minutes after, 

 he began to lose control over the muscles of his legs, and 

 staggered when left unsupported. At about 1 o'clock, the 

 paralysis of the legs having increased, the lower jaw began to 

 fall, and frothy and viscid saliva to ooze from the mouth. He 

 also spoke indistinctly like a man under the influence of 

 liquor. At 1 . 10 a.m. he began to moan, and shake his head 

 frequently from side to side. The pulse was now somewhat 

 accelerated, but was beating regularly. The respirations were 

 also increased in frequency. He was unable to answer 

 questions, but appeared to be quite conscious. His arm 

 did not seem to be paralysed. He continued to moan and 

 shake his head from side to side, as if trying to get rid of 

 viscid mucus in his throat, The respirations were laboured, 



