THEIR NATUEE AND EFFECTS. 103 



produce the chronic form of poisoning. It is, of course, 

 prohable that the chronic form may occur with this 

 snake also, hut the evidence of such a condition occur- 

 ring is at present negative. But the snakes used in 

 these experiments were very large and vigorous, and 

 would naturally cause the poisoning to he acute. 



In regard to the local inflammation produced hy the 

 poison of the Bungarus coeruleus, it is, like the Bungarus 

 fasciatus, very much less than that caused hy cobra- 

 poison, and has seemed in some instances even less 

 than that of its congener. There is, however, always 

 to be seen some amount of pale serum which is quite 

 enough to satisfy the practised eye that there is some- 

 thing present beyond the effect of mere mechanical 

 injury. 



It may be mentioned here that the Echis carinata, or 

 the smaller Indian viper, has, from the cases reported 

 in which its poison proved fatal, precisely the same 

 symptoms as the daboia. There can be little doubt 

 that it contributes very largely to the mortality from 

 snake-bite, especially in Northern and Western India. 



