330 ^ VENOMS 



" On the evening of October 23 I was called to a coolie woman, 

 who had been bitten by a large cobra about 7 o'clock ; some two 

 hours had already elapsed since the accident. The woman was, 

 so to speak, moribund, unconscious, and suffering from paralysis 

 of the throat, after having exhibited all the characteristic symptoms 

 of poisoning by cobra-venom. I immediately injected 10 c.c. of 

 Calmette's serum, without any hope of a successful result, however, 

 so desperate did the condition of the patient appear. The effect 

 of the serum was marvellous ; fifteen minutes later she regained 

 consciousness. I gave a fresh injection of 10 c.c, and three hours 

 after the first the patient was out of danger. Dr. Sen, my assistant- 

 surgeon, was present. I have forwarded a note of this case to 

 Dr. L. Rogers, Professor of Pathology at the Calcutta Medical 

 College." 



VII.— Case recorded by Captain H. A. L. Howell, E.A.M.C. 

 {British Medical Journal, January 25, 1902). 



" Shortly before 4 p.m. on November 17, 1901, Lance-Corporal 

 G., Royal Scots, was bitten on the right forefinger by a snake. On 

 being brought to hospital, Assistant-Surgeon Raymond tied a tight 

 ligature round the finger, scarified the wound, and applied a strong 

 solution of calcium chloride. On my arrival I found the patient 

 apparently quite well, and not at all alarmed. As I could get no 

 information as to the nature of the snake, I injected into the 

 patient's flank at 4.30 p.m. 3 c.c. of Calmette's serum, and sent for 

 the snake, which was the property of one of the men in barracks. 

 The snake was brought to me just before 6 p.m., and I found it to 

 be a cobra about 3^ feet long, of the pale-coloured variety that 

 natives call Brahmini cobra. I at once injected 7 c.c. of Calmette's 

 serum into the other flank. The patient thus received one full 

 dose of serum. The ligature was removed from the finger, which 

 was swollen and very painful. 



" Up to half an hour after the bite the patient, a healthy and 

 powerful man, presented no abnormal symptoms : pulse, respira- 

 tion, pupils, temperature, and general appearance, all were normal. 



