DOCUMENTS 371 



A ligature was immediately applied, and the wound was made 

 to bleed by hard squeezing. Eefusing all other treatment, especially 

 injection of serum, although we repeatedly urged it, the man made 

 off home with all speed, but on arrival failed to find the specific 

 on which he was relying. All that was then done was to recite 

 a few prayers over him, and a Brahmin priest was called to bless 

 him. About 11.30, after acute suffering, Latchoumanin sank into 

 a comatose condition. At 12.30 respiration became stertorous, and 

 the patient succumbed at 2 p.m., four hours after being bitten. 

 Just as the medical officer, deputed by us, reached the dying man, 

 two chatties containing live snakes were deposited at his bedside, 

 to ward off ill-luck ! 



On the whole, the evidence collected in the last two cases is 

 as confused as it is incomplete, and we can scarcely say how much 

 we regret the obstinacy of these unfortunate victims in refusing to 

 submit to our treatment, for the serum would undoubtedly have 

 produced its maximum effect in them, since it would have been 

 possible to make use of it in good time. These disastrous occur- 

 rences, however, will not cure natives of their exclusive reliance 

 upon empirical practices ; and as regards the inhabitants of the 

 Tamil country, that is to say. Southern India, it may be foreseen 

 that for a long time to come they will continue to remain refractory 

 to the serotherapic treatment, |^ submission to which the English 

 have had less difficulty in securing from the natives of Bengal, 

 whose intellectual development undoubtedly stands on a higher 

 plane. 



