y2 THE LAND-MAEKS OF 



and preserving that irritability which it tends 

 to destroy." 



In other words, the ammonia does not act 

 chemically upon the poison, but it counteracts 

 its effects physiologically. What these effects 

 are, and how the ammonia counteracts them, 

 Mr. Williams does not inform us. 



He then gives seven cases, of which only one 

 terminated fatally. 



' cases. The first case was only a supposed case of 



snake-bite. The second was that of "an old 

 woman of the Brahman caste, who was bitten 

 between the thumb and finger, by a cobra." She 

 became " speechless and convulsed, with locked 

 jaws, and a profuse discharge of saliva running 

 from the mouth." Mr. Williams gave her two 

 drachms of " volatile caustic alkali spirit, when 

 she evidently got better" and " perfectly re- 

 covered in about half an hour. The Brahman of 

 the house would not allow the snake to be killed."-f- 



The third case is not deserving of notice. 



The fourth case is the following : — " In July 

 1784, the wife of a servant of mine was bitten by 



+ This superstition has already been referred to. 



