132 THE LAND-MARKS OF 



is certainly one of the most important ever pub- 

 lished, though it must be remembered that, 

 unlike most of his predecessors, he had a mass 

 of important scientific material at hand to assist 

 and direct him in his researches, which he un- 

 doubtedly conducted with much ability, care, and 

 scientific exactness, as his little work amply 

 testifies. " The inquiry," says Wall, " that natur- 

 ally presents itself first in considering the subject 

 of snake-poisoning is — How does snake-poison 

 kill ? and what are the changes it effects in the 

 animal system ? And, as a consequence of this — 

 Is there only one poison, or are there several ? 

 Upon the answers to these questions depend both 

 the certain recognition of snake-poisoning when 

 it comes under observation, and the indications 

 that must serve as guides to us in the treatment 

 of it." And on these lines Dr. Wall conducts 

 his enquiry. After explaining the effects of 

 cobra-poison on animals of different classes, he 

 Symptoms of shews that the symptoms in man are peculiar, 

 inginman. owing to the difference in the organization of 

 his nervous system. He draws special attention 

 to the pain and to the local specific inflamma- 

 tion, upon which the pain depends. Intense 

 mental shock in snake-bite may render the 



