SNAKE-POISON LITERATURE. 161 



Dr. Wolfenden has not yet accounted for the 

 specific inflammation which occurs locally, on the 

 injectioa of snake-venom — especially daboia- 

 venom. Does the venom-srlobulin act also as a Dr. w&ddeii 



° suggests the 



" putrefactive agent," and, if so, how ? The editor ofToomiSs^on 

 of the Indian Medical Gazette winds up his ex- 

 cellent article thus — " The important recent addi- 

 tions to our knowledge of snake-venom, and the 

 increasing perfection of experimental methods, 

 render the attainment of solid results much more 

 easy and probable at the present time than 

 hitherto. The time has now undoubtedly arri- 

 ved for the institution of a fresh Commission to 

 re-investigate a subject of such admittedly vital 

 importance." I doubt, however, whether a 

 Commission is the best machinery for the work- 

 ing out of these questions. If one man, who is 

 thoroughly conversant with all the recent me- 

 thods of analysis, took up the subject, the results 

 would be more satisfactory. And no better one 

 in India could be found for the purpose than 

 the Editor of the Indian Medical Gazette, 

 Dr. Waddell, An investigator here has the 

 advantage of being able to obtain a very large, 

 quantity of fresh cobra-venom, without which 

 no analysis, so far as cobra-venom is concerned, can 



