RBPTILIA. 335 



unless the Cobra is harined it is itself harmless. Other venomous 

 snakes in Sind are Dahoia Russelli (Eussel's Viper) and Bungarus 

 ccBruleus (The Krait), whose bites are very justly dreaded. 



The effects of the poison of the venomous species, both on man and 

 animals, produce morbid symptoms, differing, however, in the degree or 

 rapidity of action in man. From the numerous experiments on brute 

 animals by able physiologists, and the effects of the remedies employed, 

 which, while in the case of man have proved successful, have been of 

 non-effect in the cases of dogs, &c., it may be safely assumed that the 

 effects of serpent poison are not precisely the same in man and beast;- 

 but there can be little doubt that experiments judicially conducted on 

 brute animals would contribute in a great measure towards suggesting 

 hints as to the best mode of treatment and the antidote to be employed. 

 The degree of danger as Drs. Guntber and Shortt rightly say, and 

 which is confirmed by experiments, " depends but little on the species 

 which has inflicted the wound, but rather on the bulk of the individual, 

 the quantity of poison injected and the situation of the wound, and 

 again upon the frequency with which it has been biting, upon which 

 depends the intensity of the poison." A second consideration is the size 

 and vigour of the person bitten. In regard to Cobra poison, the symp- 

 toms it is said are uniform in effect both in man and beast, and usually, 

 if remedies are not applied in time, the case terminates fatally in from half 

 an hour to twelve hours. 



The symptoms of Cobra poisoning are said to be a burning sensation 

 or stinging pain in the bitten part, which becomes swollen, red and 

 painful on pressure, a feeling of intoxication, lethargy, partial paralysis, 

 loss of speech and pi-ofuse salivation, and often nausea and vomiting. 

 The blood in human beings remains fluid aft«r death, and does not 

 coagulate as in brute animals. 



In cases of Daboia bite, the same burning and stinging sensation of 

 pain is felt as in that of Cobra poisoning, but the symptoms begin with 

 convulsions, and there is much dilatation of the pupil, and less saliva- 

 tion, while in Krait or Bungarus poisoning, there is a parallelism in the 

 effect to that of the Cobra. 



The virulence of the poison of the Cobra is well known, and to 

 it, the Daboia, the Bungarus and the Kupper, are to be attributed 

 the numerous deaths in Sind, the Punjab and N. W. Provinces. 

 There is no hope of recovery from the bite of any of those, once 

 the poison is thoroughly innoculated into the system, and has 

 entered the circulation. Paralysis of the nerve centres set in and 

 death ensues in a very few minutes. The first consideration then 

 in all cases of snake bite is to prevent the absorption of the poison, 

 by applying effectual ligatures above the wound of any material 

 which would be at hand, such as narrowly twisted cloths, cords, 

 or where it is possible to obtain it, a tourniquet, or an India-rubber 

 band, which is best and less painful. This done, aid could be obtained 

 within the next few hours and the part excised or amputated, as the 

 case would deserve, and remedies applied. Suction of the wound is said 

 to have been effectual in a few cases, but there is risk attending such. 



