310 BITE OP A POISONOUS SNAKE 



mankind^ deing deserving^ more or less, of attentiany I do mi/self the pkdsvir^ 



of transmitiing to you the histori/ of mj/ case, with my remarks upon it, 



I am. Sir, 



Your very: ^Mdient 



And HumMe Servant , 

 July 22d, 1809. JOHN MACRAE, 



Civil Surgeon, Chittagong» 



On the night of the 12th of May, on stepping into the southern 

 verandah of my house, I observed a small snake, of a dark colour, run- 

 ning along the terrace; and which, after several unsuccessful attempts^ 

 I at length hit and killed, with a small cane I had in my hand. Imme- 

 diately thereafter, as I walked, I felt a slight uneasiness below the inner 

 ankle of my right leg, as if I had taken off a bit of the skin, andthiSj, 

 I imagined, I had done, with the heel of the other foot, in my eagerness 

 to kill the snake; and therefore, after gently rubbing the part with my 

 hand, I thought no more of it; but, in a few minutes, returned into the 

 house, and began to undress to go to bed. ^ vir-;! : :'; 



While undressing, Hooked at my ankle, and could perceive a small 

 red spot, where I felt the uneasiness (pain I could not well call it,) but 

 there was not the least appearance of blood, nor was there any of the skin 

 '^rubbed off. At this time I felt a great glow over my body, with a strong 

 palpitation of the heart; but as the night was warm and calm, I ascribed 

 it to that cause and the exertion I had made in killing the snake ; and, 

 imder that impression I went to bed. I could not, however, sleep ; for the 

 heat, and palpitation of the heart, soon increased so much, as to render 

 me very restless; and I felt, besides, a very singular sensation, as if a 

 Warm fluid was circulating in my veinSj to the very extremities of my 



