StrCCESSFULLY TREATED, ' $u 



ftngtrs. This symptom, and the strong palpitation of the heart, which 

 Ija4' becdme extremely disagreeable, were such as I had never experi- 

 ^c)ed before ; and bein^ of so very extraordinary a nature, I began to con- 

 sider what could be the cause of them. I examined the state of my pulse, 

 and found it to be full and strong, but indicating no disposition to fever. 

 I then began to think if it was possible that the snake could have bitten 

 me, without my being sensible of it at the moment, and that the symptoms 

 I- felt could be the effedt of such an accident. The uneasiness at my ankle 

 Still continued as before, without appearing to increase, and I recol- 

 lected, that while endeavouring to kill the snake, it had once made a dart 

 towards me, and got between my feet, but as I did not perceive it to touch 

 jxie, I \yas unwilling to ascribe to so alarming a cause, the unusual sensa- 

 tions I felt; yet I could not otherwise account for them. While this 

 reasoning passed rapidly in my mind, I was seized with a violent fit of 

 vomiting, which at once solved all my doubts, as to the nature of my case; 

 for having observed sickness at stomach invariably to follow the bite of a 

 snake, in all such patients as I had had the opportunity of seeing labour- 

 ing under the effe6ls of the poison, I was no longer at a loss to determine 

 the cause of my disorder, and I accordingly got out of bed immediately, 

 to apply some remedy. 



The first thing I did was to drink a strong mixture of brandy and 

 water, with the view of relieving the sickness at stomach, which greatly 

 oppressed me. At the same time, I walked briskly backwards and for- 

 wards in my room, in order to keep off the stupor, to which I knew there 

 was so strong a tendency in this disorder. But a second fit of vomiting, 

 more violent that the ftrst, speedily came on ; which entirely cleared the 

 stomach of its contents, and left me in so very languid and exhausted a 

 state, that, unable any longer to walk, I was obliged to throw myself upon 



