312 BITE OF A POISONOUS SNAKE 



a couch, and there to remain. The palpitation of the heart had now 

 subsided, and was succeeded by a most distressing oppression in breathing, 

 that compelled me to make frequent deep inspirations. The heat of ray- 

 body had also abated, and was followed by a deadly coldness of the skin, 

 and profuse perspiration, with a slow, weak pulse; yet still I was sensible, 

 In some degree, of the extraordinary feel, as if a warm fluid was circula- 

 ting in my veins, though I was becoming less so every moment. 



Having a small medicine chest, fortunately, in the room where I lay, 

 I directed a tea-spoonful to be given me of the Spiritus Ammonite com- 

 positus, in a Madeira glass full of water. This I took, in preference to 

 the pla;in volatile alkali, from the idea, that the aromatick oil would 

 render it more grateful to the stomach, which was still much oppres- 

 sed with sickness. Finding that the first dose agreed with me; in 

 about five minutes, (I imagine;) I took a! second, and so on, a third, 

 fourth, fifth, and sixth; when the medicine began to have a favourable 

 effect. The first benefit I was sensible of deriving from it, w^s a relief 

 from the sickness at the stomach; my breathing next became easier, 

 my skin then began to recover its natural warmth, and the perspira- 

 tion, with which I had been in a manner drenched, dried up by de- 

 grees. I still went on with the medicine, but at longer intervals, for 

 every now and then, I had a slight return of the oppression in breathing, 

 which was immediately relieved on taking the alkali. I had thus gone 

 on, until I had taken thirteen spoonfuls, or a wine glassful of the medicine^ 

 before I considered myself as out of danger ; and, in proportion as I recov- 

 ered, I became more and more sensible of the nauseous taste of the alkali^ 

 which latterly seemed to burn my throat, as I swallowed it, though I could 

 scarcely perceive the taste of the first dose I took, so totally gone was the 

 iierYOus , sensibility of my palate. 



