SUCCESSFULLY TREATED. MS 



In the course of three hours from my receiving the bite, I' was out of'^^ 



danger, but five hours had elapsed before I had entirely got the better of 



the effects of it. While lying on my couch, during the first three hours; 



I had my watch on the table before me, most anxiously looking forward to 



the passing time ; for I thought if the poison did not overpower me within 



that period, that I would have every chance of recovery, from the contin-i 



ued use of the medicine. I was very uneasy, lest I should lose my 



recollection, before I had taken the medicine in sufficient quantity to 



counteract the poison; as those around me, in that case, from not knowing 



my disorder, would most probably discontinue giving it to me ; yeti 



from an extreme unwillingness to distress my family, by a disclosure of 



the nature of my illness, which happily had been considered, hitherto, a 



mere bilious attack, I never hinted to any one the true cause of it; nor 



would I send for any of my friends in the place to attend me, as that 



would be indicating an apprehension of danger, which might prove equally 



alarming. For this reason, therefore, as well as from the certainty, with 



which I was enabled to judge, by my immediate feelings, of the effect of 



the alkali, I took it in much larger, and more frequent doses, than I 



would have ventured to have prescribed for any other person in a similar 



situation ; and to this circumstance, of taking it in so unusually large 



a quantity, in so short a space of time, I have, under providence, to as- 



cwbe my recovery ; for after the second fit of vomiting, I was sinking so 



fast, that nothing, but so powerful a stimulus, could have saved me. 



The poison must have been of the most virulent nature ; otherwise the 

 very minute portion, that could have been introduced into my habit, would 

 hot have produced so immediate and violent an effe61:; for on examining 

 "the part, where I received the injury, on the following morning, no ap- 



G 4 



