225 
Daturin  is  precipitated  by  tannic  acid  and  the  use  of  strong  tea 
or  coffee  may  be  of  value,  but  the  author  suggests  the  use  of  potas- 
sium permanganate,  which  has  the  property  of  oxidising  vegetable 
alkaloids,  washing  out  the  stomach  with  a solution  not  stronger 
than  I grain  to  the  ounce,  by  means  of  a tube.  Dr.  GiMLETTE 
managed  in  the  course  of  his  experiments  to  extract  an  alkaloid 
from  the  seed,  and  it  may  be  hoped  that  he  may  be  able  to  continue 
his  researches  into  this  substance,  and  to  settle  the  questions  as  to 
the  amount  and  relatiye  strength  of  the  poison  in  the  different 
forms  of  the  plant,  and  the  difference  between  the  alkaloids  of 
Datura  stramonium,  and  of  Gastuosa  and  alba. — EDITOR. 
THE  BLACK  COBRA. 
As  many  people  have  their  dog’s  eyes  injured  by  the  spitting  of 
the  black  cobra,  some  account  of  the  method  of  treatment  which 
1 have  found  successful  may  be  of  service. 
The  black  cobra  when  threatened  by  a dog  erects  its  hood  and 
spits  its  poison  at  the  enemy,  that  is  to  say  the  poisonous  saliva 
forced  out  of  the  glands,  to  the  end  of  the  teeth  is  blown  with 
violence  at  the  dog.  I have  been  hit  in  the  face  by  the  poison  at 
a distance  of  eight  feet.  As  a rule,  when  spitting  at  a dog  in  the 
open  the  poison  flies  in  the  form  of  a fine  spray  and  the  chances 
of  a dog  getting  seriously  hurt  thus  are  small,  but  when  the  cobra 
draws  back  into  its  hole,  or’ into  a bamboo  hedge,  and  the  dog 
charges  it  it  is  very  likely  to  get  the  full  discharge  in  one  or  both 
eyes.  A careful  cobra-killing  dog  always  waits  his  lime  till  he  can 
get  the  animal  by  the  throat,  and  shake  the  life  out  of  it.  A dog 
too  excited  follows  ih^  cobra  as  it  draws  back,  and  so  gets  hurt.  I 
have  never  seen  a cobra  attempt  to  bite  a dog. 
The  result  of  the  poisons  being  injected  into  the  eye,  is  almost 
immediately  inflammation  of  the  conjunctiva  and  cornea.  The  eye- 
lids swell  up  in  a few  minutes  and  the  eye  is  closed.  If  neglected 
the  eye  remains  closed  for  some  days  and  when  the  lids  are 
opened  the  eye  is  seen  to  be  blue,  opaque  and  quite  blind,  and  it 
looks  very  much  as  if  the  dog  would  never  see  again  wdth  it.  In 
one  case  a fox  terrier  remained  after  some  days  with  the  eye  open 
but  perfectly  blind,  and  died  apparently  from  the  effects  of  the 
accident  a week  afterwards.  The  following  treatment  I have  found 
most  effective.  As  soon  as  possible  after  the  accident  has  hap- 
pened, clean  the  eye  with  a soft  handkerchief  and  plenty  of  cold 
water.  Then  drop  into  the  eye  opening  the  lids  as  far  as  mav  be, 
a few  drops  of  a solution  of  zinc  sulphate  8 grains  to  8 ozs.  of 
water.  This  should  be  done  every  few  hours,  the  dog  being  kept 
chained  up  in  a shady  place.  Even  when  the  eye  is  perfectly 
opaque  and  blue  it  is  marvellous  how  soon  it  will  clear  and  the  dog- 
will  see  as  well  as  ever.  The  sooner  the  treatment  is  begun,  the 
sooner  the  eye  will  recover,  but  it  may  take  a week  or  two  if  much 
of  the  poison  has  entered  the  eye  or  the  damage  has  been  nt'glected. 
