448 Proceedings of Royal Society of Edinburgh. [sess. 
On the Eendering of Animals Immune against the Venom 
of the Cobra and other Serpents ; and on the Antidotal 
Properties of the Blood-Serum of the Immunized 
Animals. By Professor Thomas R. Fraser, M.D., F.R.S. 
(With a Diagram.) 
(Read June 3, 1895.) 
{Abstract.) 
One of the most striking and interesting of the many traditions 
and current beliefs regarding venomous serpents is that a power 
may be acquired of freely handling them without injury, and even of 
successfully resisting the poisonous effects of their bites. 
The Psylli of Africa, the Marsi of Italy, the Gouni of India, and 
other ancient tribes and sects, were stated to have been immune 
against serpents’ bites, and to have been able to exercise a remark- 
able influence over even the most venomous of these animals ; and 
these attributes have been explained on the supposition that 
serpents’ blood was present in the veins of the members of these 
tribes and sects. 
In more modern times, and, indeed, at the present day, the same 
belief is stated in the writings of travellers ; and it has been 
expressed by poets and novelists, and among the latter, with a 
half-admitted conviction of its reality, by Wendell Holmes, in his 
Romance of Destiny. 
In “a new and accurate Description of the Coast of Guinea,” 
published in 1705, by William Bosman, an account is given of the 
great “ reverence and respect ” of the negroes for snakes worshipped 
by them as gods ; in connection with which the following state- 
ments are made : — “ But what is best of all, is, that these idolatrous 
snakes don’t do the least mischief in the world to mankind ; for, if 
by chance in the dark one treads upon them, and they bite or sting 
him, it is not more prejudicial than the sting of millepedes. Where- 
fore, the natives would fain persuade us that it is good to be bitten 
or stung by these snakes, upon the plea that one is thereby secured 
and protected from the sting of any poisonous snake. But here,” 
he proceeds to remark, “ I am somewhat dubious, and should be loth 
