1830.] 
Miscellaneous Notices * 
291 
October 10th. 
Sunrise. 
Bar. 25,788 Ther. 
64,7 M. 
B. Ther. 64,5 
10 A. M. 
,850 
65 
65 
Noon. 
,830 
67 
66 
2 P. M. 
,800 
67 
66 
4 P. M, 
,766 
66,5 
64,5 
“During this day, clouds 
i (early in the morning 
a little power, lighter) have been floating about in 
valleys and mountains giving the wind its course.” 
Wd.S.-W . ; fine breeze. 
W.-S.-W. • ditto. 
W. by S ; ditto. 
Ditto ditto, 
Wy. ; fine cold wind, 
avy, but after the sun had got 
all directions : the different 
2 . — On Hydrophobia . 
To the .Editor of Gleanings in Science. 
Sir, 
Having had several opportunities of observing the facility with which the 
action of muscular fibre is reduced by the bite of venemous serpents, I have 
been led to think, that the poison of those animals might be beneficially employed 
in muscular spasmodic diseases : those to which I more particularly allude, are 
Tetanus and Hydrophobia. 
In many constitutions the effects of all other anti-spasmodics have been found 
to be feeble or uncertain, and in some perfectly inert. I believe this cannot be 
said of the substance in question, for no peculiarity of temperament has come to 
my knowledge, in which the poison of a healthy rattle snake or Cobra de Capella, 
if applied in sufficient quantities, has not produced an immediate and violent effect. 
Naturalists do not appear to have any decided opinion as to the part played in 
creation, by venomous reptiles : yet, reasoning from analogy, the wonderful 
mechanism, with which they are furnished, would induce a belief, that, it must 
be highly important. That they are not created, as some have supposed, for the 
mere purpose of ridding us of other noxious animals, is, I think, evident, from the 
circumstances of their being themselves a far greater nuisance, than the most 
mischievous of the creatures upon which they prey ; and in such a case, by an 
ill adaptation, which is never seen in nature, of the means to the end; for the 
prey of other serpents, without fangs, does not differ from theirs. Whether the 
cure of the above two dreadful maladies, be of sufficient importance, to call for 
a special creation, I leave to others to determine; and for the want of oppor- 
tunities for experiments, I am compelled to do the same, with the supposition of 
their being cured by this means at all. However, I may here observe, that vene- 
mous reptiles chiefly abound in those countries, in which rabid animals are most 
frequently met with. 
It may be objected that this remedy, if remedy it be, is a violent and dreadful 
one; such as few would willingly consent to use. It certainly is so; but when 
the prospect of a lingering and terrible doom be considered, I think there are not 
many who would hesitate for a moment, in adopting any thing, which promised 
relief, though even in immediate death. When the old, and, perhaps, humane, 
custom, of smothering Hydrophobia patients, was in vogue, it was, probably, no 
difficult matter to obtain the consent of the wretched sufferer. 
The method of using this substance must depend upon experiment ; but, I 
conceive, it may be done by inoculation, with a lancet, or by the immediate 
application of a snake to the body of the patient ; modifying the strength of the 
remedy according to the strength of the malady, by the introduction of a greater 
or less quantity into the system. When the lancet is used, this may be effected 
without any difficulty ; and managed, in the latter, by irritating the snake to bite 
some other animal previous to its application. 
I wish it had been in my power to have brought forward experiment in support 
of my opinion ; but, believing the matter to be of importance, I do not consider 
myself justified in withholding it, and, therefore, prefer to offer these crude re- 
marks, in the hope that others may have opportunities of pursuing my idea with 
success. I am, Sir, your obedient Servant, 
Midnapore, Oct. 7, 1830. .. W. P. 
X . — Proceedings of Societies. 
1. Medical and Physical Society. 
Friday , the 3d July , 1830. 
Mr. White, Assistant Surgeon, Bombay Service, and Dr, D. M’Leod, Assist- 
ant Surgeon, Bengal Service, were elected Members ; and Dr. La Fontane, of 
