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 
Ins researches into this substance, and to settle the questions as to 
the amount and relative strength of the poison in the different 
forms of the plant, and the difference between the alkaloids of 
Datura stramonium , and of Gasiuosa 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. 1 have been hit in the face by the poison at 
a distance of eight feet. • As a rule, when spitting at a doo- 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 time till he can 
get the animal by the throat, and shake the life out of it. A dog 
too excited follows the cobra as it draws back, and so a e ts hurt. 1 
have never seen a cobra attempt to bite a dog. 
The result of the poisons being injected fnto 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 tor 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 with 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. 1 he following treatment I have found 
most effective. As soon as possible after the accident has han 
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 tew drops of a solution of zinc sulphate 8 grains to 8 nU nf 
water. This should he done every few hours, the dog being ke D t 
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 be»un the 
sooner the eye will recover, but it may take a week or two if much 
0 u,e P olson llas entered the eye or the damage has been neglected. 
