XIV 
MEMOIR OF THE LIFE AND WRITINGS OF 
observed, had made considerable progress in collecting snakes, and making experiments 
on the effects of their bites :—a branch of natural history hitherto little understood or 
attended to, and to many, from the appearance of the animals, exceedingly disgusting and 
terrific. Fie continued his researches with unwearied zeal; and after his return home, the 
Honourable Court of Directors took upon themselves the expense of publishing coloured 
figures of the Snakes, accompanied with descriptions by Dr. Russell. The first volume 
was completed and published in 1 7 96, under the title of “ An Account of Indian Serpents 
collected on the Coast of Coromandel, containing Descriptions and Drawings ol each 
species ; together with Experiments and Remarks on their several Poisons, by Patrick 
Russell, M. D. F. R. S. presented to the Honourable Court of Directors of the India Com¬ 
pany, and published by their Order, under the Superintendance of the Author.” The 
first and second fasciculus of the second volume were published under the Doctor’s eye, 
in 1801 and 1 805. 
It was before stated, that when on the Coast of Coromandel, Dr. Russell had paid par¬ 
ticular attention to the fishes caught there, and had deposited his collection of specimens 
in the Company’s Museum at Madras. The drawings and descriptions of these he carried 
with him to Britain, and presented to the Court of Directors ; and in 1803 there appeared, 
in two large and elegant volumes folio, “ Descriptions and Figures of Two Plundred 
Fishes, collected at Vizagapatam, by Patrick Russell, M. D. and published by Order of 
the Court of Directors, under the Superintendance of the Author.” 
In 1 804, he had laid before the Royal Society,* “ Remarks on the voluntary expansion 
of the skin of the neck of the Cobra de Capella, or Hooded Snake.” His friend, Everard 
Home, Esq. surgeon, added a description of the structure of the parts which perform the 
office of expansion.+ 
Dr. Russell died in London on the 2,6 of July. 1805, after a short illness of three days. 
Dr, Russell was never married. Fie named Sir Hugh Inglis, Bart, and Josias Dupree 
Porcher, Esq. along with his brother Claud, to be his executors. In a paper addressed to 
them, he gave particular instructions as to his funeral, which, as exhibiting a trait of his 
character, is here inserted : “It is my request to be interred in the nearest burial ground, 
in the most private manner that custom will permit, but not be deposited within the walls 
of any place dedicated to public worship.” 
In strict conformity with these directions, he was interred 6th July, in Mary-le-bone 
burying-ground, in presence of a few of his intimate friends. It may be remarked, that 
Dr. Russell having taken many opportunities of reprobating the practice of burying in 
churches, as useless to the dead, and prejudicial to the living, thus gave a last practical 
testimony against the custom ; and in the privacy which he requested, may be traced the 
habitual humility of his mind. 
In his library the Executors found a sealed parcel, containing books directed for the 
British Museum, which was accordingly sent unopened to that national repository. In 
obedience to special instructions, a Botanical Cabinet, consisting chiefly of Indian plants, 
was transmitted to the University of Edinburgh ; and a considerable collection of speci¬ 
mens of serpents, including all those received from India after his return home (many 
of which his sudden death prevented him from describing), was deposited in the Flonour- 
able Company’s Museum at the India House. 
* Phil. Trans, for 1805. 
+ 1 he only other works of Dr. Russell, not here enumerated, are, a paper in the Transactions of a Society for the 
improvement oT Medical and Chirurgical Knowledge, London, I 800 , giving an account of two cases of Small-pox and 
Measles existing in the same person at the same time ; and one of an ague in a child in utero. 
