80 
OF THE EFFECTS OF THE POISON 
on his legs longer ; but he chiefly complained of being hindered from going to sleep. Soon after this, he was 
permitted to lie down ; and (as in the preceding case) without convulsions, or suffering any visible agony, he 
expired half an hour before noon." 
The bodies were not buried till four hours after death, when they began to putrify. 
To the above circumstances, noted by Captain Gowdie at the time, he added the following description of the 
snake : ct It was scarcely six inches in length ; about the size of a large goose quill; of a dark straw colour; a 
flat head, with two very small eyes, which shone like diamonds; and behind each eye was a black streak, 
about three fourths of an inch long. 
« The trunk, not tapering in the usual manner, was nearly as thick at the tail as at the head. Its mode 
of progression was also different from that of other snakes. It sprung forward, a foot at least at each 
spring, falling to the ground head and tail foremost. As it lay on the ground, it formed two thirds of a 
circle. 
« The name given to it by the natives was, Min Naig Pawn.’’ 
Observations. -The absence of convulsions in the above two cases, was remarkable; as also the unin¬ 
terrupted propensity to sleep. 
The snake was unfortunately not preserved ; and notwithstanding the exertions of Captain Gowdie as well 
as Mr. Macmahon the surgeon, I never could procure a specimen. 
Case VI.-In consequence of these two accidents. Captain Gowdie issued orders, that in case of any one 
belonging to the battalion being bitten by a snake, he should immediately be brought to him. 
“ In about a fortnight after this order, a Sepoy happened to be bitten on the ankle by a large snake, believed 
to be a Cobra de Capello, and was brought to Captain Gowdie s house, within a quarter of an hour after the 
accident. 
“ His jaws were locked, his eyes fixed, and very little sign of life remaining. Four large punctures were 
visible on the ankle ; to which eau de luce being applied, the man gave marks of sensibility, by drawing up his 
leg. Two bottles of Madeira wine were then made warm, and the jaws being forced open so as to introduce a 
funnel, almost the whole of the wine, in the course of half an hour, was poured down. The application of the 
eau de luce was continued constantly for three hours, till a whole bottle was expended. The patient was now 
totally without any sense of feeling whatever ; and had it not been for a gentle heave of his breast every two 
or three minutes, I should have thought him dead. 
“ He remained in this torpid state forty hours, and then began to show signs of returning life ; it was twelve 
hours more before he recovered his speech ; and he continued many days in a very languid state. He is now 
one of the stoutest men in my first grenadier company." 
Observations. -From the sudden appearance of formidable symptoms, the progress of the poison must 
here have been extremely rapid. As nothing is said of the swelling or discoloration of the ankle, it is pro¬ 
bable the local affection was inconsiderable. Supposing the man not accustomed to spirituous liquors, the 
stupor might partly be imputed to the large dose of Madeira wine ; but torpor is also a common symptom of 
the poison. 
Madeira wine is the internal remedy most commonly used on such occasions, by the Europeans in the 
Carnatic; and numerous instances are produced of persons not dying who had recourse to it. But in many 
of those instances, two material circumstances are left not ascertained, viz. whether the snake that bit was 
or was not venomous, and whether the person bitten was infected. In the present case neither circumstance 
admits of doubt; but then another remedy, to which high virtues have been ascribed, was applied at the same 
time with the wine. 
In the second volume of the Asiatic Researches, six cases are related, in which the volatile alkali is supposed 
to have been successful. They were selected from a number which had come to the author's knowledge, who 
adds, “ that he never knew an instance of the volatile caustic alkali failing in its effect, where the patient has 
been able to swallow it." He at the same time gives it as his opinion, “ that it does not so much act as a 
