31 
DEATHS BY SNAKE-BITE IN THE BENGAL PRESIDENCY DURING 
1869. 
caused, but in a minor degree, recovery takes place partly 
from tlie inherent vigour of the individual, partly by the aid of 
treatment; but that any creature fairly bitten and poisoned by a 
vigorous Cobra, Hamadyrad, Krait, or Daboia, and who would 
otherwise have died, has been saved from such death by what 
is popularly called an antidote, I confess that I fear there are 
not sufficient grounds for belief. I have shown by experiment 
that if the bitten part can be instantaneously and completely 
separated from the rest of the body by ligature or excision, 
poisoning may be averted by preventing entry of the venom 
into the circulation; whilst every other measure tried, whether 
local or constitutional (with the exception, perhaps, of artificial 
respiration, and this is still sub judice) has entirely failed to do 
any good. The impossibility of applying the treatment by 
ligature and excision in a great proportion of cases is obvious, 
and it must be remembered that even it has only succeeded 
occasionally. I propose to give an account of what may be 
done in snake-bite in all its forms, describing whatever may 
hold out any prospect of relief or recovery. Meanwhile, there 
exists the obvious necessity of endeavouring to prevent these 
numerous fatal accidents by making generally known the 
appearance and habits of the Thanatophidia, and by instituting 
rewards for their destruction. With a plain description, and a 
faithful representation of each species in colours, every district 
medical, or police officer, would be able at once to distinguish 
the venomous from the innocent snakes; and thus knowledge 
enough, at least for all practical purposes, might be imparted to 
intelligent native subordinates to enable them to recognise the 
poisonous snakes also. By offering a larger reward for these 
only, their numbers would soon diminish, and the people would 
be made acquainted with the characters that distinguish the 
venomous from the harmless snakes, and would learn to avoid 
them. Thus only, I believe, can the evil be remedied, so long 
at all events, as the mode of life among the lower and agri- 
cultural classes, those who mainly suffer, remains what it now 
is. I would suggest that Magistrates, District and Police 
Officers, and Civil Surgeons be authorized to give the following 
rewards for poisonous snakes :—- 
R. A. 
Cobras.0 8 
Bungarus caeruleus.0 6 
Bungarus fasciatus.0 4 
Ophiophagus.0 8 
Russell’s viper.0 8 
Echis.0 4 
Trimeresurus.0 2 
The sum disbursed would no doubt be large, but the results ' 
in saving of human life and destruction of snakes would com¬ 
pensate for the expenditure. 
The following are abstracts of the returns above alluded to. 
Probably many of them are imperfect, for want of accurate 
records; in some, I believe, the mortality is underrated, as in 
the Calcutta return, which gives only six cases for 1869. Still 
they are sufficient to show how great an evil exists in what, one 
would fain hope, may be regarded, to a certain extent, as a 
preventible cause of death. 
I have received returns from the nine Divisions, including 
forty-eight districts in Bengal, showing an aggregate of 6219 
deaths from snake-bite in the year 1869. 
Of these 2374 were of males over twelve years of age; 2576 
were of females over twelve years of age; 663 of male children 
under twelve, and 606 of female children under twelve years of 
age ; making a total of 3037 males of all ages, and 3182 females 
of all ages. 
Thus of the 6219 persons killed by snakes in one year in 
Bengal, there was an excess of 145 females over the males; the 
adult females appear to have been the greatest sufferers, by 
2576 against 2374 ; whilst, on the other hand, female children 
were fewer, being 606 against 663 male children. 
The ages of the sufferers vary from one hundred years to 
three months. 
Although the returns are for the most part vague as to the 
snake that caused death, it is sufficiently evident that the 
several varieties of Cobra caused the greatest mortality. 959 
deaths are assigned to this snake, 160 to the Krait or Bungarus 
caeruleus, and 348 to other snakes not recognisable under their 
local vernacular names, 4752 to snakes altogether unknown, 
most frequently, probably, not having been seen. Doubtless, 
as the Cobra is in excess in the recorded cases, so it is in those 
of “other snakes,” and “ unknown,” whilst the remainder must 
be assigned to the Hamadryad, the Bungarus caeruleus, Bungarus 
fasciatus, Daboia russellii, and probably a few to the Trimeresuri 
and HydropJddae. It is worthy of note, that of all the Divisions 
the Presidency Division — although the Soonderbun District 
furnished no return, and Calcutta gives only six deaths—shows 
the largest mortality, being 1341 deaths; whilst the lowest is 
in Cooch Behar, 79 deaths, the Garrow Hills District, of that 
Division, furnishing no return at all. 
It is tolerably evident, notwithstanding the great mortality, 
that the figures represent only an approximation to that which 
really occurs, for some districts have sent no returns at all, 
whilst others have probably not recorded all that occurred. 
From Orissa I have received returns of three Districts, show¬ 
ing that in 1869, 350 deaths occurred. Of these 137 were of 
adult males, 138 of adult females, 44 of boys and 31 of girls 
under twelve years of age. Here also, although the difference 
is expressed only by 1, the adult female mortality exceeds that 
of the adult males; whereas among children the male exceed 
the female deaths by 13. 
It appears that 128 deaths were due to Cobras, 2 only to 
the Krait, 52 to “ other snakes,” and 168 to “ snakes unknown;” 
but a large proportion of these no doubt were also due to 
Cobras, some to the Krait, Daboia, Hamadryad; and it is 
possible that in this Division, which has a considerable tract of 
seaboard, some deaths may be ascribed to the salt-water snakes 
or Hydroplddae. 
From Assam I have received the returns of seven Districts, 
in three of which no reports are made. The other four give an 
aggregate of 76 deaths. Of these 50 were of adult males, 14 
of adult females, 9 of boys, 3 of girls; the male in this case 
much exceeding the female deaths 
Twelve deaths are ascribed to other snakes than the Cobra 
or Krait; 64 were caused by snakes unknown. I think it is 
more than probable that these returns only represent part of 
the mortality from snake-bite in Assam. 
From Oude I have received the returns of twelve Districts; 
by which it appears that 1205 persons died of snake-bite in 
that province in 1869. Of these 364 were adult males, 558 
adult females, 137 boys, and 146 girls under twelve years of age. 
The adult females were thus 194 in excess of the males, and 
the young girls 9 in excess of the boys. 607 deaths were 
caused by Cobras, 105 by Kraits, 20 by “other snakes,” and 
473 by “snakes unknown.” Several infants of tender age 
perished, and the ages of the sufferers range from a hundred 
years to one month. 
The District of Gondah appears to have been most fatal, 
giving 206 deaths. 
From Central India I have received from fourteen Districts 
reports of only 90 deaths. Of these 38 were of adult males, 36 
of adult females, 8 of boys, and 8 of girls. The number of males 
and females is thus as nearly as possible equal, there being a‘ 
slight excess of males. Twenty-one deaths are ascribed to the 
Cohra, 37 to “other snakes,” and 32 to “snakes unknown.” 
Western Malwah, of all the Districts, furnishes the largest 
number of deaths by 42. 
