190 
SPOLIA ZEYLANICA. 
given up, but the case was watched by me with interest to 
the end. 
Drops were instilled into the eyes by the “ vedarala, 53f and this 
appeared rather to aggravate the dimness of sight. Internal 
remedies were also administered, but with the withdrawal of stimu¬ 
lants there was a steady rise in the pulse, till at 5 p.m. it registered 
132 beats per minute, and was soft and feeble. Respiration also 
became more hurried and difficult. 
At 10 p.m. the pulse rose to 142 per minute, and slight signs of 
lividity were noticed about the face. The native physicians were 
now making preparations against the twenty-fourth hour, which is 
stated to be a critical time with cases of snake bite. At about 
11 p.m. dried bile from chickens was insufflated into the nostrils, 
which made the patient feel very short of breath. Within a couple 
of minutes he called out to his wife to hurry quickly up to him, and 
taking leave of her dropped back on his pillow and expired instantly. 
Consciousness and the power of speech were retained to the very 
last. Death appeared to have been due to asphyxia and heart 
failure, and I am firmly convinced that free stimulation from the 
very onset is strongly indicated in cases of snake bite, if only to 
prevent the extreme exhaustion which marks these cases. 
The external appearances noticed eight hours after death were 
lividity of the face, which was almost black. The lower portion of 
the face was swollen. Livid patches were also seen on the neck, 
chest, and lower extremities. The palmar aspect of the fingers was 
black in colour, and the nails were of a deep purple hue. A blood¬ 
stained fluid was issuing from the mouth and nostrils. The pupils 
were widely dilated, and the eyeballs congested. Post-mortem 
rigidity had disappeared, and decomposition was setting in early. 
Civil Hospital, A. E. SPAAR. 
Trincomalee, April 14, 1910. 
H. C. COTTLE, GOVERNMENT PRINTER, COLOMBO, CEYLON. 
