Chapter XXVIII: Part V: Documents (2)

“C., a negro, aged 26, employed in the artillery quarters at the Rivière d’Or, was bitten in the right leg by a snake measuring about 1 metre in length, which he declared was a _Trigonocephalus_. The patient came to me twenty minutes after the accident. The marks of the bite were clearly visible a hand’s breadth above the external malleolus. The wounds were inflamed, and appeared as two small red spots 1·5 cm. apart, from which a few drops of serum were exuding. I did not notice any congestion. The patient, however, complained of a feeling of weight in the leg, and supported himself upon the sound one. After making the man lie down upon a bed, I applied a tight ligature above the bitten part, and, with a penknife passed through a flame, I endeavoured to incise the wounds. The instrument, however, was blunt and I obtained but little blood.

“The treatment prescribed in Dr. Calmette’s directions was then strictly followed. With the usual antiseptic precautions, I made several hypodermic injections of the solution of hypochlorite of calcium round the bite, and injected the dose of serum indicated in two places in the abdominal wall. The patient was then vigorously rubbed and covered with woollen blankets. He was made to take two cups of a strong infusion of black coffee. Since he could not be induced to go to hospital, he was carried half an hour later to his home, where he placed himself in the hands of a ‘dresser.’

“According to information furnished by Captain Martin, who lived on the spot and was able to follow the course of the case, the patient remained throughout the day in a state of profound prostration, and had several attacks of syncope. The injured limb was greatly swollen, and the swelling, which extended to above the knee, produced a mechanical difficulty in using the joint, leading to a belief that paralysis was setting in. During the first five days the condition of the patient was so alarming as to cause a fatal issue to be apprehended. By degrees these symptoms diminished, until they disappeared about the fifth day.

“On the twentieth day, C. returned to his work. I saw him again a month later, when he was in perfect health; his leg had returned to its normal size, and all that remained were two small fibrous nodules showing where the bite had been inflicted.”

XXXV.--Case reported by Dr. Gries, Fort-de-France, Martinique.

“On June 21, 1896, a young black, who had just been bitten in the foot by a _Bothrops_ of large size, was brought to the Fort-de-France Hospital. The entire limb was swollen and benumbed.

“Two hours after the accident I gave an injection of 10 c.c. of serum in the abdomen, and the patient was taken back to his family. I saw him again ten days later, and found that he was quite cured. His friends stated that recovery had taken place much more quickly than could have been hoped after so serious a bite, and without the usual complications.”

XXXVI.--Case reported by Dr. Gries, Fort-de-France, Martinique.

“About 7 a.m., on November 25, 1896, G., aged 23, a fusilier belonging to the disciplinary battalion, was bitten by a _Bothrops_ at Fort Desaix under the following circumstances. One of his comrades had just caught the snake, and was holding its head down on the ground by means of a forked stick applied to the neck. G. passed a running noose round the reptile’s neck, but, his comrade having withdrawn the fork too soon, the snake had time to dart at him and bite him in left thumb. At the moment when he was bitten the man was squatting, but he quickly stood up, carrying with him the snake, which remained for a few seconds suspended from the thumb by its fangs, and did not let go until its victim had struck it on the head with his fist. G. immediately ran to one of his officers, who applied a tight ligature to the base of his thumb, and sent him off to the hospital, where he arrived on foot and quite out of breath, ten or twelve minutes after the accident. He was at once given a hypodermic injection of 10 c.c. of antivenomous serum in the left flank; the thumb was washed with a 1 in 60 solution of hypochlorite of calcium, after which the ligature was removed. A few moments later, thinking the case a serious one, I caused a second injection of 10 c.c. of serum to be given in the right flank.

“Immediately after being bitten the patient experienced complete loss of sensation in the limb, as far as the middle of the arm. About 9 a.m. he complained of acute shooting pains in the hand. At 11 o’clock the limb was still benumbed, but by degrees sensation returned. Profuse sweating.

“On November 26 sensation was restored in the whole limb; no inflammatory phenomena. The patient was perfectly well.

“The _Bothrops_ on being brought to the hospital measured 1 metre 47 cm. in length.”

XXXVII.--Case reported by Dr. Lavigne, Colonial-Surgeon at Fort-de-France.

“At 7 a.m. on January 19, 1897, G., aged 22, was going along a footpath near Trouvaillant, when he was bitten in the left external malleolus by a _Trigonocephalus_ which was rutting (a circumstance which, according to the natives, aggravates the character of the bite).

“After killing one of the reptiles (the other having escaped), the young man made his way to the detachment of gendarmery stationed close by. The officer in command applied a ligature to the upper part of the leg, cupped the man a few times, and sent information to us at the Military Hospital. On reaching the spot at 9.15 we found, on the postero-inferior surface of the left external malleolus, two small wounds resembling those caused by the bite of a snake. The leg was swollen and painful, and the patient could hardly put his foot to the ground.

“At 9.30, after taking the usual antiseptic precautions, we gave an injection of Calmette’s antivenomous serum, from a bottle dated December 26, 1896. Not having any hypochlorite of calcium at our disposal, we washed the wound with a 1 in 60 solution of hyposulphite of soda, and applied a dressing of carbolic gauze. An hour later the patient was taken to Saint Pierre in a carriage. Temperature 37·2° C. No vomiting, or tetanic phenomena. In the afternoon the pain was less acute, and the œdema seemed to have diminished a little. Mercurial ointment rubbed in.

“Four days later the patient, being cured without having had the least rise of temperature, proceeded to the country.

“This case is interesting, since a single dose of antivenomous serum (20 grammes), injected two hours and a half after the accident, sufficed to cure a young man bitten by a _Trigonocephalus_ measuring 1 metre 20 cm. in length.”

M.--Crotalus horridus.

XXXVIII.--Case recorded by Dr. P. Renaux, of Piriapolis, Uruguay (_La Tribuna popular_, Piriapolis, December 14, 1898).

Silverita, aged 20, bitten in the ankle by a _Crotalus_, on December 7, 1898. Symptoms of serious intoxication. Treated with a dose of antivenomous serum, injected half in the right flank, half in the left. Recovery.

II.--A FEW NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS RELATING TO DOMESTIC ANIMALS BITTEN BY POISONOUS SNAKES AND TREATED WITH SERUM.

A.--Naja haje.

XXXIX.--Case reported by Dr. Maclaud, of Konakry, French Guinea.

“A hound belonging to the Governor of Konakry was bitten in the ear by a black _Naja_. A similar accident happened last year, and the animal died on the fifth day. In the present case, serious phenomena had already manifested themselves: depression, convulsions, and great swelling of the entire head and anterior portion of the trunk. A dose of 10 c.c. was injected at three different points: in the flank, neck, and cellular tissue of the injured ear. Improvement was almost immediate. On the following day the animal recovered its appetite, and two days later was completely cured.”

XL.--Case reported by Dr. Marotte, of Konakry.

“At 10 a.m. on November 1, 1898, a large dog (a German brach), weighing 33 kilogrammes, was running about in some tall grass. It returned to its master, looking unhappy, with its eyelids swollen. Thinking that his dog had been bitten by a _Naja_, a snake which swarms round Konakry, he took it to the hospital. The animal was unable to cover the distance, which was only 300 metres; it was dragged along, but collapsed, and had to be carried. Its head was swollen, it panted, and its breathing was rapid and irregular; there was profuse salivation. On the inner face of the right ear the marks of the two fangs of the reptile were distinctly visible. A hypodermic injection of 10 c.c. of antivenomous serum was immediately given in the right flank: this was at 10.10 a.m. At 11 o’clock the symptoms appeared to become less acute; the animal was easier, and its breathing became less rapid and more regular. At 1 o’clock the animal succeeded in getting on to its feet; the œdema had somewhat diminished, and it was able to half open its eyes. At 6 o’clock the dog was taken back to its master’s house; it seemed just as lively as though nothing had happened.

“On the following morning there was still a small amount of œdema in the eyelids, but the appearance of the head had become normal.”

B.--Pelias berus (Common Viper).

XLI.--Case reported by M. de Maupas, of Challay, by Trôô.

“About 1 p.m., on July 30, 1898, a fairly large pointer was brought to me, bitten in the right paw. On shaving off the hair the marks of the two fangs of the snake were clearly visible. The wound had bled a little, and the injured limb was painful and swollen. I ligatured the paw above the joint, and injected a bottle of antivenomous serum, which had been in my possession since September 6, 1897. The effect was very rapid; after a quarter of an hour the dog reopened its eyes, which until then had been half closed. Towards 5 o’clock I removed the ligature. On the next day but one the swelling had almost disappeared, and the dog took its food of its own accord; it ran about and seemed lively.”

XLII.--Case reported by M. de Villiers, Mayor of Villiers-le-Duc, Côte-d’Or.

“About 2 p.m., on May 23, 1898, the widow Veillard, of Villiers-le-Duc, while driving her herd of cows to pasture among the brushwood, saw a viper which she killed, and then, a few moments later, three others in succession, which she likewise killed. Madame Veillard thought of leaving this place, which seemed to her to be too much infested, when one of her cows, which was quietly feeding, swerved violently and dashed off through the scrub. With the help of her dog she succeeded in recovering the cow, which appeared uneasy, ceased to feed, and had a swollen muzzle. Madame Veillard then decided to return to the village.

“Towards 6 p.m., that is to say about three hours after the accident, I was sent for. The head and tongue of the cow were swollen, there was foam on the mouth, and the animal had difficulty in breathing. I injected a dose of antivenomous serum, from our first-aid station, beneath the skin of the shoulder, and gave a second injection a few moments later. The cow was then led back to her shed.

“At 9 p.m. she was quiet. The swelling did not increase, and the cow, which had previously refused all food, ate a handful of hay.

“On the following morning there was nothing to be seen beyond a little swelling in the neck. The animal fed as usual, and gave her normal quantity of milk.”

XLIII.--Case reported by M. P. Rat, engineer, of Saint-Rambert-en-Bugey, Ain.

“About 2 p.m. on Sunday, September 7, 1902, while I was out shooting, my bitch was bitten in the lower lip by a very large viper. Since I was a long way from home, I was unable to give the injections until 6 p.m., by which time the poor beast was in a pitiable condition. Her head was as large as a saucepan; she had no strength left, trembled, and was unable to stand. I injected 15 c.c. of serum in the left flank. This was all that I did.

“At 7 o’clock on the Monday morning the bitch ate and drank a little. She began to walk about, and by the evening had completely recovered. There was nothing but a very little swelling left.”

C.--Cerastes.

XLIV.--Case reported by Dr. Boyé, of Kissidougou, French Soudan.

“At Kan-Kau, on December 19, 1896, a cow belonging to the post, which had been bitten by a snake at 8 a.m., seemed about to die. The snake, which was killed by the herdsman, was a _Cerastes_ (Horned Viper).

“On going to the cattle-shed I found the animal on her side and panting, with the limbs completely relaxed. A thick foam was dropping from the half-open mouth, and asphyxia seemed imminent. The cow had been bitten in the teats, which were enormously swollen; the œdema extended over the whole of the belly and inner face of the thighs. Two doses of serum were injected, one at the base of the teats, the other in the subcutaneous tissue of the flank.

“On the following morning the œdema had diminished, and the breathing was much easier; the animal seemed to be conscious of what was passing around it.

“Forty-eight hours later the cow was able to walk and went out to graze, having apparently entirely recovered from the accident.”

III.--NOTE ON THE COLLECTION OF VENOM AND THE TREATMENT OF BITES FROM POISONOUS SNAKES IN THE FRENCH SETTLEMENTS IN INDIA.

By Dr. PAUL GOUZIEN.

Principal Medical Officer of Colonial Troops.

From the time of our arrival in India, in February, 1901, we turned our attention to ensuring the regular collection of snake-venoms, with a view to satisfying the desire for them that had been expressed by our friend Professor Calmette, Director of the Pasteur Institute at Lille.

To gain this end, the moral and financial support of the Administration was indispensable, and this did not fail us. Acting on our suggestion, as formulated by letter on May 25, 1901, Governor Rodier, on June 11, issued an order by the terms of which a sum of 200 rupees was placed at the disposal of the Chief of the Sanitary Service, “with a view to encourage the catching of poisonous snakes, and to assist the collection of snake-venom by the granting of bounties to natives.”

On the issue of this order, we drew up instructions for the collection of venom, which we caused to be distributed to all posts in the Colony. At the same time an appeal in the vernacular was posted up in each of our sanitary institutions, inviting the Hindus to commence the campaign forthwith. The notice placarded on the door of the Pondicherry Hospital ran as follows:--

“Public Notice.

“For the public good the Governor requests the population to capture poisonous snakes in all places where they are found; to take them alive if possible; and to bring them to the Hospital without removing their fangs.

“One rupee will immediately be paid for each snake brought in.

“Those who read this notice are requested to communicate it to their acquaintances.”

* * * * *

The Indian snake-charmers at once responded to this appeal, and the harvest of snakes was soon abundant. The first provision of 200 rupees, allotted to us by the Administration in June, 1901, had to be successively renewed in May and October, 1902. Since then, on the proposition of our successor, Dr. Camail, this sum of 200 rupees has been included in the local budget, thus definitively sanctioning the principle of the collection of venom in our Indian Settlements.

The venom forwarded by us to France has been exclusively derived from the cobra, or _Naja tripudians_. Other venomous serpents are found in the French Settlements in India, especially the species of _Hydrophis_, or sea-snakes; but the cobra is by far the commonest species, and our trading stations teem with it. Yanaon is infested by it at all seasons, but especially at the time when the Godavari is in flood; the reptiles then make their way towards spots spared by the inundation, and the natives frequently kill them in their houses. Thus M. Mariapregassam, the Sanitary Officer in charge of the the Medical Service of this dependency, was in a position to procure for us, at the very commencement of our operations, important doses of venom: it should be added that he acquitted himself of this task with a perseverance and devotion worthy of the fullest recognition. Of the 653 cobras captured between August 1, 1901, and February 23, 1903, 229, or more than one-third, were furnished by Yanaon. Moreover, the cost price of the cobra fell in proportion to its numbers, and Yanaon paid for its snakes on the average at the rate of 33 centimes apiece; while at Chandarnagar and Pondicherry the snake-charmers frequently received 1 rupee (1 franc 67 centimes) per reptile, though it is true that even this was an extremely poor remuneration, when we consider the risk of the calling.

Again, owing to the limited amount of our grants, we were obliged to restrict our expenditure, regulating the purchase-price of the snakes according to the quantity of venom collected. Thus at Pondicherry, having observed that each cobra yielded on an average twenty drops of venom, we fixed the value of two drops at one _fanon_ (one-eighth of a rupee), never more. In this way it was decidedly to the snake-charmer’s interest to bring us fresh snakes, and not such as had been previously deprived of their venom.

In spite of this new regulation, snakes continued to pour into the hospital, and several were repeatedly brought to us at the same time; in October and November, 1902, the figure 9 appears three times in our statistics.

The combined results of the snake-harvest at our five settlements, from August 1, 1901, to February 23, 1903, are shown in the following table:--

Average
weight Average Average
Quantity of dry price price
Number Sum of venom venom of the of 1 gramme
of cobras expended collected per cobra cobra of venom

653 R. 446 242 0·37 R. 0.68 R. 1.84
grammes gramme (1.13 fr.) (3.07 fr.)

On an average, therefore, nearly three cobras are necessary to furnish 1 gramme of dry venom, since freshly collected venom weighs more, owing to the proportion of water contained in it, which is greater than half the total weight. Thus the quantity of fresh venom extracted from an average cobra may be estimated at about 80 centigrammes. It may be added that the product of the glands differs considerably in appearance, according as it is derived from a dead or living snake. In the former case it takes the form of extremely small, glistening lamellæ, of a golden-yellow colour, similar in appearance, when in bulk, to iodoform. Venom extracted from the living snake, on the other hand, is of an amber-brown colour, and forms much larger lamellæ, which are translucent and slightly elongate, resembling particles of gum arabic. When the product is impure and mixed with a small quantity of blood, it has a dull appearance, and is of a dark, dirty brown, almost black colour.

At the Pondicherry Hospital venom is collected in the following manner;[168] The snake is brought by the snake-charmer in a _chatty_, a kind of earthern pot, covered with a rag, or half a calabash. Ensconced at the bottom of this receptacle, the reptile has a difficulty in making up its mind to emerge, which it does only after having been stirred up several times. Once it is outside the charmer forces the cobra to uncoil, and, while the animal is moving slowly along, fastens it to the ground by placing the end of a bamboo on its neck, quite close to the head. The Indian then cautiously seizes the head of the cobra with his forefinger and thumb, and, with a rapid movement, throws it into a jar prepared for the purpose, containing a few tampons of absorbent wool impregnated with chloroform. As soon as the snake is inside, an assistant quickly slips a metal plate over the opening of the jar and presses his hand firmly down upon it. In a few minutes the animal is dead; it is then taken out of the jar and its mouth is swabbed out; next, the fangs having been raised by means of a probe, a saucer is placed between the jaws, and, by pressure exerted upon the poison-glands laterally and from behind forwards, the venom is made to spurt out. The fresh product obtained in this way is of a very pale yellow colour, and viscid. It is protected from the air and light until completely desiccated; then, when it is in sufficient quantity and distributed in flakes round the sides of the saucer, like the colours on a palette, it is cautiously detached with a spatula, taking care to protect the eyes against risk from flying particles of venom. After being placed in well-corked bottles, the product is despatched to France.

In spite of the precautions observed in the course of these proceedings, and although the venom has not been extracted until after the death of the animal, some regrettable accidents have taken place, as we shall show further on.

Cases of bites from poisonous snakes appear but seldom in the statistics of our settlements in India, and, contrary to what is the case in the neighbouring English possessions, hardly any deaths are _officially_ recognised in the annual returns as being due to this cause. It is true that the death statistics are very badly authenticated, and that the natives frequently conceal the real cause of death.

We have been informed by Dr. Cordier, Surgeon-Major of the Sepoy Corps, that, during a previous tour of duty in Bengal, he had successfully treated two cases of cobra-bite with Calmette’s serum.

At the end of 1901 the following note was forwarded to us by Dr. Paramananda Mariadassou, Physician to the Karikal Hospital:--

“Case I.--In the month of November, 1901, a woman of robust habit was brought about midnight to the Karikal Hospital, in a semi-comatose condition. Her husband stated that an hour before, while lying on a mat stretched on the ground, she felt herself bitten in the shoulder when in the act of placing her head on the pillow. With a start of surprise she half rose and then lay down again. It was only on being bitten for the third time that she made up her mind to seek for the cause; passing her hand beneath the pillow in the darkness she touched the body of a snake and cried out. Directly afterwards she pointed out to her husband, who had at once hastened to her, the snake coiled up against the wall; the man killed the reptile and burnt it on the spot. According to him the snake was about a metre in length, and as thick as all five fingers put together. The woman had barely time to tell her husband what had happened, for she speedily became unconscious, and was in this condition when brought to the hospital.

“On admission the following symptoms were observed: The patient did not reply to questions put to her, the eyelids remained closed, and the teeth clenched. On the right shoulder, a little on the inner side of the deltoid prominence, two or three punctures were distinguishable, marked by a small spot of coagulated blood. The respiration was normal, but the pulse was feeble and thready. When a pledget impregnated with ammonia was held under her nose the woman reacted, but immediately relapsed into the soporose condition.

“Two doses of antivenomous serum were at once injected, one in each flank: the patient seemed scarcely to feel the insertion of the needle. The wound on the shoulder was then washed with a fresh solution of hypochlorite of calcium, 1 in 60, and six injections, each of 1 gramme, of the same solution were given round the wound. The latter was covered with a pad of cotton-wool saturated with the solution, and two more doses of serum were injected into the flanks. As the result of this treatment, which altogether took nearly half an hour, the woman began to unclench her teeth, and to respond to her name. She was made to swallow a few mouthfuls of very hot black coffee. A little later she resisted when a fresh injection of serum was about to be given her. After having taken a second cup of coffee she sat up, opened her eyes, and recognised those about her. She immediately asked to go home, but was detained for some time longer. After being carried from the operating table to a bed, she was wrapped in a blanket; a few minutes later profuse perspiration set in, and the patient felt so well that she was allowed to go.

“On the following day the husband came to thank us, and stated that his wife had quite recovered, and that, while she had been unable to sleep for the remainder of the night, it was rather from fear caused by what had happened than in consequence of the pain.”

Case II.--We feel it our duty to relate in detail the following case, having regard to the peculiar circumstances under which it took place.

Coupin, the son of Ponnin, aged 25, living at Carouvadicoupom, near Pondicherry, is a snake-charmer, and one of those who regularly supply us with venom. In the course of July, 1902, this man pointed out to us a shrub[169] growing in one of the alleys of the hospital, to which he attributed so marvellous a power against the bites of poisonous snakes, that he offered to make a cobra bite him in our presence, little as we showed any desire to witness such an exhibition. We allowed him to talk, not wishing to encourage such an act of bravado.

However, on July 23 he returned to the charge, and, as we were leaving the hospital accompanied by our colleagues, he showed us a cobra which he had just caught, and declared himself ready to carry out the proposed experiment there and then. In the face of so much confidence and _sang-froid_, and, apart from this, being interested in learning the justification for the reputation for immunity possessed by Hindu snake-charmers, we thought we ought not to oppose this voluntary test.

Coupin then turned out from the chatty in which it was imprisoned a medium-sized cobra, and amused himself for a few moments by teasing it. Irritated by this sport, the snake reared itself up, hissed, and struck at its aggressor several times, as though it would bite him; but, at each dart, Coupin stopped it with his hand and gaze, and the snake remained fascinated, with open mouth, hesitating to drive home its fangs. At one moment the snake even crawled up to the native’s outstretched hand, and appeared to lick it: it was evident that the animal’s only intention was to defend itself, not to attack.

Coupin, however, was bent on getting bitten, and, by dint of exciting the snake, the latter became so exasperated that, with hood dilated, it struck at the snake-charmer’s right hand and drove in its fangs. The man quietly raised his arm, to allow it to be clearly seen that the cobra had a firm hold; then, forcing the animal to let go, he came to us to prove that he was really bitten. There were two bleeding spots, 6 millimetres apart, in the centre of the fourth intermetacarpal space of the right hand. The time was exactly 4.40 p.m.

The snake, which was immediately killed, was still able to yield twelve drops of venom, when lateral pressure was applied to its glands.

Coupin walked towards a shrub of the kind mentioned above, which he had planted that very morning in the courtyard of the hospital,[170] plucked some leaves from it and began to chew them, making rather a wry face, for he said that they were very bitter. He then seemed to meditate for a few moments before the shrub. We asked him whether he was afraid, but he stoutly denied it, declaring that this was not his first experience, and that indeed he had been bitten by cobras so often that he could not remember the first occasion. We endeavoured to discover whether he was not rendered immune, as Indian snake-charmers are reputed to be, by inoculating themselves subcutaneously with increasing doses of venom, according to a principle to a certain extent analagous to that on which the preparation of antivenomous serum is based. He, however, assured us that he knew nothing about such practices, and that the properties of the plant in question had always sufficed to cure him without other treatment. Such was his confidence in his specific that, before the cobra was killed, he suggested to our hospital-warder that he should allow himself to be bitten in his turn, in order to render the experiment still more conclusive, adding that his own assistant would be the subject at the next demonstration.

Nevertheless, a slight œdema began to appear round the bite. The injured man seemed to be suffering a little, but the pain did not extend above the wrist; a slight trembling appeared in the other arm. From time to time Coupin gently massaged the affected limb with his left hand from above downwards, in order, he said, to lessen the pain, and perhaps also with a view to checking the diffusion of the venom. A slight perspiration broke out over the body; the pulse was regular, 92, twenty minutes after the bite.

Towards 6.15, or about an hour and a half after the experiment, the man, refusing an injection of serum, prepared to go home, but we insisted that he should remain at the hospital for at least two hours longer, so as to enable us to watch his condition. He consented to this, and asked for something to eat. At this time the back of the hand was somewhat more swollen, but Coupin seemed to be little disturbed by it; he even declared that the swelling would increase still further on the following day, and that, in two or three days, he would make an incision in order to let out the impure blood collected at the spot; also that the trouble was now localised, and would not extend higher. He merely complained of acute thirst, and of a certain difficulty in swallowing, which was due, he declared, to the extreme bitterness of the leaves that he had just masticated. Temperature 36·8° C.; pulse 36. After the brief reaction at the outset, there was a certain amount of hypothermia, but the general condition seemed satisfactory, and the man remained perfectly calm. We therefore left him under the supervision of the resident student and the male attendants, giving orders that we should be sent for immediately in case of any serious symptoms arising.

At 7.15 we received a note from the student to the effect that Coupin had vomited, that his pulse was small, there was difficulty in breathing, and that he had just received an injection of antivenomous serum. We hastened to the hospital, where we were speedily joined by Drs. Cordier and Lhomme.

On our arrival we found Coupin in a rather prostrate condition. The pupils were fixed, he was foaming slightly at the mouth, respiration was regular, the pulse was strong and quite rhythmical at 96; the man was somewhat chilly. The patient was unable to speak, but had not lost consciousness, for, when we asked him how he was, he indicated by signs that he felt very ill. We subsequently learnt, from the student on duty, that towards 6.45 the condition of the patient became suddenly worse, after his companion had administered to him some medicine, the nature of which we have been unable to discover; on swallowing this drug Coupin was seized with vomiting, and became collapsed. We thought it more likely, however, that this was a mere coincidence, rather than the result of a poison adding its effects to those produced by the bite of the snake.

While waiting for our arrival a ligature had been applied to the injured arm, and near the bite there had been made two deep incisions, from which some dark blood escaped. At the same time the patient received hypodermically a first injection of 10 c.c. of Dr. Calmette’s antivenomous serum, and two injections of ether and caffeine. As the result of this treatment we found a marked increase in pulse-rate. After a subcutaneous injection of 500 grammes of artificial serum, there appeared to be a further distinct improvement until about 8.45 (four hours after the bite). From this moment, however, the patient gradually sank. A second dose of antivenomous serum was injected beneath the skin,[171] and, since the respiratory movements gradually became slower, artificial respiration by Sylvester’s method was resorted to, while the tongue was rhythmically drawn forward. From time to time these proceedings were interrupted for a few moments, in order to observe the condition of the respiration; at the base of the thorax and in the flanks abrupt, jerky, tetaniform undulations were observable, but there was no free respiratory movement. The abdominal aorta, the pulsations of which were visible behind the navel, raising the anterior wall of the abdomen, was somewhat misleading, simulating the rhythmical oscillations of the abdominal respiratory type. The heart, however, continued to beat regularly, without any appreciable weakness. The radial pulse persisted, although weak and slow: rate 48.

The patient was kept alive by repeated injections of ether and artificial serum (1¼ litres in three doses). About 8.30 there appeared to be a slight improvement; the patient was warmer, and showed some degree of sensation in the region of the bite. On pinching the vasculo-nervous bundle in the left axilla reflex movements were produced in the fingers, which closed convulsively. The pulse, which had momentarily disappeared in the radial artery, could again be felt, weak but regular. At the same time, when the epigastric region was examined, a few faint respiratory movements were just perceptible. A third injection of antivenomous serum was given and artificial respiration was continued.

This factitious amelioration, however, was not maintained, and after a few scarcely visible movements of the thorax the end soon came. The eyes were fixed and insensible, the pupils slightly dilated; no sweats, no urine passed. The body slowly grew cold; the pulse disappeared from the femoral and carotid arteries, and diminished in the aorta. The contractions of the heart were once or twice irregular, and its beats became weaker and gradually The reflexes had disappeared. There were still a few slight muscular contractions near the base of the chest, and the patient quietly passed away at 11.5 p.m., as the result of the progressive arrest of the heart’s action, respiration itself having virtually disappeared two hours before the heart had ceased to beat.

Case III.--A week after this sad occurrence, another snake-charmer, Kingilien by name, aged 25, was bitten in the first phalanx of the right forefinger, when taking hold of a cobra in the courtyard of the Pondicherry Hospital. Refusing an injection of antivenomous serum, the man ran off as fast as he could go, after having a simple ligature applied to his wrist. Scarcely had he reached his dwelling, when he fell into a deep coma, in which condition he was carried to Cottacoupom, to the abode of one Souraire Kramani, a kind of sorcerer, who administered to him a certain medicament in a betel leaf. After having vomited a large quantity of bile he was taken home. At this time, according to the summary investigation that we caused to be made, the patient was unable to utter a single word; he could only open his mouth with difficulty, and his eyelids remained closed. Kingilien, who had partially regained consciousness, seemed to be suffering from continuous attacks of vertigo; his head, if pushed to one side, drooped, and the man was incapable of voluntary movement. Respiration was fairly easy, swallowing painful. The entire hand was greatly swollen; poultices of leaves were applied to it, after a few incisions had been made with a knife in the back of the hand, in order to reduce the congestion. The arm was rubbed from above downwards with the very bitter leaves of the _Vëmbou_, or mango-tree, and prayers were recited. This is all the information that I have been able to obtain with reference to this man, who, after a prolonged convalescence, is said to have recovered (?).

Case IV.--One Latchoumanin, aged 25, also a snake-charmer, of Caradicoupom, was bitten at the Hospital at 10 a.m., on August 2, while handling a cobra. The bite was situated in the second joint of the right thumb. After it had bitten the man, ten drops of venom were extracted from the reptile’s glands.

A ligature was immediately applied, and the wound was made to bleed by hard squeezing. Refusing all other treatment, especially injection of serum, although we repeatedly urged it, the man made off home with all speed, but on arrival failed to find the specific on which he was relying. All that was then done was to recite a few prayers over him, and a Brahmin priest was called to bless him. About 11.30, after acute suffering, Latchoumanin sank into a comatose condition. At 12.30 respiration became stertorous, and the patient succumbed at 2 p.m., four hours after being bitten. Just as the medical officer, deputed by us, reached the dying man, two chatties containing live snakes were deposited at his bedside, to ward off ill-luck!

* * * * *

On the whole, the evidence collected in the last two cases is as confused as it is incomplete, and we can scarcely say how much we regret the obstinacy of these unfortunate victims in refusing to submit to our treatment, for the serum would undoubtedly have produced its maximum effect in them, since it would have been possible to make use of it in good time. These disastrous occurrences, however, will not cure natives of their exclusive reliance upon empirical practices; and as regards the inhabitants of the Tamil country, that is to say, Southern India, it may be foreseen that for a long time to come they will continue to remain refractory to the serotherapic treatment, submission to which the English have had less difficulty in securing from the natives of Bengal, whose intellectual development undoubtedly stands on a higher plane.

INDEX.

d’Abbadie, M., on inoculation, 238.

_Acalyptophis_, 133.

_Acanthophis_, 96.

“ _antarcticus_ (death adder), 96.

“ “ “ “ bite dangerous, 100.

_Acanthopterygii_, 290, 301, 304.

_Acanthurus_, 301.

“ _luridus_, 301.

Adder, 25, 26. _See also Vipera berus._

Africa, poisonous snakes in, 57-81.

“ “ “ geographical distribution of genera (tables), 143, 144.

“ (Central), witch doctors of, snake-bite remedies, 237.

“ (East), Vatuas’ method of inoculation, 239.

Agglutinins of venoms, 202.

_Aipysurus_, 140.

“ _annulatus_, 140.

“ _australis_, 140.

“ _lævis_, 140.

“ _eydouxii_, 140.

Albuminoid of snake-venom produces hæmorrhages, 162.

Albumins of venom devoid of toxic power, 164.

Albumose of snake-venom attacks nerve-cell of respiratory centres,
162.

Albumoses of venoms of _Colubridæ_, 162.

“ “ “ method of separation, 162.

“ _See also_ Proto-albumoses, Hetero-albumoses.

Alcatifa, extraction of venom from, for inoculation, 239.

Alcock, researches of, on glands of snakes, 147.

Alexins, 198, 209.

“ characteristics of, 207.

“ fixation of, 210, 211.

“ of normal serum, fixation by cobra-venom, 211.

“ neutralisation of, 212.

Alkaloids in venom, 160.

Alps, and mountains of Central Europe, _Salamandra atra_ found in,
313.

Amboceptors, 198, 210.

“ fixation of, 208, 220.

America, snakes in, geographical distribution of genera of (table),
146.

“ venomous snakes in, 100-131.

America, (Central), _Batrachus tau_ found on shores of, 302.

“ (North), musical toad found in, 318.

“ (South), witch doctors of, snake-bite remedies, 237.

“ (Tropical and Sub-tropical), _Latrodectus mactans_ found in, 275.

Ammonia, injection of, only temporary antidote against snake-venom,
261.

_Ancistrodon_, 49, 109, 110.

“ venom of, precipitation of anticoagulant substance in, 195.

“ _acutus_, 49.

“ _bilineatus_, 111.

“ _blomhoffii_, 50.

“ _contortrix_, 111.

“ _himalayanus_, 50.

“ _hypnale_, 51.

“ _intermedius_, 50.

“ _piscivorus_, 110.

“ _rhodostoma_, 51.

Anderson, relation of escape from _Naja haje_, 60.

_Anemone scultata_, 269.

Aniline colours, action of, diminishes toxicity of venoms, 167.

Animals, venomous, definition of, 1.

Arachnolysin, poison from _Latrodectus_ prepared by, 276.

_Araneida_ (spiders), 274.

Armstrong, H., chemical analysis of cobra-venom, 159.

Arrows, poisoned by Hottentots with venom of _Bitis arietans_, 72.

Arthropods, poisonous species of, 274.

Asia, poisonous snakes inhabiting, 30, 57.

“ “ “ “ geographical distribution of genera (tables), 142, 143.

Asp, 27, 28. _See also Vipera aspis_.

_Aspidelaps_, 64.

“ _lubricus_, 64.

“ _scutatus_, 64.

_Atheris_, 78.

“ _ceratophorus_, 78.

“ _chlorechis_, 78.

“ _squamiger_, 78.

Atlantic (Tropical), _Acanthurus_ found in, 301.

“ “ _Muræna moringa_ found in, 309.

_Atractaspis_, 78.

“ _aterrima_, 80.

“ _bibronii_, 80.

“ _congica_, 79.

“ _corpulenta_, 80.

“ _dahomeyensis_, 80.

“ _hildebrandtii_, 79.

“ _irregularis_, 79.

“ _leucomelas_, 81.

“ _microlepidota_, 81.

“ _micropholis_, 81.

“ _rostrata_, 80.

Australia, health authorities’ notices against venomous reptiles, 100.

“ mortality from snake-bite in, 100, 261.

“ poisonous snakes of, 81-100.

“ snakes of, almost all confined to sub-family _Elapinæ_, 5.

Bacteriolytic action of venoms, 206.

“ “ “ how differing from that of rat-serum, 208.

Bailey, action of venom on brain, 185.

Batrachians, 312.

_Batrachiidæ_, 302.

_Batrachus grunniens_, 302.

“ _tau_, 302.

Bavay on the spitting snake, 63.

Bee-sting, remedies for, 286.

Bees, venom of, 282.

Bertrand, researches of, 147.

Bertrand and Phisalix, experiments on immunity of hedgehog to venom,
226.

“ “ preparation of toad-venom, 319.

Bettencourt, R., venom antitoxin treatment of yellow fever, 184.

Bibron and Duméril on coloration of snakes, 16.

“ “ _Naja_ worship in Egypt, 61.

Bile, destructive effect on cobra-venom, 215.

Birds, symptoms after inoculation with lethal doses of venom, 172.

_Bitis_, 69.

“ _arietans_ (puff adder), 69.

“ “ “ “ bite from, 350.

“ “ “ “ venom used for poisoning arrows by Hottentots, 72.

“ _atropos_, 72.

“ _caudalis_, 73.

“ _cornuta_, 73.

“ _gabonica_, 73.

“ “ does not attack man, 74.

“ _inornata_, 72.

“ _peringueyi_, 72.

Black snake, 88. _See also Pseudechis porphyriacus._

Blin, bite from _Cerastes_, 349.

Blindness following bite of viper, 178.

Blood, anticoagulant action of venom on, mechanism of, 195.

“ coagulability, action of venom of _Lachesis lanceolatus_ on, 191.

“ “ destroyed by venoms of _Colubridæ_, 179, 188, 189, 191, 192, 193.

“ “ “ “ certain species of _Crotalinæ_, 191, 192, 193.

“ “ uncertain action of venom of Vipera berus on, in certain animals,
189, 190.

“ coagulation of, connected with action of venoms of _Viperidæ_ on
nervous system, 185, 186.

“ “ produced by venoms of _Viperidæ_, 179, 188, 189.

“ not coagulated after death caused by venoms of _Colubridæ_, 171,
188, 189.

“ of hedgehog toxic before heating, antitoxic afterwards, 226.

“ of scorpion antitoxic, 279.

Blood, toxicity of, in reptiles, 217.

“ “ “ confers partial immunity to venom, 218, 219.

“ “ “ destroyed by heating, 218.

“ “ in venomous snakes, 217.

Blood-corpuscles, red, agglutination by venoms, 202.

“ “ dissolution only effected by combination of venom with
blood-serum or lecithin, 197.

“ “ dissolved by snake-serums, 219, 220.

“ “ effects of venom upon, 196.

“ “ resistance to large doses of venom, 199, 200, 201.

“ “ “ “ “ “ explanation, 200, 201.

“ “ washing of, important before presentation to action of venom,
196, 197.

“ unaltered under action of simultaneous doses of venom and serum,
220.

“ white, effects of venom on, 203.

Bombay, laboratory for production of antivenomous serum at, 248, 252.

Bonaparte, Lucien, chemistry of venom of vipers, 160.

_Bothrops_, bites from, 353, 354.

Bottard on venomous fishes, 288.

_Boulengerina_, 58.

“ _stormsi_, 58.

_Brachyaspis_, 95.

“ _curta_, 95.

Brain, comparative action of venoms of _Colubridæ_ and _Viperidæ_ on,
185, 186.

“ substance of, fixation of venom on, 186.

Brazil, _Thalassophryne maculosa_ found on shores of, 303.

Brehm, on _Crotalus confluentus_, 125.

“ the daboia (_Vipera russellii_), 46.

“ _Echis carinatus_ (efa, viper of the pyramids), 76, 77.

“ reverence paid by Hindus to _Naja_, 38.

Broad-headed snake, 94. _See also Hoplocephalus variegatus._

Briot, A., experiments with weever-venom, 298, 299.

“ poison of _Scolopendra_ prepared by, 280.

Bromized water, saturated, modifies or destroys venoms, 164.

Brown snake, 87. _See also Diemenia textilis._

Brunton, Sir Lauder, on harmless ingestion of venom exceeding lethal
dose, 214.

_Bufo calamita_ (natter-jack), 318.

“ _musicus_ (musical toad), 318.

“ _viridis_ (green toad), 318.

“ _vulgaris_ (common toad), 318.

Bufotalin, 319, 320.

“ first active principle of toad-venom, and cardiac poison, 319, 320.

Bufotenin, 320.

“ second active principle of toad-venom, and neurotoxic poison, 320.

_Bungarus_, 30.

“ venom of, active hæmolysing power possessed by, 199.

“ _cæruleus_ (common krait), bite, cure of, 337.

“ “ “ “ venom of, dose lethal for different animals, 174.

“ _candidus_, 32.

_Bungarus candidus_, resemblance to _Lycodon aulicus_, 33.

“ _fasciatus_, 31, 32.

_Buprestidæ_, food for larvæ of _Cerceris bupresticida_, 285.

Bushmaster, or surucucu, 112. _See also Lachesis mutus._

_Calamaridæ_, species of _Callophis_ feed only upon, 42.

_Callionymus_, 301.

“ _belennus_, 301.

“ _lacertus_, 301.

“ _lyra_, 300-301.

“ _vulsus_, 301.

_Callophis_, 40.

“ feeds only on snakes belonging to _Calamaridæ_, 42.

“ _bibronii_, 41.

“ _gracilis_, 41.

“ _maclellandi_, 41.

“ _maculiceps_, 41.

“ _trimaculatus_, 41.

Calmette’s serum, cobra-bites treated with, 363-5. _See also_ Serum,
antivenomous.

Calvados, _Callionymus lyra_ common on coast of, 301.

_Cantharis_ (blister-beetles), 281.

Cantor, on venom of _Naja bungarus_, 39.

“ vindictiveness of _Naja bungarus_, 39.

Captivity, poisonous snakes kept in, 61, 62, 125, 156, 223.

Carawalla. _See Ancistrodon hypnale._

Cardiac poison of toad-venom (bufotalin), 319, 320.

Caribbean Sea, _Scorpæna grandicornis_ found in, 293.

Carpi and Morgenroth, lecithide of bee-venom prepared by, 285.

Carrière, experiments on ingestion of venom, 214.

Cascavella (_Crotalus terrificus_), 124.

Cato, army of, patronage of snake-charmers by, 228.

_Causus_, 67.

“ _defilipii_, 67.

“ _lichtensteinii_, 68.

“ _resimus_, 67.

“ _rhombeatus_, 67.

Cells, dissolution of. _See_ Cytolytic action.

_Cerastes_, 47, 75.

“ bites from, 348-350.

“ “ cured, 358.

“ secretion of, 150.

“ venom of, fatal to barefooted pedestrians, 76.

“ _cornutus_, 47, 75.

“ _vipera_, 75.

_Cerceris bupresticida_, 285.

Ceylon, snake-charmers of, 229.

Chameleons succumb rapidly to snake-poisoning, 172.

Chelicera (fang of spider), 274.

Chemical reactions exhibited by venoms, 162.

Chemical substances modifying or destroying venoms, 164.

Chemistry of snake-venoms, 159.

Cherry and Martin on antagonism between toxins and antitoxins, 253.

_Chilomycterus_, 307.

“ _orbicularis_, 307.

“ _tigrinus_, 307.

China and Japan, _Lophius setigerus_ found in seas of, 304.

Chloride of gold, antidote to venom before absorption, 261, 263.

“ “ solution, modifies or destroys venom, 164.

“ lime solution, modifies or destroys venom, 164.

Cholesterin, antidote to lecithin, 198.

Chromic acid, antidote to venom before absorption, 260.

“ “ solution, modifies or destroys venoms, 164.

Clamouse, on bites from European vipers, 343.

Clot Bey on Egyptian snake-charmers, 228-229.

Clothing protective against dangerous effects of snake-bite, 170.

Cobra, bite of, clinical symptoms, 169.

“ “ “ “ exhibit rapid general intoxication, 169.

“ “ treated with Calmette’s serum, 363.

“ extraction of venom from, method, 153.

“ Egyptian (_Naja haje_ or _haie_), 59.

“ method of carrying after capture, 21.

“ snake-charmers’ skill with, 229.

“ venom of, 149.

“ “ alkaloids in, 160.

“ “ chemical analysis, 159.

“ “ comparison of toxicity by means of intra-cerebral injections, 186.

“ “ destructive action of bile on, 215.

“ “ dissolution of trypanosomes by, 207.

“ “ dose lethal for different animals in twenty-four hours, 174.

“ “ fixation on nervous elements, 186.

“ “ local effects on serous membranes slight, 179.

“ “ potency of antineurotoxic antivenomous serum against, 250, 251,
252.

“ “ vaccination against, 242, 244, 245.

Cobra-di-Capello, 33. _See also Naja tripudians._

“ “ spectacled, used by Hindu snake-charmer, 229.

_Cœlenterates_, poisonous species of, 269.

_Cœlopeltis_, 22.

“ _moilensis_, 23.

“ _monspessulana_, 23.

Cold, intense, toxicity of venom not diminished by, 166.

Colombia, herons of, probably immune to snake-venom, 227.

“ “ hunt young snakes for food, 226.

Coloration of snakes, 15, 16.

“ “ subject to biological laws of mimicry, 15, 16.

_Colubridæ_, 3, 30, 57, 82, 100, 101-109. _See also Acanthophis_,
_Aspidelaps_, _Boulengerina_, _Brachyaspis_, _Dendraspis_,
_Denisonia_, _Diemenia_, _Elapechis_, _Elapognathus_, _Furina_,
_Glyphodon_, _Homorelaps_, _Hoplocephalus_, _Micropechis_,
_Notechis_, _Ogmodon_, _Opisthoglypha_, _Proteroglypha_,
_Pseudechis_, _Pseudelaps_, _Rhinhoplocephalus_, _Rhynchelaps_,
_Sepedon_, _Tropidechis_, _Walterinnesia_.

_Colubridæ_ (sub-family _Elapinæ_). _See also Bungarus_, _Naja_,
_Hemibungarus_, _Callophis_, _Doliophis_.

“ resemblance to harmless snakes, 3.

“ species of, bite rapidly produces general intoxication, 168.

“ venoms of, absorption by digestive tract often without ill-effect,
180, 181.

“ “ “ “ “ “ “ cause, 181.

“ “ action on nervous centres profound, 185.

“ “ affinity of scorpion poison to, 278.

“ “ albumoses of, 162.

“ “ destroy coagulability of blood, 179, 188, 189.

“ “ dialyse slowly, 161.

“ “ lethal effects on mammals, 170.

“ “ minimum doses lethal for guinea-pig in twenty-four hours, 173.

“ “ precipitation of anticoagulant substance in, 195.

“ “ recovery rapid after non-lethal doses, 177.

“ “ resistant to heat, 161.

“ “ richness in neurotoxin, 249.

Common rattle-snake, 125. _See also Crotalus durissus._

Congestin, poison from _Anemone scultata_, 271.

Conjunctivitis caused by discharge into eyes of venom of spitting
snake, 63, 64.

Copperhead, 90. _See also Denisonia superba._

Coral-snake, 104.

“ immunity from bite of, 238.

“ venomous nature of, 108.

“ _See also Elaps corallinus._

Coral or harlequin snake, 106. _See Elaps fulvius._

Cordier, D., cobra-bites treated with Calmette’s serum, 363.

Cotes, E. C., on extraction of venom by charmers, 234.

_Cottus_, 289, 290, 292.

“ poison-apparatus of, 293.

_Crabronidæ_, 285.

“ stings of females of, toxic to other insects, nearly harmless to
man, 285.

_Crotalinæ_ (_Viperidæ_), 101, 109.

“ characteristics of, 6.

“ venoms of certain species of, non-coagulant, 191, 192, 193.

“ _See Ancistrodon_; _Lachesis_.

_Crotalus_ (rattle-snake), 110, 122.

“ comparative toxicity of organs, 220.

“ eggs of, rich in poison, 220.

“ poison glands of, 148.

“ venom of, alkaloids in, 160.

“ “ comparison of toxicity by means of intra-cerebral injections, 186.

“ “ ingestion causing death, 180.

“ “ weak hæmolysing power possessed by, 199.

“ _adamanteus_, venom of, dose lethal for rabbit, 175.

“ _cerastes_ (horned rattle-snake), 129.

“ _confluentus_ (Pacific or mottled rattle-snake), 124.

“ “ “ “ “ habits, 125.

“ “ devoured by pigs, 125.

_Crotalus confluentus_, secretion of, 150.

“ _durissus_ (common rattle-snake), 125.

“ _horridus_, 127.

“ “ bites from, 355.

“ _lepidus_, 129.

“ _mitchelli_, 127.

“ _polystictus_, 129.

“ _scutulatus_ (Texas rattle-snake), 124.

“ _terrificus_ (dog-faced rattle-snake or cascavella), 124.

“ _tigris_, 127.

“ _triseriatus_, 129.

_Cryptobranchus japonicus_ (great Japanese salamander), 313-315, 317.

“ “ venom of, 317.

“ “ “ action similar to that of viperine venoms, 317.

_Curados de Culebras_, immunity produced by inoculation by, 235-237.

Cytolytic action of venoms, 206.

Daboia. _See Vipera russellii._

Deafness following bite of viper, 178.

Death adder, 96. _See also Acanthophis antarcticus._

Delezenne, establishment of existence of kinase in venoms, 204.

“ on the kinasic properties of venoms, 204, 213.

_Dendraspis_, 65.

“ _angusticeps_, 66.

“ _antinorii_, 66.

“ _jamesonii_, 66.

“ _viridis_, 66.

_Denisonia_, 88.

“ _carpentariæ_, 92.

“ _coronata_, 89.

“ _coronoides_, 89.

“ _dæmelii_, 90.

“ _flagellum_, 91.

“ _frenata_, 90.

“ _frontalis_, 91.

“ _gouldii_, 91.

“ _maculata_, 91.

“ _melanura_, 92.

“ _muelleri_, 90.

“ _nigrescens_, 92.

“ _nigrostriata_, 92.

“ _pallidiceps_, 92.

“ _par_, 92.

“ _punctata_, 91.

“ _ramsayi_, 90.

“ _signata_, 90.

“ _superba_ (the copperhead), 89.

“ _suta_, 90.

“ _woodfordii_, 93.

Dialysis, results of, in experiments with venoms of _Colubridæ_ and
_Viperidæ_, 161.

Diastases, action upon venoms, 214.

Diastasic actions of venoms, 212.

_Diemenia_, 86.

“ _modesta_, 87.

“ _nuchalis_, 87.

“ _olivacea_, 87.

“ _psammophis_, 87.

“ _textilis_ (brown snake), 87.

“ “ “ “ bite dangerous, 100.

“ _torquata_, 87.

Digestion of snakes aided by venoms, 213, 214.

Digestive tract, absorption of venoms of _Colubridæ_ often without
ill-effect on, 180, 181.

“ “ “ “ “ “ “ cause, 181.

_Diodon_, 305.

_Dipsadomorphinæ_, sub-family of _Opisthoglypha_, 3.

“ geographical distribution, 4.

_Dipsas_, teeth of, 8.

_Distira_, fresh-water genus of _Hydrophiinæ_, 5, 136.

“ _cyanocincta_, 137.

“ _jerdonii_, 137.

“ _ornata_, 136.

“ _subcincta_, 137.

Dog, minimal dose of cobra-venom lethal for, 174.

Dog-faced rattle-snake, 124. _See also Crotalus terrificus._

_Doliophis_, 42.

“ _bilineatus_, 43.

“ _bivirgatus_, 42.

“ _intestinalis_, 42.

“ _philippinus_, 43.

Domestic animals, treatment of poisonous bites in, 265.

Duck-billed platypus (_Ornithorhynchus paradoxus_ or _O. anatinus_),
323.

Duméril and Bibron, on coloration of snakes, 16.

“ “ _Naja worship_ in Egypt, 61.

Dutch Indies, poisonous snakes inhabiting, 30-57.

Dyer, venom antitoxin treatment of yellow fever, 184.

Eau de Javel, antidote to venom before absorption, 263.

“ “ in treatment of wasp- or bee-stings, 286.

Echidnin, chemistry of, 160.

_Echinoidea_ (sea-urchins), 273.

_Echinoderms_, poisonous species of, 273.

_Echis_, 48, 76.

“ _carinatus_ (_efa_, viper of the pyramids), 48, 76.

“ “ bite from, 347.

“ “ dreaded by Egyptians, 77.

“ “ venom rapid in action, 49.

“ _coloratus_, 77.

_Efa_ (_Echis carinatus_), 48, 76. _See also Echis carinatus._

Eggs of bees, venom contained in, 284.

“ fowls, artificial intoxication by venom, effect on embryo, 214.

“ _Crotalus_ rich in poison, 220.

Egypt, laboratory researches in, 149, 150.

“ snake-charmers of, 228-229.

Egyptians, dread of _Echis carinata_ (_Efa_) shown by, 77.

“ “ and pursuit of _Naja haje_ among, 60.