The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-02-25
FIGHTS WITH THE COBRA.

EEGHTS WITH THE COBRA.
Ithas long been controversy whether
there is any real antidote to the poison of
this yenomous snake, because the discovery
of an antidote would be of immense import
ance to mankind. No less than between
one and two thousands persons have died
annually in India alone from this cause.
The mongoose has been usually selected
for experiments because of its known dead
ly enmity. to snakes. 1t has been supposed
by many that the mongoose finds some root
that acts as an antidote. Its tractability
enables man to train it and make tia house.
hold pet, and close observation of its habits
has led many young physician to risk the
life of his fayorite in such encounters and
even to kill it after it has recovered from
the effects of the poison in order to subject
the contents of the stomach to analysis.
Unfortunately it almost invariably happens
that the mangoose has had time to digest its
food completely before reappearing, so that
while the fact remains that the little animal
RECEIVERS from the bite, the means of re-
recovery remains a mystery. Not long ago,
i'll Cuttack, in the province of Orissa, in
India, where was quartered, cobra was
caught alive in q trap, and, seconds having
been provided, the cobra and o mongoose
were placed as principals on the ground
The imprisoned cobra was shaken out Of
of his trap, and had barely touched terra
firma when, espying its adversary, it raised
itself, with its head thrown forward, about
foot and half from the ground, curving
its head and expanding its hood until the
marks Like spectacles over its eyes were
clearly visible. The mongoose Immediately
| faced the cobra, and took in the situation.
For an instant both watched one another.
The tongue of the serpent began to shoot
out, and the silence was broken only by its
Kissing BY degrees the mongoose crept
closer and closer to the snake, as though
enticing him to spring, measuring carefully
the distance between them; meanwhile,
the snake making feints as though to dart.
When the cobra became ittae tired, and
thought the mongoose was within reach,
he sprang forward Quick as lightning the
mongoose drew back, and, as the snake re-
covered, jumped and seized him by his
neck, not, however, before the snake had
driven his fangs into him in the act of being
collared. But the mongoose kept his grip
| until the snake was dead, in spite of the
struggle, and then he lay down, seemingly
| exhausted. Two punctures were found in
| his body, and for short time he lay in a
| state of torpor. He then stole away into
\ the garden, tracked by native servant,
| who was ordered to look after him and see
whittier he went AS though jealous Of
the secret he possessed, the mongoose ate
nothing, and at night got away under cover
4 of darkness. AL search proved unavailing;
| it was feared that he was either lost or dead
Three days later, however, he turned VI
| gay and we'll
| This experiment was followed by second
in Berhamppr, and the combatants being
confined to walled enclosure without any
vegetation therein. Again the mongoose
killed the cobra, but he suffered more Sc
yerely in the fight -Four punetures wert
found in his body, and he lay for nearly
half an hour after the death of the snake
in state of torpor. Then he began to rur
about to find an outlet from the enclosure
Food and water was left for him, but he die
not touch them, and on the following morn
ing was found dead with his nose and hal
his body buried in the ground, as thougl
digging for the root he required for hi
cure.
|