Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-02-07
INDIAS DEADLY SNAKES.
Where There are l,80O CObras to the
square Mile-A Remedy Worse
Bhan the bite.

NDIA'S DEADLY SNAKES.
Where There arc I,eo0 Cobras to the
square Mile-A Remedy Worse
Hhan the Bite.
Times Of India.l
me STATISTICS show that during the last year
tne amount OF rewards paid for the destruction
OF wild beasts and venomouS snakes In British
india was 80. 1879 rupees AS far as regards the
destruction OF wild beasts, the money was no
eoubt, well spent, though the rewards are some
times too easily earned. We have for instance,
heard OF young wolf which had been brought
up domeStically until 1t was as tame as a lady's
iapdog, falling victim to greedy servant In
the cook-roOm for the sake OF the head money,
and there can be little doubt that the offer of
rewards for the destruction OF really dangerous
animals is In the main useful. Tempted by this,
baby OF mis- own, will sit up for the wolf that
prowls about the precincts OF the village at
night thirsting for Infants blood.
In reality, only three species OF snakes dan
gerous to human life are to be met with In the
Bombay presidency. viz. the COBRA the chain
viper. and small black snake banded with
BaagdrLs drenatus. There Is another prettiy
marked little viper, which is common enough,
but, as 1t is barely foot In length. its bite is
Indian tradition adds several most deadly
species the carpet snake, the whip snake, the
eye snake, &C: The last owes its name, accord
among otherwise sane Engltshmen that it is
In the habit OF hanging by the tail from a
branch of a tree for the purpose of hitting
mentioned above the B,HJuruS is very mot
fensive, and not common, While the chain
viper Is extremely lazy, and generally gives
when any one approaches. 50 that accident;
from these two species are probably rare.
The cobra, on the other hand, Is one OF the
commonest snakes in india, as IL is one OF the
most fatal in the world DR.. Nicholson, who
was appointed in 1873 to superinSend the dis
tr1oution OF the rewards in Bingalore, estimates
f5nr IF hat Ngrfo 81 M
square mile This calculation, If correct, will
perhaps serve equally for any station in the
Deccan, as for instance Poona, where the cobra
finds both board and lodging on easy terms in
the holes OF the field rats. and probably does
man more service in year than all the mischief
It does him In century. Throughout Bombay
like Malabar Hill and Camballa Hill and Parel.
That the cobra is so rarely seen is only another
proof of its extremely timia and wary DISPOSE
ton. But snakes, indeed. shun man far more
than man shuns them. Their first impulse on
hearing his dreaded footsteps is to run, and
among Europeans who wear boots the posi-
bility OF being bitten is small
Natives, walking nOiselessly, with bare feet.
are, OF course, much more liable to accidents,
yet the statistics we have. already referred to
give the total number of persons killed by ven
OmOuS snakes during the year 1878 at SSH
or less than one in 10000 Of the population. And
It Is not unlikely that we should be nearer the
truth II we cut down that number by half; not
only because Snake-bite has been since the days
OF Hamlet's father. most convenient eXplana-
ton OF doubtful deaths. but because in hun
dreds of cases, where the bite of the snake
would not have sufiiced to kill the man. native
methods OF cure complete the work and put an
end to his life
A correspondent, in calling attention to the
danger, sends us an example very much to the
point that came under his notice. A strong
young MuSSulman, an energetic and vigorous
man, was turning over some rubbish when a
speckled snake, about two feet long, bit him
above the ankle. No one else saw the creature
He himself did not stop to look at it. but rushed
headlOng home implOred his friends to look after
his children, and rolled over on the floor In
few moments the whole neighborhood had
gathered together, determined not to let him
perish without an attempt at rescue. A dozen
chickens were at once procured, and the rem
edy was put into vigorous operation. 1t is by
the way, one OF the commoneSt native Spec-
fes. Then some jungle men passing by were
called in. They were practical men, and at
once sucked the wound. They sucked and
chewed the man in half dozen other places
besides, but this might have been designed to
act on his faith and cheer him up, aud by this
time he Deeoed cheering. Next some local
savantS suggested that the poison should be got
of salt was given him, with an immediate re-
suit. After this decoction Of neem leaves was
administered, both internally and externally
plenty of it being rubbed on the crown OF his
head. Some other decoction was smeared under
the roof OF his tongue. Two men well versed in
charms then came on the scene, and cutting
some twlgs from tree OF very great potency In
such cases, belabored the man for an hour or
Two over the head and face, muttering charms
the while.
All this was we are told only the beginning
OF sorrowS- For four or five hours the wretchad
man was piled with drugs and decoctiOns and
charms, every new conner putting some fresh
abomination down his throat. At the end OF
that time he was quite sensible, and not symp-
tom OF snake poison had shown ITSELF There
was no pain in the bitten part, nor any swelling
as far as could be aScertained, considering how
the place had been plaStcred and biiStered and
bandaged Two or three hours later, however,
seine fresh dose, prescribed by Il new arrival.
gave the coup de grace. The man SuccumOe1,
became inseIsible, and soon died. There vas
government dispensary in the neighbOrnood,
With an apothecdty il charge. but no one ever
dieaInt OF consulting him until il was too late.
In this case there wis not particle OF evid 1nce
TO show tnat the snake was poisonous, AMI in
all probability the man was simply cured to
death. The victim was unfortunately popul "
man, and much respected. and had he had fewer
friends he might have been permitted to re-
cover. II the blame OF halt the Snake-bite
cases in the government returns is laid to the
snake account the reptile has probably had It's
due, and after all the annual returns give one
death only ia each II, 900 OF the population.