New-York tribune., 1886-11-07
thus

whereas poisonous ones are distinguished by two
pdnctures IN this manner ~ Inc TWO iataI
marks where the creatures fangs had pierced my
skin were only too plainly visible ,
At least my destroyer shall not escape,
thought and sprlnging forward | crushed the
snake, which proved to be a tIc-poionga, under my
heel Just as 1t wa- reaching crevlce IN the eartn'
where t wound have been safe.
Revenge certainly my primary impulse IN
killing the reptile, but had "A secondary oDect,
which was to ascertain its age and sze as the
consequences atieBdant upon POISONOUS sn@he-
bite are materially affected thereby. Inc tc-
polOnga attaIns IA length of fifty inches, and cesth
generally RAPIDLY supervenes on the bite OF iull-
grown specimen, especially If the wounded part
happen to lie of the eJtreniltles such as
finger or toe which can be fairly seized between
the animals laws. The venom Is In that case
injected deeply into the ttesh and commlngl'hg at
once with the blood, is rapidly dItu'ed thrOngh
the VEINS and arteries. and reachng the nearl,
psralyZes the action OF that organ. but Ine pdrI
attacked present wider surface, Sd tnat tne
epidermis may perhaps only be aOraaed anh Tue
subcutice remain unpierced, the chances or
remedial measures proving ettcacous are greatly
increased while the consequences oi any wound IN
hicted by ddbOid of not more than twenty OF
twenty four inches may generally be counteracted.
The degree of danger from snake-olte also
depends considerably on several otner eohsiuera-
tioDs. such as the health OF the patient whetner
the snake has recently made meal OF Oltteh aIy
other object in vhich case It Will nave exhausted
its poison glands; and. finally the time OF day, as
in the early morning. when the air Is raw and
chilly snake il languid and will strike with conf
naraive!y little energy. whereas during the heat of
the dav il il active and generally very herce.
The circumstances Of my case seemed decidedly
against me. The tic-polorga | bad killed was at
east thirty inches long. and therefore capsnle oil
inficting a mortal Wound; III was lastlng' ana its
poison glands must consequently nave Deen IuiIJ
charged at the moment IL bit melt vas after
o'clock, and very hot day. ani the Dlte on my
wrist was deep The only point IN my favor vas
that WAS in exceen health. L knew the awful
gravity OF my situation. and was aware that unless
some remedies were applied immediately, should
certainly be dead IN three-quarters Oh an hour aU
Thrre was no surgeon or arothecary within
fifteen miles of my factory but fortunately mad
some know ledge of the proper me,hOd OF deaIlng
with such cases as my own, having once seen
ryot being treated tor snake-blte by the remedies
proposed TO apply TO mvselt. only l reIleWoered
Hindoo had died notwithstanding the unremlttIng
exertions made TO save his life
Inc Urea 1rsa'"'n above the wonnd, free incs-
, .no anckiup cauterizatiOn, bathing the wound
with ammonia, and taking ammonia or brandy
internally. Remembering THESE direcuohs,
rushel into the bungalow ana maze q very
efficient tourniquet with a waklng-stlck ana wet
towel which passed. round my forearm, enrctual-
lv stopplng the circulation. | also summoned my
boy Veerapen to my assistance. and rs | had no
ammonia IN the house, ordered him to open
bottle of brandy with all speed. Whilst Veerapen
was getting the cOgnac. slashed my wrist freely
ALI round the injured part with my pocket-knlfe
particularly probing the puh|ctuIes | nand ~ [ .ne
from the wound | sue ked it with the vlGor and
desperation OF a man who knows that a delay of
only a quarter OF a minute IN eliminating the
virus from his system may seal his DOOM go
/ noticed with horror that my arm was s"elIlng
rapidly, and be an TO experience dlmculE IN
respiration. which knew was most untavoraDle
SYMPTOM. Some powerful exctant was necessary
Immediately to cOunreract the effect OF the I0lson
yet 1t seemed as though Neerapen ToI, 10 bi %
bring the brandy. and l called Wildly 10 MIN 10
come to me. lie ran into the room with oottle or
the precious liquor in his hand, but IN MS con-
fusion he could not find corkscrew, ana he was
fn,, NM oh Al typl nj
think of the ready expedIent of knocking on the
eek OF the bottle. However soon sent u nVlng,
and pouring out half tumbier OF brandy, drank
The spirit revived me- and thus nerved to
renewed action. bade Neerapen caii the coVK TO
bring some burning sticks from the kitchen. " Ith
one of these glowing trebrands scared my Diced
ing and quiverng flesh. never fiinchlng under what
in ordinary circumstances would nave Deen ex-
crncating agony, but rather cherishing the pain
which was a possible means Of saving my lie: But
feared my case was past all help' ior was
sensible that the contractons OF nv heart were
growing very feeble, ard respiration became ihore
and more difficult. ,..,
remained only one final stage, that Oh IalIlhg inIo
faint before death supervened ,,
Jns az my senses deserving me, was aole
20 clutch the bottle of brandy, ana once more more
poured out a large quantity into the glass with
an effort just managed to raise 1t to my lps' anu
qnafed the re-quckenlng spirit, wnlHh acVeu on
nv prostrated nerves like magic dranghI L..
| rallied and with fierce determination 10 i've,
| braced my senses together for d hnal soIuEkie
with the potent poison when was no" cousins
like liquid ire through every vein IN my oouy.
rne brandy had no Intoxicating results, 'uS m
ordInar, effect. being neutralzed by the virus m ~
my body. The giant Alcohol mad LOT once W
cOmba. with a rival mIghtier than himself, anu ny
Life depended on the Issue of the struggle. .ho
Knowing might at any moment lapse ltions rnct ons
final comatose state. / hastily gave my lnstructiions
to Neerapen and the cook while my minu reuiaanou @
clear. | directed them TO mold me Dy my armsi
cne on either side. to keep me walking ABOUT, anu
on account TO suffer me 10 lie down or go 10
sleep. l explained TO Neerapen tnat my ni9
depended on my being kept awake, and oruerea
him to check the fatal drOwslness by tnrashlhg ne
with my own horse whip if necessary, and not 10
spare it.
ordered, and he and tue cook began marching me
up and down the room. An overwhelming rant
ness soon came upon me, from which turtner iaree
dose OF brandy failed to rouse me, ana snouiu
have gone TO sleep as walked had not Veerapen
then administered a sharp cut across MY calves.
The pain sIung me into activity, and turner turner
upon ny servant with an amount OF fury Wuicu
caused him 10 retreat in hot haste. but iemempeI-
ing Why the blow given, thanked MIN LOT ~,
curblng my passion and telling him to resume his
cure of Inc. begged him, no matter what my pres
ent anger might be, to continue, by the sewers err,
means ! haG placed in his hands 10 prevent my, my
falling asleep, az l.would handsomely rewaru nin
if he saved nv life.
cannot recolect all that passed but Veerapeh
told me that | alternately COMMANDED m anu - ' to
treated with tears in my eyes TO be alioweu "
sleep IL only for minute, but that tne ois 70 Law
ton ne paid to my threats or entrea'io' ""'
III all the harder with the whip. s.r,or for
The blows reused me from my state Da y. w. these
few minutes only at time, bnt durllnb lisbed the
intervals of consciousness thorouenS Tnerienced
cure voluntarily undergoing, and LIS
| positive pleasure in feeling the SUI hg nv Inssv
| showered on my back, arms ana ies' W my
attendant. ..a hrt
The struggle for life was protTacSen, nara ors
gradually the pulsations Of my heart hath;nS
regular. the load which had oppressed NY
was slowly lifted from my chest. the fatal yearnng
for sleep rolled away. and knew tne hi"r'Ai ii'A
was over. ,,. .o r,v
| Perhaps Veerapen had few old scores 10 pa, pay
| of-anybow. he discharged his duts 30 tnoroughiI
| that oy the time | was out of danger was olack
| nd blne from head to foot, but bore him no
| arndge for these striking marks of his hdelity.
| know ! consumed great deal OF brandy. but
did not think had finished as much % SIX bottles
| Veerapen. however, assured me ! had not only
taken that quantity. but had wished to have more,
only he had refused to let me have.it lie produeod
Il half Lozan " ntiAma an-cam ~ youeL eIh