Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-11-24

was still in the act of plunging-and in
this case the woud-be victim, VINO was
really out Of range, escaped the dow, put
had the poison squlrted all over MIN.
Still. however in most cases the poison
is injected after the blow-though IL be but
half a second after. That half a second
has saved many lfe-for instance where
the blow, not being struck full in the BODY
but only on the edge or II, the COBRA
slipped off the body by the mere impetus
OF the blow, causing the fangs to scratch
along the skin In two thin lines.
Assuming, however, that the blow has
been struck full on the body OF the VIC
tim, the cobra Immediately after the blow
ii. e.. as soon as he has partially re-
covered from his own impetus, which Is
in about abecond or so), wriggles his head
either to the right or TO the left. This act
OF turning helps to squeeze the poison
gland situated on that side to which the
cobra has TUNED, and thus 10 inject the
poison over the puncture on that side.
(Of course, II the cobra has time to turn
both ways, then the poison is deposited
on both Wounds-and the condition OF the
victim is doubly desperately After this
discharge tho cobra usually drops Off the
limb N an inert mass as II considerably,
though temporarily, weakened by the loss
OF the precious fluid. There may, OF
course, be sufficient secretion still left in
the bag TO give second bite Immediately
after, but IN that case the wound may not
necessarily be fatal. IL usually takes a
few hours, sometimes days, 10 accumulate
tie full supply again. There was, how
ledge where three small children were sue
sessively bitten by large cobra, and all
three died in consequence.
HARMLESS BITES.
But to resume. 1t will, therefore. be
apparent that % the fangs are employed
merely to cause the wound or wounds
4. e., 10 open up communication with
the blood OF the victim; and CD the poison
deposited on the wound mixes with the
blood and eventually causes death, as will
be mentioned later on. Hence, 1t will be
noted that II the poison is not able TO
enter the wound, there Is no danger. In
other words, II the cobra bites person,
not on the naked skin. but through a
fairly substantial garment, the fangs will
go through right enough, but the poison
will be deposited on the garment and not
on the wound. In such case. II the per-
son bitten were to remove the garment.
at least from the immediate neighborhood
OF the wound. before the poison has had
time TO soak through ii, he Is in no danger
whatever.
On the other hand. IL there is already
wound or sore on the body, then even
blow from q fangless cobra viii be fatal.
Snake-charmers are we'll aware OF this
fact, and are particularly careful on such
occasions as the following: A band OF
these men were exhibiting before the
writer. when. after few odd feats. they
proceeded 10 show graphically how q
cobra strikes It's prey. They produced a
magnificent specimen. fully five feet In
length. and as thick as ones wrist
though. of course, fangless. One of the
men struck up a monotonous tune on a
wind instrument, something like a High
land bagpipe. Tho cobra Immediately
reared its head fully two feet from the
ground. and began swaytng It's body
gracefully In time with the music In eyl-