THEIR NATURE AND EFFECTS.
usually described, as in the case given, as being of a stinging and burning character. The site of the wound may also become swollen, red, and painful on pressure. The evidence of the pain occurring in dogs is very clear: the animal often turns round and licks the bitten spot; and if it is the leg that is wounded, it either limps on that leg, or, what is more usiial, it draws it up, so as to raise it and relieve it completely of the weight of the body. This action has been termed paralysis of the bitten leg, due to the local contact of the poison with the muscles. Now, though it can be proved that the local effect of cobra-poison on muscle is to weaken it, yet after the bite of a cobra a very small extent of muscle indeed comes in contact with the poison, very often none at all ; and if the limb were really paralysed, it would hang uselessly down, dragging upon the ground, instead of being drawn up.
An interval now occurs before the accession of any fresh symptom, but its length varies greatly in different cases. In that of the man quoted it was fifteen minutes; but this is probably considerably under the average time. In another case, related by the same careful observer, an hour and a quarter elapsed in this way; and an intelligent eye-witness, who described a case with great accuracy as to details, stated four hours was passed before any change was noticed. Taking into consideration all the evidence on the subject, it appears probable that in the majority of cases of cobra-bite in
