It thus appears that even the proverbially trivial
fleabite may at times prove a serious injury.
Snake-bites.--A writer in an Indian paper asserts that the
traditional immunity of Indian snake-charmers is due to the fact
that having been accidentally bitten by poisonous serpents or
insects more than once, and having survived the first attack,
they are subsequently immune. His assertion is based on personal
acquaintance with Madari Yogis and Fakirs, and an actual
experiment made with a Mohammedan Fakir who was immune to the
bites of scorpions provided by the writer. The animals were from
five to seven inches long and had lobster-like claws. Each bite
drew blood, but the Fakir was none the worse.
The venom of poisonous snakes may be considered the most typical
of animal poisons, being unrivaled in the fatality and rapidity
of its action. Fortunately in our country there are few
snake-bites, but in the tropic countries, particularly India, the
mortality from this cause is frightful. Not only are there
numerous serpents in that country, but the natives are lightly
dressed and unshod, thus being exposed to the bites of the
reptiles. It is estimated by capable authorities that the deaths
in India each year from snake-bites exceed 20,000.
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