Snakes in the Penjdeh Valley.

Te Aroha News, Volume III, Issue 107, 20 June 1885, Page 5

Snakes in the Penjdeh Valley.

Remittent tever has of late years played ead havoc among the Jamshidis of Kusbk. All the neighbouring valloys, including Penjdeh, are infected, and are only habitabloin spring and summer by the acclimatised. Another drawback to this valley is the number of snakes which infest it. In spring the country must swarm with them, At present they are to be found, when there is occasion to dig some eighteen indhes or two feet below the surface, hibernating in sleepy torpor. Before winter closed in one of the Lancera— a strong healthy young fellowvery nearly fell a victim to one of these reptiles. When picking up a stone he waa bit in the back of the hand, and he owed his life to his own prompt presence of mind and Dr. Charles's care and skill. Tearing off a strip of his turban, he bound it tightly — so tightly that in the hospital they could not tighten it— round the arm above" the wrist. He then made off to the hospital, , and half an hour after being bitten he was under Dr. Charles's care. But already there were signs of paralysis in the left leg, and this gradually spread until both extremities were cornpletely paralysed. He suffered 'from: great heat, followed by intense cold, tingling and numbness itirtho'iarms and- legs/ and much pain ove.r the,heart~his heart was V on fire,", he complained, u Altogether his' case? af tor, an ? Jjqu;: or so, seemed 'hope* legs. He ,was plied with, jbrandy* and ammonia, and made to walK»till his legs'* were deadened, by paralysj8,!and*then. he was,put between hot (blankets #nd hot . bricks' w6re; applied lo'his feet. Hypodermic in jeotion* of; ether -was found, ver^ useful, and at'last, after three^Rours \ol unremitting oare^he, slowly 'p>8sedqtyt of^aapger^&ndjpr. Charles 1 liaa'tlie &%fao$pw of ' h6}tt^o^otM$ t few However, fte man^id -nof c6mpj^ely, rer cover W.IWJSJ..J&I «HW^?^,^loocl .poisoning, and it r^as tjir,ee we$K8i before- he, (Ion TlniQSf (