“In the present case, as we have seen, there was extensive intoxication, which had seriously affected the functions of the various organs, since we found cardiac arhythmia and pulmonary œdema, and that the patient was threatened with collapse, algidity, hypothermia, and anuria. Impregnation by the virus having continued for seven hours, we might have felt ourselves justified, on the one hand in merely employing the proper means for the relief of the general condition, on the other hand in treating the local condition, without having recourse to the serotherapeutic method, that seems to us in this case, in so far as it is permissible to make such a statement, to have been the determining factor in the recovery.” XXVI.--Case recorded by Dr. Lapeyre, of Fontainebleau (from _L’Abeille de Fontainebleau_ of June 27, 1902). “M. X., who arrived at Fontainebleau on Sunday morning with a friend, keeps grass snakes at home, in Paris; he finds his hobby as good a means as any other to remind him of the forest and its charms. Human nature includes all kinds of tastes, so that this particular one need not be further discussed. “The journey, therefore, had a twofold object: firstly to spend a whole day in sunshine and in the open air, and secondly to catch grass snakes to add to the collection. “On leaving the train, our Parisian walked up the Amélie Road, and saw a snake under a rock. Never doubting that it was one of the kind that he knew so well, to kneel down, pass his left arm into the hole, and seize the snake, was the work of a moment; he quickly succeeded, even better than he intended, for instead of his seizing a grass snake, the viper bit him so hard in the left forefinger, that he could only make it let go by pulling it off with his other hand. Well knowing that he had been dangerously bitten, he went down to the Station Road to get the wound dressed, after which, thinking that all necessary precautions had been taken he returned to the forest, but soon felt uncomfortable. His arm and then his body swelled up, and he was seized with vomiting. It was time to go to Fontainebleau to seek medical assistance, for he had acute pain in the abdomen and stomach, his tongue was swollen, and his body was turning black. “Accompanied by his friend he reached the town. His condition becoming more serious every moment; the injured man was carried into a hotel, where Dr. Lapeyre administered injections of antivenomous serum. After three hours--the same period as had elapsed between the accident and the first treatment--the general condition of the patient, which had never ceased to be alarming, showed marked improvement. By the end of the day he appeared to be out of danger, and left for Paris on Tuesday evening, delighted at having got off so cheaply.” H.--Echis carinata. XXVII.--Case recorded by Lieutenant C. C. Murison, I.M.S. (_Indian Medical Gazette_, May, 1902, p. 171).