1 34 5
2 or intermittent. Pain of the spine and calves.
3 Pleurisy. Thirst.
4 Serpent — there are at Lahore different kinds of Snakes and
5 Serpents, some dangerous, others not. See Vol. I. p. 138.
6 The cast skin of a Snake, or Serpent’s slough (Exuvia,
7 Spolium Serpentis, Suber) has been formerly used in Europe
8 as Epicarpium or topical irritant upon the wrist, in ague. It is
9 said, a decoction of it has cured deafness. The natives of the
10 Punjab occasionally use the cast skins of serpents in veterinary
11 medicine, as in chronic eruptions. As I obtained in my collec-
12 tion of serpents a fresh slough of the most poisonous kind,
13 I determined to make experiment upon this substance, and
14 the results were most satisfactory, so that I for several years
15 used it as a remedy, and do not hesitate to recommend it to the
16 medical faculty as one of the most energetic medicines, certainly
17 deserving extensive use. The slough in question was from
18 the Aspidoclonion. See Vol. II. Tab. 81, fig. I. The prepara-
19 tion was that followed with other animal substances; i. e. I
20 cut with a pair of scissors as much as necessary very fine,
21 moistened it with proof spirit, and triturated it in the usual
22 manner with sugar ; I then dissolved the whole in spirit, either
23 to keep it as an essence, or to make the paste for lozenges
24 with it ; both plans were useful. If old cast skins of other
25 serpents (which abound in the Punjab but are exposed to
26 the climate — wind, rain, sunshine, etc.) their origin being un-
27 known, are as good as fresh, I have not tried, but doubt.
28 Every kind of serpent, and also its slough, must have its own
29 properties.
30 Serpent, e.vuv. (I.) Burning pains. Dental fistula.
31 Expectoration or spitting of blood. Fever. Her-
32 petic eruption. Mucous catarrh. Painful inflamed
33 syphilitic Abscess. Pleurodynia. Psoriasis tropicus.
34 Ptyalism or Salivation. Soreness or dryness of
35 mouth or throat. Spinal pain, even syphilitic.
36 Syphilis. Syphilitic pain of the joints. Thirst,
37 £ o
38 voi.. II.