MELBOURNE.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume XIII, Issue 582, 1 June 1868, Page 2

MELBOURNE.

FATAL EXPERIMENT WITH A SNAKE. The Argus of May 4th contains an account of the melancholy death of Mr W. Drummond, a Police Magistrate, many years connected with the public service, from tho bite of a venomous snake, or, perhaps, from injudicious subsequent treatment. It seems that a person named Shires has been exhibiting these snakes publicly for some time past. He professes to have discovered an antidote to the poison, and allows himself to be bitten by tho venomous reptiles, applies his antidote, and suffers no ill iu consequence. Mr Drummond was of a very fearless nature, and having doubt as to the fact of tho reptiles being poisonous, and also as to the value of the professed antidote, resolved to put the question to a crucial test in his own person, and, contrary to the advice of his friends, waited on Shires, and requested that he would allow him to be bitten by one of the most virulent snakes in his possession, proposing that, the antidote being applied, the snake should bo immediately killed and given into his possession, that ho might forward it for examination to an eminent naturalist, who should certify as to tho nature of the reptile. Shires was most unwilling to comply, pointed cut the fact that great danger would be incurred unless the person could reiliain perfectly cool in body and mind, and particularly that his directions as to subsequent treatment should be implicitly followed. To all his objections Mr D. replied he would have it done for the good of science, and ultimately persuaded him to comply. The proprietor of the hotel where Shires was staying would not permit of the experiment being mqde in his house, so that the party adjourned to another place. A witness, George Philip Daily, thus describes the scene Shires said, “ Now, sir, if you are bitten you must follow the instructions I have already given you 55 ; adding, “ I would rather not have anything to do with the affair. 55 Mr Drummond replied, cc 0, but I will have it done. 55 I asked

£! What is the object, sir ? ” for I did not know but what the experiment was to be trying a snake on some animals. Mr Drummond said, “It is for science I am going to try it,” and whenever Shires objected, that was Mr Drummond’s reply. At last Shires took his snake out from his breast. He had carried it between bis two shirts. It was a tiger-snake, with a patchy belly, and was three or four feet long, Mr Drummond then undid bis left sleeve, turning it up as high as the elbow. Shires felt his pulse and said he would not let it bite just then, as the pulse beat too high. At last he said it would do, and held the snake’s head between his thumb and finger, towards Mr Drummond’s arm. Air Drummond turned his head aside at, this, when Shires said, “ Turn your head, sir, and see it done.” Mr Drummond said “ No, it is enough to be bitten by the thing, without seeing it done.” Shires then applied the snake, which bit immediately, about six inches above the wrist. Mr Drummond said nothing—he did not even shudder or wince. Shires having applied the antidote to the wound, put the snake into his bosom. Its head was afterwards cut off, and, together with the body, handed over to Mr Drummond, rolled up in paper, for Professor Halford to experiment upon, Mr Drummond paid Mr Shires 25s for the snake and his trouble. He seemed all right, and, when Shires told him he would soon faint, laughed at the idea. However, he soon went off into a swoon, and Shires brought him to by bathing his face and temples with cold water. The swoon lasted ten minutes or more, and on recovering he said “ Now lam all right.” He then wrote a note to Professor Halford, and called for some brandy; but Shires would not let him drink it. Ho told him that he must drink only water. He then called a cab and went to seek the Professor, whom he did not find till midnight, owing to his removal to another house. The Professor found the animal to be a tiger-snake (of tho cobra kind, more venomous than the cobra capclla, but with smaller fangs.) He found the fangs perfect, and tho poison-glands full of venom. Mr Drummond said he did not want professional assistance, as he had had the antidote applied, and should be soon all right. He complained of nausea, and vomited once outside Professor Halford’s door; but did not exhibit any unsteadiness of gait, or any other marked symptom of snake-poisoning. Professor Halford asked to sec him home, and on bis refusal succeeded in getting his address. After Mr Drummond’s departure lie dressed and followed him, calling on a medical practitioner on his way. They found Mr Drummond lying on a sofa. He said he felt much better, but had coughed up a little blood. The doctors ordered him hum and ammonia every half-hour during the night. Next day they found him in bed, but with “ pulse good and respiration free. He complained of pain in the left shoulder and about tho throat and jaws. The doctors then ordered brandy and ammonia every half-hour. During the day he became weaker, and died at about 9 p m., neither before nor after death showing the ordinary symptoms of snake-poison-ing. Shires tried hard to see him several times daring the day, but was refused admission. lie asked tho doctors how they were treating Drummond, at which they were highly indignant. He then told them that ho wanted to know because he had been bitten himself and had seen ethers bitten so often that he knew what should be done , and' added that if his instructions were not followed he tcould not answer for Mr Drmnmond's life. On the death of Mr Drummond Shires was arrested on tho charge of murder. An inquest, which had been adjourned from time to time was being held at the date of our latest files, and we also learn that Mr ISbiros was let out on bail, and that there was some evidence tending to show that Mr Drummond had intended suicide. Wo need hardly say we attrimue uis death to the treatment to which he was subjected, and consider that if Shires’ directions had been followed, bis life might have been saved.