About the Book
In The Poisonous Snakes of India, Joseph Ewart provides a detailed guide for officials and residents in the Indian Empire to identify and understand the region's venomous snakes. Published during his tenure as a physician, this work reflects Ewart's extensive knowledge and commitment to public health. The book offers comprehensive descriptions of various poisonous species, their habitats, behaviors, and the effects of their bites. It also includes practical advice on prevention and first aid measures. Ewart's guide is a crucial resource for managing snakebite incidents, enhancing safety, and advancing medical knowledge in colonial India.
About the Author
Joseph Ewart (1831-1906) was a distinguished British physician and public health official. Renowned for his work in India, Ewart contributed significantly to medical science and public health reforms. He served as the Surgeon-General of India > and was instrumental in addressing cholera outbreaks. Ewart's dedication to improving health standards left a lasting impact on colonial India's medical infrastructure.
Preface
THE object contemplated in publishing this small work (which may be viewed as a supplement to Sir Joseph Fayrer's magnificent "Thanato-phidia of India") has been to place in the hands of the busy officials of India a handy-book, by means of which they may easily recognise any of the poisonous reptiles of the Peninsula. Sir Joseph Fayrer, K.C.S.I., when applied to, generously sanctioned the use of the beautiful plates figured in his Thanatophobia.
The scientific descriptions of Günther, Fayrer, and Anderson have been preserved; but as all technical and other difficult terms have been fully explained in the Glossary, the text may be regarded as capable of being made intelligible to the mind of the ordinary reader. Any further attempt at popularising the work would have ended in redundancy, and rendered brevity and portability impossible. There is scarcely a term employed in the descriptions, which cannot at once be understood by a reference to the Glossary. The conciseness thus accomplished has enabled me generally to place the descriptions side by side with the Plates. This is a great advantage to men so fully employed as are the civil, medical, and police authorities of India.
It is believed that this work will meet a real want. It will enable the hard-worked civil surgeon to identify, without much trouble, poisonous snakes, a matter of great import to him in the practice of his profession, and in his capacity as it may be the sole medical jurisprudent in his district. It will also enable the English speaking and reading officials of all grades and departments to distinguish poisonous from non-poisonous snakes.
