SNAKEBITE AT U C COLLEGE ALWAYE

 I am travelling  back in my life.

I was at UCCollege, Alwaye that is now Aluva.  It was 1967-68. Skinner Hostel. Prof.Dr.VKAlexander, the well known Psychiatrist,  was the Hostel Warden. 

It was a Saturday. Together with two, three friends I had gone to the town to watch a movie. 

Alwaye was still a small place. Kochi City had not yet engulfed it.  

As we were returning, it was around 6.30 pm, we were hurrying towards the mess taking the footpath adjacent to the Hostel for the dinner. Mess would close by  7 pm. 

I felt something biting me. I shared it with the friends. They at once led me to the mess hall. Made me sit on a bench and put the feet up. There were two marks like pinpricks. Blood was oozing out from the wounds. 

The campus had snakes in addition to the human population. Many of them were poisonous.

Though no one saw a snake - it was dark - the indications were it was, snakebite.

Someone made an incision with a blade and squeezed out the blood. Much before that a tourniquet had been tied above the ankle.

The Warden came. He took me to a Hospital at Alwaye.

They injected anti snake venom.

I spent the night at the Hospital. Some friends stayed with me. I was discharged the next day.

No harm done