A Consideration of John Davy’s “Analysis of the Snake-Stone”

This paper considers the circumstances of an article written by John Davy, brother of Sir Humphry Davy, in which he presented the first chemical analysis of snakestones. Davy encountered snakestones in Ceylon (Sri Lanka), where he was posted as a medical officer of the British army in the early nineteenth century. The equipment that Davy took to Ceylon demonstrated his intent to find and analyse unfamiliar local materials, thus carrying out a dual role as a "surgeon-naturalist." By comparing Davy's original notes on snakestones with his final published work, aspects of Davy's personality, and parallels between Davy's notetaking style and that of his brother, come to light. Davy's chemical analysis of snakestones was ground-breaking in the history of this purported alexipharmic. However, the significance of his publication was largely undercut by dismissive remarks contained in a note, "Additional Observations, by the Secretary," appended to its publication.