The story, which featured a snake that was used to murder a woman, sparked outrage among some animal rights activists, who saw it as promoting cruelty towards snakes. These activists threatened Doyle's life and even sent him a live cobra, which he apparently kept in a glass case for a while.
While the threat of a live cobra is often recounted in the context of Doyle's death threats, it's important to note that there's no concrete evidence that the snake was actually sent by activists. Nonetheless, the story emphasizes the strong reaction to Doyle's work and the public sensitivity towards animal cruelty in the Victorian era.