POISON ill' THE KATTLE8MAXE. 305 



medical profession, convened at my office for the purpose of 

 witnessing experiments made with the poison of the Rattle- 

 make, {Crotakua durissus, Linn.) Sonic days prei ious. a num- 

 ber of the most lively and vicious among them were separa- 

 ted, and permitted to drink : abstinence both from food and 

 water having been strictly enjoined previously, during the 

 period of their confinement, from an idea of the proprietors, 

 that abstinence, particularly as respects water, is calcuated to 

 render the poison less destructive. 



Experiment l. 



It was decided that Mr Elnsworth, who had offered him- 

 self as the subject of the experiment, should be first bitten, 

 and afterwards thai the same snake should be made to de- 

 monstrate its poisonous powers upon a puppy. 



A large active female snake was taken from the box and 

 placed upon a table in a warm room. At 11 h. 20 m. A. M. 

 the man received a bite from the irritated snake on the in- 

 dex finger of the left hand, about half an inch from the me- 

 tacarpal bone; the wound resembled a minute incision, or 

 briar scratch about one fifth of an inch in length; one fang 

 only appears to have been projected, the animal striking with 

 one or both fangs at pleasure: a little blood exuded. Pulse. 

 Iiist before the bite was received. 1<> I per minute: but it was 

 observed to van during the experiments to such a degree as 

 to prevent any correct inference to be expected from that 

 source. 



11 h. in in. He says the wound smarts a little, but no signs 

 'if a poisonous wound are as yet exhibited. 



then ." most of whom, with several others, were present at tin experi- 



ments : — 



Dra Chapman, Harri . Meigs, Emerson, MitcheD, Wetherill, J. R. Barton, P 

 nock, Captain Bazil Hall. R. N., Messrs S. Wetherill, J. 1". Wetherill, and W.Hem 

 bel. N rere taken by several of the gentlemen, and 



result from a comparison of them all. 



vol. 1 1 r. — 4 H 



