rOISON OP THE RATTLESNAKE. 309 



reflections of the peritoneum nearly in the same condition, 

 being very red. and appearing as if soaked in blood. A simi- 

 lar appearance, to a considerable extent, prevailed in the pi ri- 

 toneal coat <>f the stomach and intestines, the veins of which 

 were congested. The internal coats of the stomach and intes- 

 tines were natural in appearance. Urinary bladder was 

 empty. No coagulated blood was observed in any of the vi -- 

 sels throughout the system. Thorax presented no remarka- 

 ble deviation from a natural stair. 



Cranium. — On raising the skull and dura mater, an exten- 

 sive dark patch. Conned apparently by extravasation or con- 

 g -iiou. was observed under the arachnoid membrane lyirigover 

 the cerebral lobes, and extending down in a slight degree 

 between the convolutions. The substance of the brain and 

 spinal marrow appeared natural. The muscular system was 

 rather pale. 



It will probably be remarked, that the specific action of 

 the poison appears to have expended its deleterious influence 

 on the cellular tissue in this animal: the usual phenomena 

 which characterize death from poisons, such as non-coagula- 

 tion of the blood, extravasations. &c. wire remarkably well 

 developed. 



Experiment 3. 



A full grown cock, having the feathers removed from over 

 the pectoral muscles, Was exposed to he bitten by a Rattle- 

 snake, and at 



I 2 "Click, merid. Received two slight wound- from both 

 fangs at the same time: each wound was covered with drop- 

 of a transparent fluid ejected from the poison bag. 



J 2 li. i m. Tin' bitten pari assumed the appearance of a 

 dark-purple ecchymosis, and the skin in the immediate vici- 

 nity of the punctures was puckered or corrugated. 



12 h. 1 ") in. Tiie parts over the wounds are slightly tu- 

 mid, and present a black or gangrenous appearance, and 

 \ in,, m. — i i 



