26 



PHYSIOLOGY AND TOXICOLOGY 



When speaking of the difficulties which surround the study of antidotes to 

 serpent poison, we shall return again to this subject. Here it is sufficient to have 

 pointed out such of the fallacies as are due to a want of exact knowledge of the 

 mechanism concerned in producing the poisoned wound. 



The minute details, here given, of the mechanism of the bite, are collected from 

 many sources already mentioned, and are carefully corrected by numerous original 

 observations, dissections, and experimental demonstrations of the mode in which 

 different muscles acted under galvanic stimulus, applied after decollation and 

 removal of the skin. So far as I am aware, it is the only full account of the mode 

 in which the bite is given, and of the parts played by the different organs and 

 tissues concerned. 



