OF THE VENOM OF THE RATTLESNAKE. 57 



From a large number of instances of death in frogs, from tlie secondary or 

 chronic action of the venom, I have selected the most interesting, and those which 

 best illustrate the nature of the symptoms. 



Experiment. — Temperature 84° P. A very large frog was struck by a snake two 

 and a half feet long, on the back of the pelvis, upon the left side. Twenty-five hours 

 and five minutes after the blow, the frog was re-examined, and found to be inert 

 and sluggish, but still able to move. During the interval, it occupied a glass jar 

 containing a large wetted sponge, and partly open at top. The back of the frog was 

 darker than usual, and presented a fluctuating mass of fluid beneath the skin. The 

 eyes were natural, the respirations occurred now and then, and the lymph-hearts, 

 at the end of the spine were acting as usual. One day later the frog's condition 

 was much as before. On the third day it was motionless, except under excessive 

 stimulus, when it leaped once or twice, or if placed on its back, tui-ned itself over 

 with great difficulty. On the fourth day the swelling on the back diminished 

 somewhat, and the subcuticular sacs of the legs became swollen. 



From this time the frog grew weaker, although put in water daily for an hour 

 or two, and every pains taken to preserve it in a healthy state. It died during my 

 absence on the fifth day. 



P. M. Section. — The muscles in the track of the fang which had not entered 

 deeply, were dark in color, and underwent extreme decomposition within twenty- 

 four hours, while the rest of the body was not sensibly affected. About the 

 wound, in the dorsal sac, were large quantities of bloody serum, which coagulated 

 feebly upon exposure. The other sacs, wherever examined, were also filled with 

 bloody serum, and a similar fluid was found in the peritoneum and pericardium. 

 Bloody mucus flowed from the mouth and nostrils, and the stomach and mucous 

 surface of the intestines were stained with frequent patches of extravasated blood. 

 The lungs were shrunken, but contained no blood. The heart, which was pale 

 and unirritable, contained only two minute and very pallid clots, adherent to the 

 auricular walls. The muscles of the legs and the flanks responded feebly to gal- 

 vanism during one hour and thirty minutes after exposure. Those of the forelegs 

 were also irritable, but, singularly enough, the muscles under the jaw had lost their 

 power to act. The muscles were generally pale, owing to the great loss of blood. 

 The sheaths or fascia were stained with blood in nearly every part of the body, and 

 even between the separate muscles and the bone. There was no post-mortem rigor 

 observed. 



Experiment. — Temperature 74° F. A large frog was bitten fiercely by a snake 

 three feet long, which thrust one fang deeply into the left thigh. The other fang 

 missed the leg entirely. During the five succeeding hours, the subject was watched 

 by an assistant, who described the wound as exuding bloody serum, while the animal 

 remained in one position, quite motionless. It died during the following night, 

 when unobserved, and was found the next day in a state of rigor, a good deal 

 shrunken, although great pains had been taken to keep it constantly moistened. 



P. M. Section. — The bitten leg was greatly swollen, and the muscles beneath were 

 livid with extravasated blood. Everywhere in the injured limb the muscles were 

 deeply stained with blood, and this appearance was not confined to this limb, but 



