OF THE VENOM OP TUE RATTLESNAKE. 71 



did the skin slough extensively. I found in most instances only a small orifice 

 leading into an abscess cavity, which was rarely above the size of a large walnut. 



Ej:periment.—K white mongrel, weighing seventeen pounds, was placed in the cage 

 with a large snake. He was struck at once in the left hind thigh, and again by 

 the same serpent about three inches above the first wound. The dog sufiered ter- 

 ribly, and during two hours whined and yelled incessantly. Enormous swell- 

 ing occurred, involving the whole limb up to the pelvic joint. Two hours after 

 being struck the dog was weak, but still kept his feet, and drank almost without 

 ceasing. His respiration was occasionally jerking, his heart as usual rapid but 

 feeble.° No local or general fremitus was noted. At the third hour he was agaui 

 howling frightfully. The weakness was greater than before, and he staggered in 

 his gait, but the other symptoms were unchanged. Four and a half hours after 

 the poisoning, the dog became still weaker, ceased to drink, and finally lay down. 

 The parts wounded were still enlarging. At this time he vomited a little food and 

 mucus, and soon after purged and urinated. From this time he began to mend, and 

 although he howled all the following night, he was able to run about the next day, 

 with only a slight appearance of lameness. The wound discharged blood, and at 

 length bloody pus, and finally pure pus, up to the period of recovery, three weeks 

 later. During the first week of this time, the dog took scarcely any food, and was 

 subject to profuse dysenteric discharges, so that he became remarkably emaciated. 

 From this condition he gradually improved, all the symptoms abated, and at the 

 end of the third week he was as fat as when first injured. 



The cases here related are selected from a larger number of a similar nature, all 

 illustrating the more or less grave character of the symptoms, and also the possi- 

 bility of recovery, even under apparently unfavorable circumstances. The next 

 case, and the last of this kind, I have placed alone, because it has especial value, 

 as showing how exceedingly grave may be the signs of poisoning, and yet how 

 rapid and complete may be the rally and escape. 



Experiment— K small brown terrier was struck twice on the fore leg and shoulder 

 by a large snake, which I held in the loop, as usual. Within ten minutes the 

 dog vomited, urinated, and passed solid feces. All this time he whined a good 

 deal, and finally, at the fifteenth minute, lay down on his side, breathing in jerks, 

 and twitching in almost every muscle. No fremitus could be seen at the wound, 

 owing, perhaps, to the swelling, which was great, and might readily have concealed 

 it from view. An hour after being bitten, the dog had a slight convulsion, and 

 vomited again. Meanwhile I could scarcely feel the heart beat, and the respirations 

 were long and labored. On leaving this animal, late in the evening, and about 

 seven hours after he was hurt, he was lying on the floor, scarcely breathing, and 

 nearly pulseless. He had passed liquid and very dark stools, and some water. Even 

 at this period, his sensorium seemed uuafi"ected, and he felt injuries, heard well, and 

 followed with his eyes the movements about him. To my surprise, when I entered 

 my laboratory the next morning, the dog ran by me and attempted to escape ; I 

 caught him with no little difficulty. His wound was like a hump on his side and 

 back, and discharged fluid blood in occasional drops. The floor of the box in which 



