ELIMINATION OF THE POISON. 435 
When introduced into the blood it paralyzes the motor nerve 
centres in the brain, causing complete paralysis of the whole 
body. 
It is well known in medical science that, in cases of poisoning 
by curare, if artificial respiration methods be resorted to after 
the patient has ceased to breathe and lies apparently dead, he 
can be restored. This clearly demonstrates that the poison 
benumbs the nerve centres, but does not destroy them. 
Now, if patients can be restored by artificial respiration 
methods after being poisoned with curare when natural breathing 
has ceased and they lie apparently dead, such recoveries may 
also take place with those poisoned by snake venom. 
ELIMINATION OF THE POISON. 
So long as the patient is breathing, the vital functions are 
active, and the venom is being slowly overcome and cast out of 
the body in a variety of ways; but the instant the breathing 
ceases, the functions of the body are suspended, the blood becomes 
charged with poisonous waste matters, and the patient rapidly 
dies, unless artificial respiration is resorted to in order to supply 
the blood with oxygen from the air. 
If the victim of a Cobra bite sinks into unconsciousness, and 
the breathing ceases, it indicates that the venom has completely 
paralyzed the nerve centres controlling the lungs. 
Now, if we instantly resort to artificial respiration methods, 
or if a cannula be inserted into the windpipe, and the lungs be 
inflated and deflated regularly, then, if the patient be not actually 
dead, the blood will begin to circulate, the vital functions will 
show signs of recovery, and natural breathing will, sooner or 
later, commence. 
The object of artificial breathing in cases of snake bite is to 
keep the body alive long enough for it to expel sufficient of the 
venom to make recovery possible. Asin cases of serious illness trom 
other causes, so with snake bite. A crisis comes on, and if the 
patient can be kept alive while this terrible struggle between 
life’s forces and deati is going on, by helping the resisting powers 
of the body, then it is possible for recovery to take place when 
otherwise death would have ensued. 
