110 VENOMOUS SNAKES AND THE PHENOMENA OF THEIR VENOMS 
THE COLUBRID. 
COBRA POISONING IN MAN. 
The local symptoms are not so pronounced as in the case of the bite of viper- 
ine or crotaline snakes. A sensation of burning pain, more or less severe, sets 
in at the seat of the bite. ‘The spot soon becomes red, tender, and swollen. 
The constitutional symptoms appear after an interval of about 30 minutes 
from the time the bite is inflicted; then the patient commences to feel toxi- 
cated, sleepy, and weak in the legs; the weakness increases until he is unable 
to stand. Profuse salivation, paralysis, and swelling of tongue and larynx, 
with inability to speak or swallow, soon supervene. Nausea and vomiting 
are of frequent occurrence. The paralysis now becomes more pronounced 
and the patient is incapable of movement. Respiration * becomes slower and 
its excursions diminish. ‘The action of the heart is quickened, but of fair 
strength. ‘The patient seems to be conscious, but is unable to express him- 
self. Finally respiration ceases, with or without convulsions, and the heart ? 
soon stops. Until respiration ceases the pupil remains contracted and reacts 
to light. Should the paralytic symptoms gradually disappear the patient 
recovers rapidly from the poisoning. ‘There are occasional discharges of 
blood from mucous surfaces, but the urine never contains albumin.® 
BUNGARUS CRULEUS POISONING IN MAN. 
The bite of the krait is considered very dangerous, a large percentage of 
mortality resulting therefrom in India, especially North India. 
The symptoms are somewhat similar to those described in cobra bite. 
There is almost no local swelling or reaction at the place of the bite. Ina 
recent fatal case in India Martin and Lamb enumerate the chief symptoms 
as paralysis of articulation, embarrassed and stertorous breathing, and semi- 
consciousness. Death took place about 8 hours after the bite. 
THE BITE OF AUSTRALIAN SPECIES OF SNAKES. 
Local swelling and pain are not usually severe. Constitutional symptoms 
appear in from 15 minutes to 2 hours. The first symptom is almost invari- 
ably faintness and an irresistible desire to sleep. The legs gradually become 
so weak that the patient becomes unable to stand alone. Alarming symp- 
toms of prostration then supervene, often accompanied by vomiting. The 
action of the heart becomes extremely feeble, and the pulse thread-like and 
uncountable; the extremities are ‘cold and the skin blanched. The respira- 
tion, after slight preliminary acceleration, becomes shallower from hour to 
hour as the coma increases. Sensation is blunted, and eventual stimulation 
of the nerves of special sense ceases to evoke any reaction. The pupil is 
widely dilated and insensible to light. Death, sometimes preceded by con- 
1 Calmette describes an initial acceleration. 
2 Calmette states that the heart may be beating even as long as 2 hours after the cessation of respiration. 
3 These symptoms are much like those observed in botulismus poisoning. 
