26 ON THE NATURE AND ACTION OF THE 



for a minute; and at 3.14 it died, 9 minutes after the 

 injection. 



Electrodes inserted into the spinal cord, in the neck, caused 

 violent muscular contractions all over the wings and legs. The 

 cord was thus evidently not paralysed ; but its irritability soon 

 ceased. The blood remained permanently tiiiid, and became 

 bright red on exposure to air ; under the microscope (400 dia- 

 meters) the corpuscles seemed normal. Rifjor mortis came on. 



'Experiment III. 



A full-grown young pigeon had 3 milligrammes of dried 

 cobra-poison injected into the thigh at 2.49 p.m, 



2.53. The respiration is very hurried ; the bird presents a 

 sluggish appearance and begins to droop. 



3.2. The eyes are now closed and the bird is crouching ; legs 

 extended. 



3.6. Convulsions ; head and back resting on the ground; legs 

 extended and paralysed. 



3.10. Dead in 21 minutes from the injection. 



Electrodes inserted into the cord soon after death caused 

 general contractions of the extremities, showing that the cord 

 was not paralysed. Its irritability soon disappeared. The 

 symptoms in this bird are different from those in the one 

 poisoned by i)a&om- virus ; there is more lethargy, nodding of 

 the head, and apparent drowsiness before the convulsions, which 

 are not so sudden or so violent. 



Experiment IV. 



A full-grown pigeon had 3 milligrammes of dried cobra-poison 

 injected into the peritoneum at 3.5 p.m 



3.15. The bird is sluggish, nodding its head. 



3.17. Gaping ; the head is twitching, and the bird can hardly 

 stand. 



3.22. Convulsions. Several grains of Indian corn are 

 vomited, 



3.25. Quite paralysed. Convulsions. 



3.26. Dead in 21 minutes from the injection. 



Electrodes in the cord soon after death caused movements in 



