AS COMPARED WITH THAT OF OTHER VENOJtOUS SNAKES. 119 



serum. Much ecchymosis of peritoneum and intestines, but not 

 of lungs. Cord and nerves paralysed. Muscles contract 

 vigorously to induced current. 



Action of Croialns-poison on Rabbit, 



Experiment VI. 



^ of a grain (0"015 gramme) of the same Crotcdus-T^oison, 

 dissolved in 1 c.c. of water. 



The jugular vein of a large white rabbit was exposed and the 

 above solution was injected into it at 1.50 p.m. 



At 1.51 violent convulsions, with opisthotonos. 



At 1.53 apparently quite dead. Artificial respiration com- 

 menced immediately. Heart acting still, though feebly and with 

 irregular flickering contractions. Spinal cord exposed. Elec- 

 trodes applied ; no reaction. 



2.12. Heart still contracting feebly. 



2.15. Faint contractions of heart still observable. Ventricles 

 punctured, and blood withdrawn. Peristaltic action has ceased. 



2.20. Feeble cardiac movements continue. 



2.21. Heart has now ceased. Muscles react to direct current. 

 Death caused by rapid paralysis of medulla and cord. The 

 blood taken from the heart and great vessels did not coagulate. 

 At 4 P.M. it was still fluid, though very florid in colour. 



Examined under the microscope nearly two hours after 

 apparent death, the white corpuscles appeared natural ; the red 

 corpuscles not in rouleaux, and very much crenated, though a 

 few retained their natural contour. 



The blood was neutral to test-paper. 



Experiment VII. 



June 17th. — I of a grain (0-015 gramme) of dried cobra-poison, 

 dissolved in 1 c.c. of water, was injected into the jugular vein 

 of a large white rabbit, of the same size as in the previous 

 experiment, at 2.55 p.m. 



The rabbit passed at once into violent convulsions, and was 

 apparently dead before it could be removed from the board, 

 within one minute. The cord was immediately exposed, 



