CAPABLE OF COMMON AND EASY PEACTICAL APPLICATION. 155 



the circulation through the distal part of the limb in order to 

 check further absorption of the poison. ■ An incision was then 

 made in the long axis of the limb over the seat of injection of 

 the poison, and the edges dissected up slightly on either side so 

 as to fully expose the affected tissues and to form a small 

 pocket, into which the crystals of permanganate were next 

 placed, and after moistening with a few drops of sterile normal 

 salt solution (water, or even saliva, would serve in an emer- 

 gency) they were well rubbed in until the exposed tissues 

 presented a uniformly blackened appearance. About 3 minutes 

 were usually occupied by the little operation, on the completion 

 of which the ligature was released and a dressing and bandage 

 applied to the wound. The animals were under chloroform 

 throughout the operation, including the injection of the venom. 

 The amount of permanganate held by the instrument made for 

 these experiments was I gramme, this quantity being used in 

 each of the experiments. 



The results of the experiments so far performed may most 

 conveniently be summarised in the following table, by means of 

 which they may readily be studied. The actual doses of venoms 

 injected are given in Column 4, and the dose per kilogramme 

 weight in Column 5. The time which was allowed to elapse 

 after the injection of the poison before the application of the 

 ligature (Column 6) was usually |- minute, which it was calcu- 

 lated would be sufticient to allow a handkerchief, or, in the case 

 of a native, a strip of a piigari or of the cotton garments 

 commonly worn by the poorer classes in the tropics, being tied 

 round the limb and twisted up to form an efficient ligature. 

 In a few of the later experiments this application of the liga- 

 ture was delayed for 5 and 10 minutes. In Column 8 the time 

 is shown which was taken over the operation from the applica- 

 tion to the release of the ligature, while the ultimate result is 

 shown in Column 9. In most of the control experiments a 

 ligature was applied round the thigh for about the same time as 

 in the operations, as it appeared possible that the ligature 

 might delay somewhat the absorption of the poison, although it 

 could scarcely affect the ultimate result of its action, owing to 

 the poison being an essentially cumulative one. 



