OPHIDIA VENENOSI. 45 
loosening of the hair, followed by a distortion of the features. 
What effects the poison does actually produce can only be 
determined by experiment. Some of its effects, in cases of 
bites, are the following: Soon after the introduction of the 
poison into the blood, the skin of the surface of the bitten 
limb is thickly covered with small vesicles, filled with an 
ichorous liquid; when these have attained the size of a grain 
of barley they burst, leaving a small’sore, which soon increases 
in size, preserving its funnel shape; these continue sloughing 
away, until they unite one with another, and thus destroy 
all the fleshy substance down to the bone. This i§ accom- 
panied with intense throbbing pains up the limb. In cases 
where the poison does not cause death, on account of its 
deadly principle not being fully developed, it almost in- 
variably produces these funnel-shaped ulcers. The Indians 
cure the bite of this serpent with a tincture of a plant called 
cock-flower (flor de gallo), of the nature and virtues of which 
particular mention is made in another place. How specific 
this is, however, is not positively known. 
OPHIDIA VENENOSI. 
The Ophidia Venenosi comprise the following genera : 
No. 18. Elapide. 
19. Hydrophide. 
20. Crotalidee. 
21. Viperide, 
Generic distinctions are, viz.: 
The existence of fangs or teeth, with their accompanying 
secretory apparatus and receptacle for the poison. 
