EFFECTS OF SERPENT POISON. 115 
The preceding table indicates that the person bitten was of 
a strong physique, and the venom did not have its deadly 
principle fully developed. In extreme cases, death ensues in 
from one to four hours—sometimes sooner. 
Immediately after the injection of the poison, there is a 
sudden increase in the rapidity of the circulation of the blood; 
sharp pains in the chest, throat, and limbs; much cedema of 
the part bitten ; sensations of flushes of heat in whole body, 
followed by ice-cold chills; abundant epistaxis; discolora- 
tion of the finger and toe-nails, and flow of blood from under 
them ; blood flows from the gums, roof of the mouth, and 
from the urinary canal; the pulse rises suddenly to 140 or 
160, and as suddenly lowers to 75 or 80, to rise again to 
100 or 105; surface of the skin becomes red; soon after it 
changes to a purple hue; oppression in the chest is felt ; 
great muscular debility ensues, which is superseded by a 
state of coma; patient rouses slightly, complains of inability 
to distinguish objects around him; relapses into the comatose 
condition ; a bloody or dark-colored or greenish froth is 
noticed on the lips, and death ensues immediately thereafter. 
Dr. Weir Mitchell’s* conclusions as to the great similarity 
between the action of one serpent’s venom and that of another 
of a different genus, are quite contrary to the experience of 
every person who has had to cure many cases of snake-bite; 
so much so, in fact, that, as a general rule, an experienced 
Curer will detect indications in the person bitten which 
will enable him to name the kind of snake which caused the 
wound. 
Experiments, properly initiated and conducted, will place 
this question beyond the domain of discussion, however, and 
will enable us to know positively the field of action of each 
* Researches, &c., page 98. 
