NATURE AND ANALYSIS OF THE POISONS. 143 
annihilated; the blood formed a firm clot in ten minutes after 
exposure to the atmosphere. 
Deductions from the previous Experiment. There can be no 
possible doubt that the Cobra poison kills the source of nerve 
force, and that the reflex action through the motor nerves is 
remotely influenced by the action of the poison. } 
Professor Halford* cites twenty cases of snake-bites in 
which hypodermic injections of liquor ammonia were used, 
of which seventeen cases recovered and three died. The 
quantity injected varied from thirty-six minims of liquor 
ammonia (B. P.), 959 specific gravity, to 30 minims +. 30 
minims water; also 10 minims liquor ammonia fortissimus 
+ 50 minims water; also 5 minims liquor ammonia fortissi- 
mus + 25 minims warm water,—varied in different cases 
according to the age, sex, and apparent strength of the 
patient. 
These caseswere all of such a nature (I quote the Profes- 
sor’s own words), that those who had charge of the patients 
believed that death would have ensued unless the liquor am- 
monia had been used. 
Of the effect of ammonia on the circulation, Professor Hal- 
ford continues: “It may be stated as a rule with but few 
exceptions, in cases of snake-bites, that the blood loses its 
power of coagulation, and becomes thinner and poorer, its 
color resembling the most deodorized form of Stokes’s cruo- 
rine. 
It greedily absorbs oxygen, however, after death when ex- 
posed to the air, and it absorbs it with greater readiness than 
unpoisoned blood. According to Dr. Harley’s observations 
in a dog poisoned by a Puff Adder, the blood absorbed two 
per cent. more oxygen than healthy blood similarly treated. 
* In a paper read before the Victoria Society of Melbourne, Australia, 
by Dr. George B. Halford, June 1, 1870. 
