1874.] Poison of Indian Venomous Snakes. 69 



colubrine snakes, whilst that of Daboia Eussellii is similar to that of Echis 

 carinata, and also of the Trimeresuri, which represent the viperine snakes 

 in India. 



Just as the Naja may be regarded as among the most virulent of the 

 colubrine, the Daboia is probably as venomous as any of the viperine 

 snakes, it being very deadly ; whilst the Crotalidae are but feebly repre- 

 sented in India by the Trimeresuri. 



The venomous colubrine snakes in India are represented by the Naja 

 tripudians, Opliiophagus elaps, Bungarus fasciatus, B. cceruleas, Xenure- 

 laps bungaroides, and the various species of Callopliis and Hydrophidae ; 

 whilst among the viperine snakes the Viperidae, or vipers, are represented 

 in India by only two genera, each with a single species, Daboia Russellii, 

 Echis carinata ; the Crotalidae, or pit vipers, by the various Trimeresuri, 

 Peltopelor, Halys, Hypnale, though these are much less active than their 

 American congeners. 



The Daboia, however, may be considered as virulent as the most deadly 

 form of the Viperidae of Africa, or probably as the Crotdlus or Craspedoce- 

 plwlus of the pit-vipers of America and the "West Indies. 



In a previous communication we have described the effect of the poison 

 of Naja tripudiatis upon warm-blooded animals, and have illustrated it 

 by experiments on the dog, rabbit, guineapig, and fowl. 



We purpose in the present paper to compare its action with that of the 

 poison of the Daboia Russellii, a viperine snake, to describe its effects 

 upon cold-blooded animals and invertebrata, and to examine in detail its 

 action upon the various organs of the body. 



In our former paper we stated that the general symptoms of poisoning 

 by cobra-venom are depression, faintness, hurried respiration and exhaus- 

 tion, lethargy, unconsciousness, nausea, and vomiting. In dogs, guinea- 

 pigs, and rabbits peculiar twitching movements occur, which seem to re- 

 present vomiting in them ; occasionally, in fact, dogs and guineapigs 

 (Experiment XX.) do vomit, and dogs are profusely salivated. As the 

 poisoning proceeds, paralysis appears, sometimes affecting the hind legs 

 first and seeming to creep up the body, and sometimes affecting the whole 

 animal nearly at the same time. There is loss of coordinating power 

 of the muscles of locomotion. 



Haemorrhage, relaxation of the sphincters, and involuntary evacuations, 

 not unfrequently of a sanguineous or muco-sangumeous character, often 

 precede death, and are generally accompanied by convulsions. 



In fowls the appearance is one of extreme drowsiness ; the head falls 

 forward, rests on the beak ; and gradually the bird, no longer able to 

 support itself, crouches, then rolls over on its side. There are frequent 

 startings, as if of sudden awaking from the drowsy state. 



The following experiments upon pigeons and guineapigs show that the 

 general symptoms produced by the poison of the Daboia are nearly the 

 same as by that of the Naja. The local symptoms are greater extravasation 



G 2 



