1874.] Poison of Indian Venomous Snakes. 77 



Exp. Tc. July Wt7i, 1869. A young cobra, about 10 inches long, was 

 bitten at 3.45 P.M. by a fresh full-grown cobra near the tail, so that the 

 viscera might not be injured. The fangs were seen to penetrate ; and 

 no doubt could exist that the poison was fairly inserted. Being put on 

 the ground it crawled away vigorously, and seemed unaffected by the bite. 

 On the 13th it seemed well ; but on the 17th it was found dead, and had 

 apparently been so for about 12 hours. 



As this snake was young it may have died partly from want of food, 

 and partly from the wound, as well as from the effects of the poison. 



Though small snakes of a venomous species may be killed by large 

 ones, either of the same or of another species, full-grown individuals are 

 rarely injured by the bite of another, either of their own or another 

 species. This is illustrated by the following experiments, which are 

 taken from numerous others of the same sort. 



Exp. I. A Bungarus fasciatus was fairly and deeply bitten by a fresh 

 cobra near the tail ; there was no doubt of the penetration of the fangs 

 and inoculation of the poison. No effect was produced, and the Bun- 

 garus was alive and well five days after the bite. 



Exp. m. A Bungarus fasciatus was thoroughly bitten in a similar man- 

 ner by a fresh Daboia. The bite produced no effect, and five days after- 

 wards the snake was in its normal condition. 



Exp. n. A Daboia was bitten by a fresh cobra near the tail, the scales 

 having been previously scraped off. The snake bit fiercely and repeatedly. 

 Two days afterwards no effect could be noticed. 



Exp. o. A large black cobra was bitten in two places 1 foot 6 inches 

 from the head, and also on the head, by a large and vicious Daboia. 

 Blood was slightly drawn ; and there could be no doubt that the fangs had 

 penetrated and the poison been inoculated. Six days after the bite there 

 was no change in the snake. 



Exp. p. A full-grown cobra was bitten by another full-grown, fresh, 

 and vigorous cobra in two places about 6 inches from the head, and 

 also in the mouth. They both bit each other freely in this situation, and 

 blood was freely drawn. They were both well a week afterwards. 



Exp. q. A cobra had 15 drops of his own venom injected hypodermi- 

 cally about 8 inches from the head. A week afterwards it seemed sluggish ; 

 but this might be from other causes. 



Exp. r. A cobra had 15 drops of the venom from another cobra in- 

 jected hypodermically in the same situation as the last. A week after- 

 wards he was perfectly well. 



Effects on Fish. 



Cobra-poison seems to produce paralysis, indicated by the fish turning 

 on its side in the water and also great excitement, the fish struggling 

 and plunging violently. 



