

1874.] Poison of Indian Venomous Snakes. 83 



4.25. Hind legs now becoming weaker. 



4.30. The application of acid causes slight reflex movements in the 

 hind legs. 



4.35. Acid causes no reflex action. Complete paralysis and death have 

 thus occurred in two hours and a quarter. 



4.40 Thorax opened. Heart still contracting rhythmically and 

 steadily. 



4.55. Heart still contracting, but less vigorously. There is no move- 

 ment apparent in the intestines. 



5.5. Heart still contracting slowly. 



5.25. Heart still contracting. The heart and liver were now removed 

 and given to another frog. 



Experiment XVIII. 



The heart and liver of the former frog were given to a large and 

 strong frog. It was kept under observation for many days, but did not 

 seem in the least affected. 



Experiment XIX. 



A small quantity of dried cobra-poison dissolved in water was given to 

 a young rabbit at 2.53 P.M. It was readily swallowed. In 7 minutes all 

 the symptoms of poisoning were developed. The rabbit died in convul- 

 sions in 11 minutes, just as when the poison is injected hypodermically. 

 The thorax was opened a few minutes afterwards. The heart had ceased 

 to beat. Eigor mortis came on very rapidly. 



Experiment XX. 



November' 2Sth, 1872. 1.49. One quarter of a drop of cobra-poison 

 put into a guineapig's eye. 



3.12. The eye is much congested. The animal has twitchings. 



3.14. Has been making efforts to vomit, and now vomits frothy clear 

 fluid. Has been purged also. 



4.5. Still retching, but not vomiting. 



November 29th. Found to have recovered. 



Local Action of the Poison. 



Cobra-poison acts as a local irritant, and produces chemosis of the 

 conjunctiva and swelling of the eyelids when applied to the eye, and, 

 occasionally, congestion of the peritoneal vessels when injected into the 

 abdominal cavity (Experiments XX. and XLIV.). 



It paralyzes the ends of the motor nerves, and also the muscles of the 

 part into which it has been injected (Experiment XXY.). The muscles 

 are not only deprived of their irritability, but become prone to putrefy 

 (Experiment LVIL). The fresh cobra-poison produces great extrava- 

 sation of blood around the wound through which it has been introduced ; 

 but this is not so marked when dried poison is used. 



VOL. XXII. IT 



