1871-.] Poison of Indian Venomous Snakes. 97 



caused the poisoned and unpoisoned muscles to contract with apparently 

 the same force, shows that a small dose of the poison causes a consider- 

 able amount of paralysis of the ends of motor nerves, while the muscles 

 are but little affected. 



Experiment XXXVIIL 



May 14th. The right leg of a frog was ligatured, with the exception 

 of the sciatic nerve, and the animal poisoned by a rather small dose of 

 dried cobra-poison dissolved in water, and injected into the dorsal lymph- 

 sac at 11.45 A.M. 



12.15. The animal paralyzed. Acetic acid applied to the left arm 

 caused movements in it ; but no movements ensued when the acid was 

 applied to the nose. When applied to both arms and one leg, it caused 

 movements in the arms and the left leg, but none in the right leg. 



12.33. Acetic acid applied to the left arm causes movement in it, but in 

 no other part of the body. 



12.51. Electrodes were placed in the spine and the cord irritated by a 

 Faradic current. At 15 centimetres distance of the secondary from the 

 primary coil there is faint twitch in right arm. At 9, distinct twitch in 

 both arms. At 0, distinct twitch in both arms, none in legs ; sciatics 

 exposed and irritated. At 50, right leg contracts distinctly. At 36, 

 right leg becomes tetanized. At 16, left leg contracts very faintly indeed. 

 At 8, left leg contracts slightly. 



The muscles were then irritated by single induced shocks : 9'8 centims., 

 right leg faint contraction ; 9-8, left (poisoned) leg contraction is equally 

 strong; 10*1, left (poisoned) leg contraction occurs. 10*1, right (liga- 

 tured one) does not contract. 



In this experiment, the irritability of the poisoned muscle is greater 

 than that of the other, the venom having done less injury to the mus- 

 cular substance than the deprivation of blood by the ligature, and conse- 

 quently the paralyzing action of the poison on the ends of the motor 

 nerves becomes very evident. 



Experiment XXXIX. 



May 12th, 1873. A ligature was passed tightly round the right thigh 

 of a large frog, the sciatic nerve being excluded. 



12. Bight leg ligatured. 



12.12. Injected a considerable dose of a solution of dried cobra-poison 

 in water into dorsal lymph-sac. 



12.14. The frog has assumed a most peculiar position. The left hind 

 leg is drawn up, and the two fore legs are held over head with palms 

 turned forwards. 



12.20. Cornea sensible. Left leg is drawn up again if it be forcibly 

 extended. 



12.31. Cornea sensible. When the left hind foot is pressed it is drawn 



