1874.] Poison of Indian Venomous Snakes. 105 



in it only the feeblest movement. In Experiment LX. no response 

 was elicited by striking, pinching, or pricking the paws of the animal 

 but when the ear was tickled the cat shook its head, or moved its paw 

 to ward off the irritant. 



From these cases we think we are justified in concluding that the grey 

 matter of the spinal cord, through which painful impressions are trans- 

 mitted, is paralyzed by cobra-poison ; but the white sensory columns are 

 little, if at all, affected. The power of the cord to conduct motor impres- 

 sions from the encephalic ganglia appears to be little, if at all affected, 

 until the apparent death of the animal ; for in Experiment LX. we find 

 that, very shortly before respiration ceased, and when ordinary reflex 

 action from the cord was nearly gone, purposive or voluntary movements 

 were still made. The absence of movements in Experiment L., when the 

 cord was irritated by a needle, as well as the rapid loss of its power to 

 produce movement in the limbs when irritated by a Faradic current, is, 

 we think, to be attributed to paralysis of its function as an originator, 

 and not as a conductor, of motor impressions. 



Experiment XL VII. 



May 19th. The lumbar nerves of a frog were exposed and a ligature 

 tied round the body, excluding these nerves. 



12 (noon). Some dried cobra-poison dissolved in water was injected 

 into the dorsal lymph-sac. 



1.45. The frog is partially paralyzed; mouth gaping; reflex action is 

 still marked in all the limbs, but more in the legs than in the arms. 



The heart was exposed when the ligature was applied ; it still beats, 

 but feebly and slowly. 



1.50. Acetic acid causes reflex movements when applied to either the 

 hind or fore feet. 



1.54. Applied to the nose, acetic acid causes movements in all the 

 extremities, and especially in the arms. 



1.56. Applied to the right hind foot it causes movements of the arms 

 and of the jaw, which otherwise gapes. 



2.2. Applied to the left hind foot it causes np reflex action. 



2.14. Heart beating very feebly, 18 pulsatipns per minute. Eeflex 

 movements still occur in all the limbs, and rather more in the legs than 

 in the arms. 



2.30. Acetic acid produces no reflex action anywhere. The heart has 

 almost ceased to beat, and only contracts faintly at long intervals. 



2.34. All reflex action has ceased. 



2.45. Electrodes placed in the spine and the cord irritated by a Faradic 

 current. At 15-5 centims. distance, faint contractions in both arms. At 

 centim. distance, no contraction in legs. Sciatic nerves exposed and 

 irritated. 32-5, slight contraction in left leg; slight contraction in 

 right leg. 



