108 Messrs. Elliot, Sillar, and .Carmichael. [May 12, 



present in animals dying from the effects of subcutaneous injections of 

 this venom. We have also emphasised the fact that, in experiments 

 carried out by dropping venom on the exposed medulla oblongata, we 

 have failed to kill animals through the respiratory centre with their 

 motor nerve-ends still undamaged. In this respect, we have shown 

 that Enhydrina venom differs in its action from Cobra venom. It 

 would therefore appear that, in poisoning with Enhydrina venom, 

 motor nerve-end paresis plays a much greater part than it does in 

 cobraism. It is not difficult to suppose that a blunting of the motor 

 nerve-end mechanism, even though far from absolute, may seriously 

 add to the embarrassment of a centre which has already been directly 

 and gravely enfeebled. We hope to return to this and other points 

 in a future communication. 



In conclusion, we desire to express our sense of indebtedness to the 

 India Office, to the Government of India, and last, but by no means 

 least, to the Madras Government, for the assistance and facilities 

 which they have given us in the carrying out of this research. 



41 On the Action of the Venom of Bungarus cosruleus (the Common 

 Krait)." By Major E. H. ELLIOT,* I.M.S., W. C. SILLAR, 

 M.B., B.Sc., Lecturer on Experimental Pharmacology, Senior 

 Assistant in the Materia Medica Department, University 

 of Edinburgh, and GEORGE S. CARMICHAEL, M.B., Ch.B., 

 Assistant in the Materia Medica Department, University of 

 Edinburgh. Communicated by Sir THOMAS E. ERASER, M.D., 

 F.R.S. Eeceived May 12, Eead June 9, 1904. 



(From the Pharmacology Laboratory of the University of Edinburgh.) 

 (Abstract.) 



The only previously recorded work known to us on this subject was 

 performed by Captain L. Eogers, I. M.S., and his results were published 

 at the beginning of the present year. 



Experiments were performed by us in the Pharmacological Laboratory 

 of the University of Edinburgh with the following results : 



I. We determined the minimum-lethal dose of the dried venom for 

 frogs and small mammals, rats and rabbits only being chosen, as our 

 stock of the venom was very limited. We found that the M.L.D for 



5 frog was about 0-0005 of a gramme per kilo, for the rat 

 1 gramme per kilo., and for the rabbit the remarkably low dose 

 of 0-00008 gramme per kilo. 



of State forludif^ *" Snake ' Ten m r6Search ' Under tbe orders of the Secretary 



