1903.] 



Action of the Poison of the Hydrophidce. 



305 



" On the Physiological Action of the Poison of the Hydrophidse. 

 Part II. Action on the Circulatory, Eespiratory, and Nervous 

 Systems." By LEONARD KOGERS, M.D., B.S. (Lond.), M.K.C.P., 

 F.R.C.S., I.M.S., late acting Professor of Pathology, Medical 

 College, Calcutta. Communicated by Dr. A. D. WALLER. 

 F.RS. Received June 6,Read June 18, 1903. 



(From the Physiological Laboratory of the University of London.) 



In my previous paper I dealt with the action of the poison of the 

 Sea snakes as far as it was possible to examine it under the conditions 

 of work in Calcutta, and reserved the consideration of certain questions 

 Until I was able to test them with the aid of a well-equipped laboratory. 

 This I have now been able to do in the Physiological Laboratory of the 

 London University, by the courtesy of Dr. A. D. Waller, with results 

 which appear to be worthy of being placed on record in a further 

 paper. 



Blood Pressure and Respiratory Curves. 



The effects of the poison on the blood pressure and on the rate and 

 amplitude of the respirations have been studied by taking tracings of 

 the former by a Gad's manometer and of the latter with Sandstrom's 

 recorder, large but varying doses being administered intravenously in 

 chloroformed cats and rabbits. The results uniformly showed a primary 

 failure of respiration followed by a marked rise of blood pressure with 

 the increasing venosity of the blood, respiratory convulsions (except 

 when the respiratory failure was extremely rapid), and a final sudden 

 fall of blood pressure some minutes after complete cessation of respira- 

 tion. The general results obtained may be conveniently summarised 

 in the following table : 



VOL. LXXII. 



* Artificial respiration. 



