REPTILES. 



401 



moment his hand slipped, and the creature bit his right thumb. The rest 

 of the story is given in his own words. "By suction with my mouth I 

 drew not a little blood from the wound ; but the bleeding soon ceased 

 entirely, to be followed, in a few moments, by very severe shooting pains 

 up my arm and down the corresponding side. The severity of these pains 

 was so unexpected that, added to the nervous shock already experienced, 

 no doubt, and a rapid swelling of the parts that now set in, caused me to 

 become so faint as to fall, and Dr. Gills' study was reached with no little 

 difficulty. The action of the skin was greatly increased, and the perspira- 

 tion flowed profusely. A small quantity of whiskey was administered. 



Fig. 350. — Gila monster (Heloderma horridum). 



This is about a fair statement of the immediate symptoms ; the same night 

 the pain allowed of no rest, although the hand was kept in ice and laud- 

 anum, but the swelling was confined to this member alone, not passing 

 beyond the wrist. Next morning this was considerably reduced, and 

 further reduction was assisted by the use of a lead-water wash." The 

 wound healed in a few days. This experience led to further trials, and 

 with poison obtained from the animals a pigeon was killed in seven 

 minutes, and a rabbit in one minute and a half. The poison is unlike that 

 of serpents in being alkaline, and also in its physiological effects, as it 

 affects the heart and nervous system instead of the respiratory organs 



