EFFECTS OF VENOM 241 



(b) Effects of the Venoms of Russell's Viper and of Echis 

 carinatus : exemplifying Typical Viperine Snakes. In 

 Fayrer's classical experiments the action of the venom 

 of Russell's viper is well illustrated. A viper of this 

 species was made to bite a full-grown fowl : the fowl 

 immediately fell over in violent convulsions, and in less 

 than ninety seconds was dead. According to Major 

 Lamb, when Russell's venom is injected into the blood- 

 stream of an animal there is general clotting of the blood 

 in the vessels, causing asphyxic convulsions, and the 

 heart stops dead. When the venom is injected under 

 the skin the animal staggers and lies down ; it may rise 

 only to collapse again. If death does not occur at once 

 the wound and various mucous surfaces begin to bleed, 

 owing to destruction and abnormal fluidity of the blood, 

 and to dissolution of the capillary walls. Locally there 

 is severe inflammation spreading far from the wound, and 

 enormous gangrenous destruction of tissue, providing 

 superlative conditions for secondary bacterial infection. 



In a man bitten by Russell's viper similar effects ensue. 

 Locally there is great pain and swelling, and extensive 

 extravasation. The general symptoms are those of rapid 

 syncope and collapse, with cold sweats, nausea, vomiting, 

 and dilated pupils insensitive to light. If the victim 

 recovers from the collapse bleeding from the mucous 

 membranes may follow, and there is albuminuria or 

 haematuria. Should there be recovery the local symptoms 

 become urgent; there is extensive suppuration and 

 necrosis of tissue, extending far beyond the wound, 

 and this may lead to fatal septicasmia. 



The action of the venom of Echis carinatus is quite like 

 that of Russell's viper. Major Lamb states that a small 

 quantity injected into the blood-stream of an animal 

 causes rapid intravascular clotting. In man the bite is 

 very painful, and causes intense local reaction. The 

 victim may apparently get over the immediate effects of 

 the bite, and several hours may elapse before anything 

 further happens. Then there may be uncontrollable 

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