110 VENOMOUS SNAKES AND THE PHENOMENA OP THEIR VENOMS 



THE COLUBRHXE. 



COBRA POISONING IN MAN. 



The local symptoms are not so pronounced as in the case of the bite of viper- 

 ine or crotaline snakes. A sensation of burning pain, more or less severe, sets 

 in at the seat of the bite. The spot soon becomes red, tender, and swollen. 

 The constitutional symptoms appear after an interval of about 30 minutes 

 from the time the bite is inflicted; then the patient commences to feel toxi- 

 cated, sleepy, and weak in the legs; the weakness increases until he is unable 

 to stand. Profuse salivation, paralysis, and swelling of tongue and larynx, 

 with inability to speak or swallow, soon supervene. Nausea and vomiting 

 are of frequent occurrence. The paralysis now becomes more pronounced 

 and the patient is incapable of movement. Respiration 1 becomes slower and 

 its excursions diminish. The action of the heart is quickened, but of fair 

 strength. The patient seems to be conscious, but is unable to express him- 

 self. Finally respiration ceases, with or without convulsions, and the heart 2 

 soon stops. Until respiration ceases the pupil remains contracted and reacts 

 to light. Should the paralytic symptoms gradually disappear the patient 

 recovers rapidly from the poisoning. There are occasional discharges of 

 blood from mucous surfaces, but the urine never contains albumin. 3 



BUNGARUS C^RULEUS POISONING IN MAN. 



The bite of the krait is considered very dangerous, a large percentage of 

 mortality resulting therefrom in India, especially North India. 



The symptoms are somewhat similar to those described in cobra bite. 

 There is almost no local swelling or reaction at the place of the bite. In a 

 recent fatal case in India Martin and Lamb enumerate the chief symptoms 

 as paralysis of articulation, embarrassed and stertorous breathing, and semi- 

 consciousness. Death took place about 8 hours after the bite. 



THE BITE OF AUSTRALIAN SPECIES OF SNAKES. 



Local swelling and pain are not usually severe. Constitutional symptoms 

 appear in from 15 minutes to 2 hours. The first symptom is almost invari- 

 ably faintness and an irresistible desire to sleep. The legs gradually become 

 so weak that the patient becomes unable to stand alone. Alarming symp- 

 toms of prostration then supervene, often accompanied by vomiting. The 

 action of the heart becomes extremely feeble, and the pulse thread-like and 

 uncountable; the extremities are cold and the skin blanched. The respira- 

 tion, after slight preliminary acceleration, becomes shallower from hour to 

 hour as the coma increases. Sensation is blunted, and eventual stimulation 

 of the nerves of special sense ceases to evoke any reaction. The pupil is 

 widely dilated and insensible to light. Death, sometimes preceded by con- 



1 Calmette describes an initial acceleration. 



2 Calmette states that the heart may be beating even as long as a hours after the cessation of respiration. 



3 These symptoms are much like those observed in botulismus poisoning. 



