36 ON THE NATURE AND ACTION OF THE 



11.25. Turned over on its side. 



11.26. On being roused it plunges violently. 

 11.40. Dead in 20 minutes from the bite. 



For the purpose of comparison the following experiment with 

 curare was made. It will be seen that there was no plunging. 

 The failure of muscular action, except when a more than 

 ordinarily powerful stimulus from the nerve-centres called it 

 into play, is very evident. 



Experiment X. 



November, 1873. — Injected a solution of curare under the 

 skin of a carp near the tail. A great part of the solution came 

 out on withdrawing the needle of the syringe. 



11.25. Injection made. 



11.26. The fish lies obliquely in the water, inclining to the 

 opposite side from the injection. It can move when irritated, 

 and can remain perfectly upright in the water ; but in a very 

 short time its position becomes oblique again. 



1 1.35. Injected some more curare. A great part of this also 

 returned. 



11.50. Lies obliquely, but can move tolerably vigorously 

 when roused. 



11.55. Moves more feebly when roused. 



12.10. Seemed dead, but did not lie fiat on its side, and 

 still preserved the oblique position. 



12.20. It suddenly started up without any apparent cause, 

 swam across the vessel, a distance of several inches, and then 

 relapsed into its former state. 



Action on Snails. 



Cobra-venom seems to destroy their irritability. It first 

 causes them to shrink within their shells, and finally lessens 

 their movements when stimulated. 



Effect of Reagents, etc., on the Action of the Poison, 



The activity of the poison is not destroyed, and scarcely 

 impaired, by drying. We have made no comparative experi- 



