POISON OF SOME INDIAN VENOMOUS SNAKES. 51 



On opening the thorax of No. 1 (the poisoned guinea-pig) the 

 lungs were found congested. The heart was tetanically con- 

 tracted and quite still. The heart of No. 2 was contracting 

 vigorously. The vena cava contained a few hubbies of air. 

 The lungs were pale. 



2.40. Peristaltic movements are going on very actively in the 

 intestines of both animals. 



2.42. The muscles of the abdominal wall irritated by single 

 induced shocks. 



Guinea-pig, 'No. 1. No contraction. Coil at 0. 



Guinea-pig, No. 2. Contraction. Coil at 14*5. 



Muscles of the hip irritated in the same way : — 



^ 1 /"Trace of contraction of muscle. Coil 13. 



L Contraction still slight. Coil 0. 

 ■XT n r Contraction. Coil 37. 

 ^* ' LPowerfulkick. Coil 0. 



2.50. Rigor mortis is coming on in No. 1. The legs are quite 

 stiff. A trace of peristaltic movement still going on in the 

 small intestine. 



The muscles of No. 2 are quite flexible. 



2.55. No. 1. Muscles of back of thigh and of abdominal wall 

 irritated directly as before. No contraction. Coil at 0. 

 Muscles of the front of thigh twitch slightly. Coil at 0. 



No. 2. Muscles of back of thigh twitch decidedly. Coil 

 at 37. 



3.12. No. 1. No contraction in any muscles. Coil at 0. The 

 animal is stiff. 



No. 2. Muscles are quite limp. Muscles of back of thigh 

 twitch decidedly. Coil at 25. 



All the muscles do not lose their irritability with the same 

 rapidity, some of them becoming paralysed before others. The 

 intercostal muscles, serrati, and abdominal muscles seem to lose 

 their irritability first ; and such muscles of the limbs as have a 

 dark colour become paralysed sooner than those which are paler 

 (Experiment XXV). 



(95) E 2 



