POISON OF SOME INDIAN VENOMOUS SNAKES. 109 



method of removing the poison from the body may be to allow 

 it to flow out along with the blood in which it is circulating, 

 and supply the place of the poisoned blood thus withdrawn by 

 means of transfusion. 



The greater part of the poison present in the system is 

 probably contained in the blood, and only a small proportion 

 in the tissues ; for one of us (Dr. Fayrer) has found that a few 

 drops of the blood of a dog killed by the bite of a cobra or 

 Dahoia caused death in 75 minutes, when injected into the 

 thigh of a fowl (Thanatophidia, pp. 80, 83, 119, 120). By 

 removinoj as much blood as could be taken without endangering 

 the life of the animal, a great part of the poison would be 

 withdrawn from the system ; and, probably, any harm from 

 the copious bleeding would be prevented by transfusing fresh 

 blood immediately afterwards. 



We have tried one or two experiments with transfusion ; but 

 they have hitherto been unsuccessful. 



AVe are therefore by no means confident that death may be 

 prevented by the combined use of artificial respiration and 

 transfusion ; but we think that they present some chance of 

 success, and that, at all events, the suggestion is justifiable on 

 scientific and rational grounds. 



The treatment of animals poisoned by cobra- virus by the 

 hypodermic injection of liquor ammonise has been frequently 

 tried in India by one of us (Dr. Fayrer) (vide Thcmat., pp. 89 

 et seq.\ and also by Mr. Eichards, of Balasore, and by ourselves 

 again in London, on several occasions. 



The alkali has been administered internally, injected into the 

 areolar tissue, and also into the veins, over and over again ; 

 but no benefit has resulted. The objection has been made that 

 experiments of this nature, made on animals, are not conclusive 

 in reference to the probable action of the agent experimented 

 with on human beings; but this objection can hardly be 

 considered valid in a physiological point of view. 



At any rate the trials that have been made of this mode of 

 averting the lethal effects of the poison, in India by Dr. Hilson, 

 Civil Surgeon of Moradabad, do not atibrd any indication that 

 the intravenous injection of liquor ammonise was followed by 



