AS COMrARED WITH THAT OF OTHER VENOMOUS SNAKES. 113 



of imperfectly oxygenated blood, the result of impeded 

 respiration), and, finally, death. 



Haemorrhages or hsemorrhagic extravasations and effusions, 

 both local and general, occur m all vaiieties of snake-poisoning. 



But we observe (and in this our observations are in accord 

 with those of Weir Mitchell) that there is a greater tendency to 

 both local and general liajmorrhage and extravasation of blood 

 and of the colouring-matter of the blood, especially as observed 

 in the peritoneum, intestines, and mesentery, and also probably 

 to a more direct action on the cord (vide Experiments I, III, V, 

 VI, VII, IX, XI, XIV, XV), than in poisoning by either cobra 

 or viper {cide Experiments IV, VII, XIII, XVI, XVII, XX). 



The viscera and other tissues, after death, are found congested 

 and ecchymosed, and in some cases to a great extent, seeming 

 to show that either a preternatural fluidity of blood or some 

 important change in the vessels, favouring its exudation, has 

 occurred. 



But with regard to tlie blood itself, we have observed that it 

 does form a coagulum after (ieath, generally, if not invariably ; 

 as we have noted to be the case, tliough not to the same extent, 

 in the blood of animals that have succumbed to the Dahoia- 

 virus.* 



With reference to the coagulation or non -coagulation of the 

 blood in cases of snake-poisoning, we observe that the following 

 conclusions have been arrived at by Mr. Bichards and the 

 Calcutta Committee {vide p. 45 of their Beport). 



"We now propose to deal with the ph}sical clianges produced 

 by snake-poisoning on the blood. Erom observations which 

 have been made by Mr. Bichards and ourselves, we have arrived 

 at the following conclusions : — 



'•' The blood appears to remain fluid after death under the circum- 

 stances noted below : 



" 1st. When a large quantity of the cobra-poison has been 

 directly injected into the circulation, as, for example, into an 

 artery or a vein.f 



* In Dr. Fayrer's Indian experiments the blood of animals dead from Bahoia- 

 poison nearly always remained duid after death, 

 t This is not always so. — J. Fayrer. 



(95) 1 



