116 ON THE NATURE AND ACTION OF THE OROTALUS-POISON 



10 drops of distilled water. Two full-grown guinea-pigs of equal 

 weight were then selected. 



The solution of Crotalus-'j^oison was injected into the peritoneal 

 cavity of guinea-pig No. 1 at 1.52 p.m. 



1.55. Muscular twitchings of head and neck. 



2 P.M. Startings and twitchings continue. 



It gives faint squeaks occasionally, as though the sudden 

 startings, which occur at intervals of 5 or 6 seconds, cause pain. 



2.5. Twitcliings continue. 



2.8. Very restless ; twitchings going on, but no paralysis yet. 



2.17. The same. 



2.25. Eestless and weaker, but still moves freely on being 

 roused. 



2.42. Sluggish ; drags the hind legs. 



2.58. Weaker ; rolls partially over on one side, but can run 

 when roused. 



3.3. Lying on side, but can be roused ; is partially paralysed 

 in hind legs. Eespiration abdominal and hurried. 



3.5. Nearly quite paralysed; is roused with difficulty. 



3.7. Can still be roused. Abdomen distended and painful; 

 cries out when it is touched, as though peritonitis were 

 setting in. 



3.12. Can be roused with difficulty; respiration hurried; 

 convulsive movements of fore legs and neck. Can still stagger 

 for a few paces, but co-ordination of muscular power much 

 diminished. 



3.30. In violent convulsions. 



3.38. Convulsions continue. 



3.45. Quiet. Paralysed ; but reflex action still continues. 



3.55. Dead in 2 hours and 3 minutes. 



3.56. Electrodes in cord cause twitching of muscles of the 

 back, and very slightly in those of the legs; the cord was 

 evidently all but paralysed. Muscular fibre contracts freely to 

 direct stimulus of current. The intestines were ecchymosed 

 and congested. There were effusions of red serum into the 

 peritoneal cavity, and much ecchymosis of peritoneum and 

 subperitoneal and intra-muscular areolar tissue. Peristaltic 

 action continued faintly. 



