The Zoologist — November, 1869. 1897 



Secondly. With reference to the antidote itself, it was suggested by 

 himself, and he certainly expressed his belief that it would prove 

 efficacious ; or else why did he administer it ? 



As to the number of times the dog was bitten by the cobra, the 

 snake was made to close its jaws in three places to insure the injec- 

 tion of the poison ; the first bite, at least, being doubtful. I am quite 

 satisfied that one bite, had it been fairly inflicted, would have been 

 sufficient : nor does the fact of there having been three punctures 

 affect the question in this instance, for nothing occurred to show that 

 the dog was in any way influenced by the so-called antidote : it suc- 

 cumbed with the same symptoms, and in about the same time, as 

 other dogs that had not taken any antidote at all, and were bitten in 

 the same way by a cobra. 



The efficiency of the antidotes described by Col; Showers shall be 

 fully tested whenever the man who administers them declares himself 

 to be ready and fully prepared. 



Experiment, No. 2. — At 12.13 p.m. a kid of about three or four 

 months old was bitten three limes in the hind leg by the same cobra 

 that bit the dog in the previous experiment. The object was, that in 

 the event of the poison not taking effect on the dog, the activity of the 

 poison might be demonstrated by its action on the kid : this, had the 

 dog survived, would have been so far confirmative of the efficacy of 

 the antidote. 



"12.15. Leg weak; partially paralyzed. 



" 12.16. Bleating ; staggers, but walks ; lies down ; defacation. 



" 12.20. Can stand, but the bitten limb is paralyzed. 



" 12.25. Almost paralyzed ; convulsed. 



" 12.29. Convulsed. 



" 12.34. Heart beats 96 per minute; respiration almost gone; 

 eyes glazed ; pupils dilated, insensible to light. 



" 12.36. Death. Heart beat for two minutes after respiration had 

 ceased. 



" Bitten at 12.13; dead at 12.36. Death in twenty-three minutes." 



The activity of the poison had no doubt been exhausted by the 

 previous biting of the dog, otherwise a young animal like the kid 

 would have probably succumbed more rapidly.—' Indian Medical 

 Gazette' for February, 1869. 



SECOND SERIES — VOL. IV. ^ ^ 



