SNAKE VENOMS AND THEIR ANTIDOTES. 15 



subsidiary, as far as we are concerned, to its effect in causing paralysis 

 of the muscles of respiration, through which action death takes place in 

 the great majority of cases. 



While the researches with the two venoms mentioned above have 

 b33n extended the poisons of other species have also received a consid- 

 erable amount of attention, especially the venoms of the King Cobra, 

 of Bungarus cceruleus (common Krait), and of Enliydrina valahadien 

 (the common Sea-Snake). 



The venom of the King Cobra closely resembles that of Kaia tripu- 

 dians, but finer differences in the physiological action are to be observed. 

 It causes gradual paralysis throughout the body, death taking place 

 from interference with the respiratory apparatus. As regards tjie 

 symptoms resulting from this action no difference can be observed between 

 the symptoms caused by this poison and those resulting from the venom 

 of the ordinary cobra. While it is most probable that we are here also 

 dealing with an action on the cells of the central nervous system, no 

 actual demonstration of this hypothesis has yet been made in the manner 

 which has been done in the case of the venoms of the Cobra and of the 

 Banded Krait. When I am relieved of my present duties I propose to 

 take up this point. Its action on the blood cells and on the coagulabi- 

 lity of the blood is similar to that of cobra poison. It breaks up the red 

 blood corpuscles and prevents the blood from clotting. While this is so 

 in a general way, there are minor differences in these actions of the 

 two venoms which show the scientist that the constituents which brine 

 abont these effects are not absolutely alike. 



The differences between the two venoms are well brought cut when 

 we test them side by side against an anti-serum prepared with pure 

 cobra venom. Such a serum neutralises well all fhe actions of cobra 

 venom. It has no hindering action on the venom of the King Cobra, 

 as far as the effects of this venom on the red blood corpuscles and tne 

 blood plasma are concerned. But when tested against the general 

 action in vivo of this latter poison, it is found that cobra venom anti- 

 serum delays death considerably but does not, even in large amounts, 

 completely ward off the fatal issue. Therefore the most delicate phy- 

 siological test which we possess shows at once that the constituents of 

 the two poisons are not of an identical chemical composition. 



When an animal is injected with the poison of the ordinary Krait 

 (Bungarus co&ruleus) symptoms very similar to those ssen in cases of 



