A POPULAR TREATISE ON THE COMMON INDIAN SNAKES. 561 



which is of a stinging or burning character, out of all proportion 

 to the mechanical injuries sustained. It comes on immediately, 

 and persists, perhaps lasting for hours. If pain is experienced 

 only to the degree excited by ordinary pricks or scratches, and is 

 but transient, there is a justifiable presumption that poison has 

 not been introduced. Coincident with the pain, and almost as 

 speed}^ in its appearance is swelling which gradually increases 

 until perhaps the whole limb is puffy. The third invariable sign that 

 venom has gained access to the woiinds is the oozing of a blood 

 stained serum. If on the other hand the punctures are sealed with 

 clot as in ordinary wounds shortly after injury, there is every pro- 

 bability, if not actual certainty, that poison has failed to find entry 

 into the tissues. The fourth cardinal sign is one which cannot 

 be detected until the tissues in the site of the wound have been cut 

 into, though it may be inferred if rapidly ensuing swelling has 

 occurred, accompanied w^ith the other signs. The tissues assume 

 a very characteristic appearance, the parts become purplish cen- 

 trally, the colour fading to scarlet, and then pinkish, and a thin 

 serum exudes. In one case, Wall (A.J.) found this purplish effusion, 

 which is characteristic of the action of snake venom, within 30 

 seconds of the injection of the poison. When present, it is 

 absolute proof of the absorption of venom ; if absent, it is probably 

 equally good proof of the failure of the poison to have reached the 

 tissues. 



How intensely irritant the venom is locally is apparent from the 

 rapidity of the symptoms noted above, added to which is the fact 

 that in many cases where the bitten subject recovers, the tissues 

 involved actually mortify, and are thrown off as a slough. 

 Occasionally one sees natives with withered limbs stated to be due 

 to the effects of a snake bite. 



The constitutional effects, are a gradual, but rapidly advancing 

 paralj^sis, due to the action of the poison on the brain and cord. 

 Sooner or later the bitten subject complains of weakness in the 

 legs, and is prompted to recline rather than walk or sit. This 

 weakness creeps up the trunk, and affects the muscles of the neck, 

 so that the head droops, the muscles of the tongue, lips and throat, 

 so that speech becomes difficult, the lips fall away from the teeth, 

 and allow the saliva to dribble, and swallowing becomes difficult 

 or impossible. The eyelids too droop giving a sleepy expression to 

 the face. While these paralyses are waxing, the respiratory func- 

 tion becomes affected, breathing becomes difficult, then laborious and 

 finally death from respiratory failure ends the scene. Among other 

 toxic symptoms may be mentioned, nausea, or actual vomiting, and 

 not infrequently haemorrhages from various orifices, as a result of the 

 action of the poison on the blood altering its composition, reducing 

 its coagulability, and dissolving the red blood cells. 



