562 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXII, 



An easy aid to remember the essential action of the poison is sup- 

 plied in the word COBEA. 00. stands for COrd and BRA for 

 BRAin, implying that it is the central nervous sj^stem that is in the 

 main affected. Again COBB stands for Ooagulation Of Blood 

 Reduced, and the final A gives the mode of death, viz., by Asphyxia. 



Cases of cobra toxaemia are very seldom v>^ell reported even \>j 

 the medical profession, a great deal being often left to the imagina- 

 tion. I will give one example that was excellently recorded by 

 Dr. Hilson as follows : " On a night in June, at about half-past 12 

 o'clock, Dabu, a Hindu punkah cooly, was bitten on the shoulder 

 by a cobra, whilst sleeping. On inspecting the wound, there were 

 found over the prominence of the right deltoid muscle, and about 

 three-quarters of an inch apart, two large drops of a clear serous- 

 like fluid tinged with blood, which had apparently oozed from two 

 small punctures, so minute that they could not be perceived by the 

 naked eye. A burning pain was complained of in the neighbour- 

 hood of the bite, which rapidly increased in intensity, and extended 

 so as to affect a circular portion of the integument of the size of an 

 ordinary saucer ; and judging from the description given of it, it 

 was very similar in character to that produced by the sting of a 

 scorpion. 



" At 12-45 a.m., or about a quarter of an hour after being bitten, 

 he complained of a pain in his shoulder shooting toward his throat 

 and chest, and said he was beginning to feel intoxicated ; but there 

 was nothing in his appearance at this time to indicate that 

 he was in any way under the influence of the poison. On the con- 

 trary, he was quite calm and collected, and answered all questions 

 indifferently, at the same time that he was fully alive to the danger 

 of his condition. The pupils were not dilated, and they contracted 

 when exposed to the light of a candle ; his pulse was normal, and 

 there was no embarrassment of the respiration. About five minutes 

 after, he began to lose control over the muscles of his legs, and 

 staggered when left unsupported. At about 1 o'clock, the paralysis 

 of the legs having increased, the lower jaw began to fall and froth}'- 

 and viscid saliva to ooze from the mouth. He also spoke indistinctly, 

 like a man under the influence of liquor. At 1-10 a.m. he began to 

 moan, and shake his head frequentl}^ from side to side. The pulse 

 was now somewhat accelerated but was beating regularly. The 

 respirations were also increased in frequency. He was unable to 

 answer questions, but appeared to be quite conscious. His arms 

 did not seem to be paralysed. He continued to moan and shake his 

 head from side to side, as if trying to get rid of viscid mucous in his 

 throat. The respirations were laboured, but not stertorous. The 

 breathing gradually became slower, and finally ceased at 1-44 a.m. 

 while the heart continued to beat for one minute longer. " 



Ra]Diclity of death in the human subject. — The interval that elapses 



