224 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XIV. 



on the central nervous system, that is, the spinal cord and brain. 

 The animal after a while becomes lethargic and disinclined to move ; 

 there is no preliminary stage of excitement : then one observes that 

 the hind legs have become paralysed, the animal drawing them after 

 it when endeavom-ing to progress. The paralysis of the hind legs 

 gradually becomes more marked, while at the same time the paralysis 

 spreads forwards and. involves the forelegs. Ultimately the animal be- 

 comes completely paralysed and lies down unable to move. The breath- 

 ing still continues. Thus one sees in all such experiments a most 

 striking and typical picture — the animal, be it bird or mammal, 

 mouse or horse, lying on the ground completely unable to stir, the 

 breathing still going on, and the saliva trickling from its mouth. 



This, however, does not last long, The paralysis soon involves 

 the respiratory centres ; gasping in the search for air becomes 

 marked, and the scene is closed with the total cessation of respiration. 

 Just before this, however, there may be slight general convulsive 

 movements, due to the accumulation of carbonic acid gas in the 

 system. Mark you, there has been no word of failure of the heart ; 

 there has been no diminution in the strength of the pulse. After 

 the breathing has completely stopped, if one opens the chest, one 

 sees the heart beating away as if nothing had happened. I have 

 observed this beating go on for twenty minutes to half an hour after 

 the chest has been laid open and gradually to become weaker and 

 weaker and ultimately cease altogether. 



As well as this action on the central nervous system, Cobra venom 

 has got an action on the blood. It has got a very wonderful power of 

 breaking up the red corpuscles of the blood, with the result that a 

 certain amount of the colouring matter is set free. Thus, when a 

 sample of the blood is taken into a test-tube after death and allowed 

 to clot, the serum is noticed to be dark-red in colour, due to the 

 haemoglobin which has been set free. Further, Cobra venom has an 

 action on the normal coagulability of the blood, that is to say, on the 

 property which blood has of coagulating or setting when withdrawn 

 from the vessels. The clot which forms is not so firm or so compact 

 as in normal blood, and the time which it takes to form is much 

 lengthened. As far, however, as my experiments have shown me, 

 I cannot find any possible relation between the nervous symptoms 

 which I have described and this action which Cobra poison has on 



