SNAKE VENOMS, THEIR PHYSIOLOGICAL ACTION. 225 



the blood. This conclusion is, I know, contrary to the opinion of 

 Cunningham who, however, is the only observer who contends that 

 the action on the blood is the primary one, and that the nervous 

 symptoms are dependent on and result from this destruction of the 

 blood cells. This is a long and complicated story and one which, 

 I hardly think, would give us much profit to pursue at this time. 



If Cobra venom be injected directly into the blood stream— into 

 a vein, for example — the same train of symptoms as I have described 

 above is observed, the only difference being that the symptoms come 

 on more quickly and march to a fatal termination much more rapidly 

 than when the injection is given under the skin. 



When a man is bitten by a Cobra, the same general symptoms, 

 which I have sketched above as following the artificial injection 

 of the poison into an animal, are observed. As well there is, as a 

 rule, at the beginning sickijess and vomiting and a feeling of lethargy 

 and disinclination to work ; paralysis, however, soon sets in, and life 

 ends, as we have seen, by cessation of respiration. 



In addition to these general symptoms, however, there are marked 

 signs of poisoning locally at the site of the bite. There is very 

 severe pain which follows immediately on the infliction of the wound. 

 The parts around become swollen and tender, and a bloody serum 

 oozes away from the punctures. If the bite has been inflicted on 

 a dependent part, such as a finger, the swelling spreads up the dioit» 

 which soon becomes exceedingly tense and extremely painful. Should 

 the patient ultimately recover from the general condition, the tissues 

 for a short distance around the bite die, a black slough forms and 

 on separating leaves a deep hole. This hole heals up very slowly 

 and there is left an ugly depressed scar. 



To complete the picture, I may state that in man the general 

 symptoms, as a rule, do not set in for an hour or two after the bite and 

 that on the average death takes place about three to six hours later. 

 The fatal result, however, maybe accelerated, or, on the other hand it 

 may be delayed for some considerable time, even a day or two ac- 

 cording to the amount of poison which has been injected. You 

 will appreciate, nevertheless, that we have got in all cases a certain 

 interval of time, as a rule some hours, between the bite and the onset 

 of symptoms and death — an interval of time precious, indeed, as you 

 will see, when I come to speak of the treatment of these cases. 



