84 INDIAN SNAKE POISONS, 



produced, is merely temporary, and after an interval of 

 uncertain duration the respiration will be found to be 

 slower, and the slowness to increase. The respiratory 

 movement is also lessened in extent. The slowing and 

 lessening of the respiration become at last too great tt 

 allow of the blood being properly oxygenated, and, after 

 the usual symptoms characteristic of asphyxiation, the 

 animal dies. 



The simplest form in which one can observe the effect 

 of cobra-poison on respiration, is afforded by the 

 common fowl. The stethometric chart marked No. I, 

 gives, in a concise manner, the effects of cobra-poisoning 

 when the action is very gradual. The first line gives 

 the normal respiratory tracing. The main points to be 

 noticed in the succeeding tracings, are the slight quick- 

 ening first perceived, and the increase of the excursus. 

 These are followed by rapidly increasing retai'dation, 

 with a certain amount of lessening of the excursus, 

 though the excursus is less affected than the frequency 

 It is also to be noticed that inspiration becomes sudden 

 and abrupt, and is immediately followed by an expira- 

 tion equally sudden. The movement that remains, 

 therefore, allows no time for that gradual filling and 

 emptying of the air-spaces of the lungs, that would 

 permit a free interchange of air, and is thus necessarily 

 peculiarly unfitted for respiration. In line VI. .these 

 characters are well marked, the slowing especially being 

 excessive. A kind of struggle against the poison is to 



