THEIR NATURE AND EFFECTS. 15 



In birds the symptoms are usually very regular in 

 their occurrence. There is the same appearance of local 

 pain. The bird then generally seems drowsy, from its 

 being unable to keep the eyes open, the head droops as 

 if the neck were unable to support it, but the bird con- 

 stantly recovers itself with a jerk. It at last sinks down 

 to the ground, ultimately falling over on its side, unable 

 to raise either its head or itself. The pupils are, as a 

 rule, somewhat contracted, the eye often watering. The 

 respirations finally become exceedingly slow, and then 

 cease, convulsions and death following. It sometimes 

 happens, as in mammals, that the respiratory centre is 

 almost simultaneously stimulated and paralysed, the bird 

 dying at once. 



In the amphibia, there can scarcely be said to be any 

 symptoms of cobra-poisoning ; the frog, for instance, 

 only becomes more and more sluggish and paralysed, 

 and is at last found to be dead. 



It will be necessary to consider some of the more 

 important conditions in detail, after having noticed the 

 appearances to be found after death. 



Posf-MoETEM Appearances in Cases of Death by 

 Cobra-bite. 



Rigor mortis generally comeson about the usual time 

 and is as well marked as it is in death from ordinary 

 causes. The blood in man is fluid, as a rule, and in the 



