14 



INDIAN SNAKE POISONS, 



tion to be manifested before any other constitutional 

 symptom, and in them a chewing movement of the 

 jaw and lips is often seen immediately before the 

 salivation. Nausea,, retching, and vomiting are of fre- 

 quent occurrence both in men and dogs. 



The paralysis now becomes more general and decided. 

 The patient lies on his back, almost incnpsible of move- 

 ment. He threatens to be suffocated by the saliva 

 running into his paralysed larynx ; should, however, the 

 head be placed on one side, the abundant secretion will 

 flow down his lips. His limbs at this time may be 

 subject to starlings and muscular twitchings. His 

 breathing becomes slower and slower, and the respira- 

 tory excursus is lessened. He appears to be conscious, 

 but is unable to express himself, through the paralysis 

 of his larynx and tongue ; but it is not unfrequently the 

 case for the victim to become quite unconscious. The 

 action of the heart is somewhat quickened, but tlie organ 

 acts with fair strength. At length the breathing, too 

 slow and too slight to support life, ceases, and with or 

 without general convulsions the heart shortly after stops. 



In dogs, as might be expected, convulsions are much 

 more common than in man, being very generally 

 present ; and while in man the extinction of the respi- 

 ratory act is, as a rule, a very slow and gradual process, 

 in dogs it is not unusual for respiration to stop quiJ;e 

 suddenly, and almost immediately after for its place to 

 be taken by violent convulsions.' 



