4 INDIAN SNAKE POISONS, 



respirations were also increased in frequency. He was 

 unable to answer questions, but appeared to be quite 

 conscious. His arms did not seem to be paralysed. At 

 1.15 AM., twenty-five minims of liquor ammoniae were 

 rapidly injected under the skin of the fore-arm ; but ai^ 

 this produced no results, the basilic vein was laid bare, 

 and twenty-five minims injected into it. 



"The operation caused no amelioration in the symp- 

 toms, and the condition was evidently becoming critical. 

 He continued to moan and shake his head from side to 

 side, as if trying to get rid of viscid mucus in his throat. 

 The respirations were laboured, but not stertorous. The 

 external jugular vein of the left side was next exposed, 

 and twenty-five minims of the liquor amraonise injected 

 into it; but without producing any good eflfect. The 

 breathing gradually became slower, and finally ceased 

 at 1 44 A M., while the heart continued to beat for 

 about one minute longer. No convulsions preceded 

 death, which took place in one hour and five minutes 

 after the infliction of the bite." 



From the description given of the snake, there can be 

 no doubt that it was a cobra, and it is clear that the 

 remedy administered had no more effect on the symp- 

 toms than it had on the result. It is a good description 

 by a careful observer, and may be taken as a typical 

 example of cobra-poisouing in the human subject. 



On the lower animals, from which iilone we can learn 

 the details of the poisoning process, and the exact 



