THEIE NATURE AND EFFECTS. 73 



of the convulsions. Should death not occur at once 

 after the convulsions, respiration is resumed; very 

 slowly at first, then gaining a rapidity far heyond 

 normal, to be again diminished, and finally extin- 

 guished. If convulsions do not take place, the rapidity 

 of the respirations becomes extreme. 



Chart No. 7 is from a fowl that was poisoned by 

 daboia-poison, which had been heated in solution to a 

 100° C, and so deprived of its power of causing con- 

 vulsions. The acceleration of the respiratory move- 

 ments is most remarkable, as is also the way in which 

 the excursus is exaggerated and maintained ; it is only 

 at the very end of life that the respiratory movement is 

 diminished. 



Chart No. 8 is from a dog, to which sufficient poison 

 was not given to cause convulsions. The very much 

 greater acceleration of the respiration than can be caused 

 by cobra-poisoning is seen; the respirations in I. and 

 III. being as two to five. But in IV. a singular' 

 condition is to be noticed, which is exceedingly common 

 in daboia-poisoning. The respiration has become slower, 

 but the excursus is increased ; but the peculiarity is 

 that ordinary respiration is occasionally interrupted — 

 it may be once in six, to once in twenty respirations — 

 by a very prolonged and excessive upheaving of the 

 chest-walls. If the phenomenon be examined, when well 

 marked, it will be found that a deep inspiration is first 

 taken, and when the diaphragm has descended, the 



