134 INDIAN SNAKE POISONS, 



That this change is not due to the fact that the solution 

 is rendered alkaline, can be shown by adding ammonia, 

 when no alteration in the symptoms is produced, and 

 also by the circumstance that it is not necessary to 

 completely neutralise the alkali by the acid to restore 

 the activity to the poison. 



More light is thrown on the nature of "this change by 

 the following experiments. 



Experiment IX. 

 Twelve centigrammes (about two grains) of dried 

 cobra-poison were dissolved in a solution of caustic 

 potash ; after standing for eighteen hours, the solution 

 was neutralised with acetic acid, and a white flocculent 

 precipitate fell. A fowl, into which this neutralised 

 solution was injected, died with all the symptoms of 

 cobra-poisoning, though they were induced but slowly. 



Experiment X. 



One cubic centimetre of fresh cobra-poison was mixed 

 with four cubic centimetres of the potash solution, and 

 the mixture was allowed to stand for twenty-four hours. 

 It was then neutralised with acetic acid, but no precipi- 

 tate fell. The resulting solution had no poisonous 

 properties whatever. 



Thus, after standing exposed to the action of the 

 alkali for eighteen hours, the strength of the poison 

 was greatly impaired, and after twenty-four hours 

 it had permanently lost all poisonous properties. 



