THE POISONOUS SNAKES OP INDIA. 79 



beyond this time degenerative changes were produced. When once 

 degenerative changes have occurred can recovery be so complete 

 and rapid ? It is inconceivable to my mind that nerve cells that 

 show marked degeneration such as is recorded by Lamb and Hunter 

 in monkeys that died from cobra, and oceruleus poison can regain 

 their normal structure and function in a few hours. To allow that 

 this is possible is to concede to nerve cells structurally injured by 

 snake poison, a power of regeneration never seen in nerve cells 

 structurally damaged by any other morbid processes, and greatly 

 in excess of that shown by any other body cells that have suffered 

 structurally, which imder the most favourable circu.mstances require 

 three or four days to regain their normal tone and functions. 



The fact however that a degeneration of nerve cells does, un- 

 doubtedly occur after lethal doses of cobra and oceruleus poisoning 

 appears to me to be the result of the other member of the partner- 

 ship (for which I propose the name " amyotrophin"). It has been 

 shown by Lamb and Hunter that in the chronic form of poisoning 

 from Bunga/rus fasciatus, very extensive degeneration of the nerve 

 cells occurs in the brain and cord, and that a peculiar form of fatal 

 illness is provoked which is not seen after any other form of snake 

 poisoning which has yet been investigated. It appears to me that 

 cobra and ccendeus venoms contain both the toxic principles " neuro- 

 toxin " and " amyotrophin," but that the " neurotoxin " is the 

 predominant associate producing death very often before the more 

 lazy, and in these poisons weaker associate " amyotrophin " has 

 had time to make itself felt. It is probable too that the " amyo- 

 trophin " present in a sub-lethal dose is too small in quantity to 

 work much, if any destruction, on the nervous elements, so that 

 when the effects of the " neurotoxin " wane, recovery is complete 

 and rapid. 



In the case of the banded krait (B. fasciatus) the position seems 

 reversed, and " amyotrophin " is the predominant partner. Hence, 

 although early symptoms attributable to " neurotoxin " are evoked, 

 the bitten subject may recover from these entirely, only to acquire 

 a new train of symptoms later on, the result of " amyotrophin," 

 which, though more dilatory in its attack, may prove more in- 

 exorable and cause death. 



