THE POISONOUS SNAKES OF INDIA. 99 



Lamb says they are much less obvious, and, in fact, sometimes little 

 or nothing is to be observed at the site of the bite. 



Fayrer records a case of a woman bitten in the foot at Tavoy. 

 She suffered from tingling and swelling locally but exhibited no 

 ■constitutional effects. It certainly seems from the local condition 

 that some poison had been injected into the wounds, 



THE DABOIA OE EUSSELL'S VIPEE (VIPEBA 

 BUSSjELLI). 



Toxins of Daboia Venom. 



(1) Toxins operating on nerve cells — 



(a) A depressor paralysing the vasomotor centre. (Eogers.) 

 (&) A depressor to nerve cells generally. 



(2) Agents affecting the constitution of the blood — 



(a) A fibrin ferment clotting the blood. (Lamb.) 



(b) An antifibrin ferment reducing the clotting power of 



blood. (Cunningham, Lamb). 



(c) " Haemolysin " destructive to red blood cells. (Cun- 



ningham, Lamb.) 



(d) " Leucolysin " destructive to white blood cells. (Cun- 



ningham.) 



(3) " HsBmorrhagin " destructive to the lining membrane of 

 l)lood vessels. (Cunningham.) 



(4) A depressor to cardiac muscle (Lamb.) 



(5) A vaso constrictor. (Eogers.) 



(6) " Cytolysins " destructive to (a) liver, kidney and testis 

 «ells. (Plexner and Noguchi.) 



and (&) to tissue cells at the site of the wounds. 



Analysis of the Action of Daboia Toxins. 

 (1) (a) The depression of the vasomotor centre is seen in the 

 reduction of blood pressure, and cardiac weakness 

 culminating in early death. 



(&) The depression to nerve cells generally, explains the 

 great depression of spirits and reduced vitality in 



