THE POISONOUS SNAKES OP INDIA. 109* 



by the emetic given (probably sulphate of copper). By dawn these- 

 symptoms had subsided^ so that the recurrence of collapse at midday 

 may be certainly ascribed to the action of the venom alone. The- 

 embarrassment of breathing was a secondary result of the failing 

 heart, and the consequent starvation of the respiratory centre in the- 

 brain, not to any direct action on the centre itself. — F. W.) 



No. 2. 



Eeported by Dr. Nicholson (Indian Snakes, p. 146). 



Bite from daboia* about 2^ feet long. Toxaemia. Death in 27 

 hours. 



A case of death from its bite occurred while I was in Burma in 

 the person of a strong gunner of the battery stationed at Thyetmyo? 



The reptile turned and bit him on the finger. 



The snake held on for a short time and it was with some little- 

 difficulty the man shook it off. The man came at once to 

 hospital, being advised by one of his comrades to do so, when on the 

 way he became very weak. The Apothecary saw the patient on his 

 arrival at hospital. It is supposed that a lapse of 20 minutes must 

 have occurred from the time he received the bite until he reached 

 the hospital and nothing had been done meanwhile in the way of 

 remedies. The Apothecary immediately scarified the wounded, 

 finger freely, made the patient suck the wound and administered 

 ammonia. For twelve hours no prominent symptoms appeared 

 beyond swelling of the arm, restlessness and slight feverishness.. 

 Next morning he was found in a state of collapse, soon became- 

 unconscious and died 27 hours after the bite. 



(Death appears to have been due to cardiac failure. — F. W.) 



THE SAW-SCALED VIPER (EGHIS CABINATA). 



The Toxins of Echis Venom. 



(1) Toxins operating on nerve cells. — 



(a) A depressor acting on and paralysing the vasomotor 

 centre ? (Eraser and Gunn ?) 



* The snake -was killed, and identified as a Russell's -riper. 



