THE POISONOUS SNAKES OP INDIA. 131 



%\'as inflicted by a cobra below the ligature. This however did not 

 prevent the absorption of the poison. Symptoms appeared in 2o 

 minutes and the fowl died in 43 minutes from typical cobra 

 poisoning. 



In experiment 2 of series 15 a dog's forearm was bitten b}- a 

 cobra. Within 5 seconds a soaped ligature was " tightened as 

 firmly as a man's strength could dra\^' it," and immediately strong 

 carbolic acid was rubbed into the wound and then a red hot iron 

 applied. The dog died in 11 minutes (not 21 as stated by Fayrer), 



In expei-iment 14 of series 16 a dog's forearm was bitten by a 

 cobra. A ligature " was tied as tightly as it could be drawn " 

 within 2 seconds of the bite. Carbolic acid was applied locally 

 and 10 drops of carbolic acid in an ounce of water given internall}'. 

 Death took place in 51 minutes. 



In experiment 13 of series 16 a dog's forearm was bitten bj' a 

 cobra. A ligature was immqfliately applied " as tightly as two 

 persons could pull it," and the parts disorganised with the actual 

 cautery. Yet the dog died in 35 minutes. 



It must be noted here that in five other experiments on dogs in 

 which no treatment was carried out at all, the average duration of 

 life after the bite of a cobra was less than 36 minutes, so that the 

 ligature in three cases quoted above could not even be claimed to 

 have postponed the fatal issue which took place in 11, 51, and 85 

 minutes respectively or an average of 32 minutes. 



Now it must be borne in mind that in these experiments the 

 assistants were ready and everything was to hand in anticipation 

 of the coming eveiits. The utmost expedition therefore was 

 enforced, and yet the procedure proved a signal failure. It is 

 manifestly impossible for any surgeon to apply a ligature in 

 practice with anything approaching the despatch which characterised 

 Fayrer's efforts. Further if the circulation cannot be controlled" 

 by a ligature on a dog's leg where the muscular tissues are- 

 comparatively moderate, and we are told in one case that the 

 united strength of two men was insufiicient to accomplish this, how 

 vastly more difficult will its arrest be in the much larger muscular- 

 development of the human arm or leg ? 



