136 THE POISONOUS SNAKES OF INDIA. 



been fonnd capable of averting death where a lethal dose has been 

 injected. In considering this method of treatment attention niust 

 first be directed to tlie nature of the effects of snake venom on the 

 system as already outlined in Pai-t II. These are in the main Uvo- 

 f'old. In the one case that of colnbrine poisoning the danger is 

 from paralysis of the respiratory centre in the brain, in the other 

 that of viperine poisoning, the chief danger lies in cardiac weakness 

 and tendenc}' to hsBmorrhages. The qiaestion naturally arises can 

 we undo the effects produced in either case ? In the first case the 

 answer is probably Ko. " In the second emphatically " Yes. " It 

 was thought at one time that the depressing influences of colubrine 

 poisons on the respiratory centre might be overcome by the exhi- 

 bition of drugs that stimulated that centre, such as ammonia, 

 strychnia, or alcohol, but all have been proved useless. 



Ammoxia. 



Jussieu appears to have been the first to recoinmend this dinig' 

 as an antidote. Later in 1777, Monsieur Sage wrote a pamphlet 

 in its praise, but when put to the test by Fontana in Europe 

 it was condemned by him as useless, if not positively hurtful. 

 Later on towards the close of the last century. Dr. Halford of 

 Melbourne levived an interest in the drug, and firmly believed in 

 its efficacy against Australian snake poisons. It was put to the 

 test by Fayrer and A'incent Richards in the lower animals, being- 

 given internally, and by injection into the tissues and veins, but no 

 benefit resulted. It was tried in the human subject in cobra poison- 

 ing by Di\ Ililson in the case of his quoted by me on page 81, and 

 by Assistant Surgeon Jadul Kristo Sen in a case of krait poisoning 

 quoted by me on page 90, and has been given in many other cases. 

 When recovery took place this was wrongfullj- ascribed to the 

 virtues rif ammonia. 



Strychnia. 

 This powerful nervous stimulant "was again vaunted as a specific 

 some 18 to 20 years ago, in spite of experiments conducted by 

 Fayrer in the seventies which served to show that it was worse 

 than useless, being positively harmful. In three experiments death 

 appeared to be actually due to the " remedy " before the poison 

 against which it was used could claim its victim ! Cunningham and 



