142 THE POISONOUS SNAKES OF INDIA. 



Treatment of Common Kkait (CjGruleus) Poisoning. 

 In no case of ophitox^mia brought about by Indian Snakes are 

 we so powerless to ward off the inevitable consequence of a lethal 

 dose as we are in kraifc poisoning; we have no suitable antivenene* 

 at our command for one thing, and hence artificial respiration is 

 futile. There is little doubt this latter measure would postpone death, 

 but it would not avert it. As in cobra poison the paralysis of the 

 vasomotor centre is nullified for a time by toxins that increase the 

 vigour of the heart's action, one operating on the heart muscle 

 itself, another (or the same) acting indirectly by constricting the 

 arterioles. Sooner or later, however, the vasomotor centre becomes 

 paralysed, and artificial respiration would be no longer of any avail. 



Being a colubrine snake the respiratory centre is destined to 

 become paralysed, if the dose is lethal, and no human aid yet 

 revealed can prevent this. 



One cannot stand idly by, however, and watch the progress of 

 events. We cannot know that a lethal dose has been absorbed, 

 however grave the symptoms may be, and, forlorn as the case may 

 appear, we must act for the best hoping that the dose is sublethal. 

 It may even be possible to convert a lethal into a sublethal dose in 

 some cases by prompt attention to the wounds. Extensive excision 

 and treatment with permanganate is therefore more than justifiable. 

 Treat wounds later as under Daboia (p. 143). The heart for the 

 reasons given above, though not overcome by the poison, may suffer 

 through the effects of fright and pain, and one should be on the 

 look out for syncope, and treat it as stated under that heading 

 (p. 146). 



Where abdominal pain is complained of, on the assumption that 

 it may be the result of internal haemorrhage, calcium, and adrenalin, 

 or pituiti'in should be tried, as already advocated in viperine 

 toxsemiae (pages 138 and 139). 



Treatment of Banded Krait (Fasciatus) Poisoning. 



As previously shown the potency of this venom is greatlj" inferior 

 to that of the cobra, and its nearer relative ccerulmis, so that the 

 outlook for a poisoned subject is correspondingly more favorable if 

 not actually good. 



* Lamb has tested antivenene (the product of pure cobra venom) against this 

 poisoning and found it inert. 



