THE PHYSIOLOGICAL ACTION OF SNAKE-VENOMS 169 



draw up separately a clinical description of the symptoms observed 

 after a bite from a Cobra (CoLUBRiDiE), for instance, and another 

 list of those that accompany a bite from Lachesis or Vipera berus 

 (Yiveridm). 



The bite of a Cobra, even of large size, is not very painful ; it 

 is characterized especially by numbness, that supervenes in the 

 bitten part, rapidly extends throughout the body, and produces 

 attacks of syncope and fainting. The patient soon experiences a 

 kind of lassitude and irresistible desire to sleep ; his legs scarcely 

 support him ; he breathes with difficulty and his respiration becomes 

 of the diaphragmatic type. 



By degrees the drowsiness and the difficulty of breathing become 

 greater; the pulse, which at first is more rapid, becomes slower 

 and gradually weaker, the mouth contracts, and there is profuse 

 salivation, the tongue appears swollen, the eyelids remain drooping, 

 and, after a few hiccoughs frequently accompanied by vomiting 

 and involuntary emissions of urine or fascal matter, the unfortunate 

 victim falls into the most profound coma and dies. The pupils 

 react to luminous impressions up to the last moment, and the heart 

 continues to beat sometimes for two hours after respiration has 

 ceased. 



All this takes but a few hours, most frequently from two to 

 six or seven, rarely more. 



When the reptile by which the bite is inflicted is one of the 

 Solenoglypha, such as a Lachesis for example, the seat of the bite 

 immediately becomes very painful and red, then purple. The 

 surrounding tissues are soon infiltrated with sanguinolent serosity. 

 Sharp pains, accompanied by attacks of cramp, extend towards 

 the base of the limb. The patient complains of intense thirst, and 

 extreme dryness of the mouth and throat ; the mucous membranes 

 of the eyes, mouth, and genitalia become congested. 



These phenomena often continue for a very long period, even 

 for more than twenty-four hours, and are sometimes accompanied 

 by haemorrhages from the eyes, mouth, stomach, intestines, or 

 bladder, and by more or less violent delirium. 



