SNAKE-POISON LITEEATUEE. 



137 



higher sensorium. * This fact has been noticed 

 over and over again, and is of some import- 

 ance diagnostically. The pupil of the eye also 

 is unaiFected. On secretion, generally, the poison 

 has great effect ; nearly all secreting tissues be- 

 ing affected by it, especially lachrymation, and 

 even more so, salivation, marked and constant. 

 The whole alimentary track pours out mucous. 

 The larynx and trachea become almost occluded 

 by frothy mucous. I have already pointed out that 

 Dr. Wolfenden cannot accept the generally re- 

 ceived opinion that cobra-poison effects no great 

 change in the blood, and on this point Wall says, 

 " that there is no great change in the blood is 

 evident from the fact, that when an animal has 

 survived the same symptoms, produced by cobra- 

 poison, it is found to be quite well and to suffer 

 no further inconvenience from blood-poisoning or 

 other causes." It is just possible that when ex- 

 tensive sloughing occurs at the bitten part, 

 septicaemia may occur, but this can scarcely be 

 attributed primarily to the cobra-venom, or be 

 regarded as a physiological effect of the venom. 



* These two facts alooe are sufficient to distioguish 

 cobra-poisoning from alcoholic poisoning, in which there 

 is a rapid fall of temperature and stupor or coma. 



Wolfenden 

 cannot accept 

 the generally 

 accepted opi- 

 nion that the 

 venom of the 

 cobra has no 

 effect on the 

 blood. 



