138 THE LAND-MARKS OF 



Before leaving the subject of cobra-poisoning, I 

 may state that Sir Joseph Fayrer and Dr. Lauder 

 Brunton, in their valuable series of papers on the 

 subject, maintain that though the greater part 

 of the nervous system is affected, yet the termina- 

 tions of the motor nerves suffer especially, and in 

 a very marked manner. Dr. Wall, on the other 

 hand, is of opinion that there is no need to 

 suppose a special effect of the poison on the peri- 



Daboia-poison. pheries of the motor nerves. As regards the 

 daboia-poison. Dr. Wall says, that the preliminary 

 and local effects of the bite of a Daboia Russelli 

 resemble those of the cobra, only that the conse- 

 quent pain and inflammation are much more 

 acute. The first constitutional symptom of daboia- 

 poisoning is convulsions, which may vary in 

 degree from those producing slight muscular 

 twitching, to those which produce almost instant 



c^vuMmTof "i^^tli' These primary convulsions depend upon 

 the amount of poison injected, and the relative 

 size and strength of the animal affected. Birds 

 are most easily affected, and next to them the 

 Lacentilia mammals also are very easily affected 

 by the convulsion-producing properties of the 

 poison. On the other hand, amphibia only exhibit 

 symptoms of general paralysis. Wall draws at- 



daboia- 

 poisoning. 



