96 OPHIDIAN REPTILES. 



were paralyzed, and they allow themselves to be seized without 

 opposing the slightest resistance. Others give themselves over 

 to confused movements, which, far from saving them, only make 

 their capture easier. M. Dumeril, while pursuing experiments in 

 the Museum of Natural History, demonstrative of the sudden and 

 mortal action of the bite of a Viper on little birds, saw a Gold- 

 finch, which he held in his hands, die suddenly, merel}' at the 

 sight of the Viper. 



In wai'm countries, wounds produced by the larger species of 

 these terrible reptiles are extremely dangerous — thej^ swell, become 

 red and ecchymose, and sometimes livid ; the wounded person is 

 seized with syncope, fever, and a series of morbid symptoms, which 

 often terminate in death. The rcniedj'' is to bind immediately a 

 ligature above the wound with a band, such as a rolled hand- 

 kerchief, a cord, or a string, so as to stop all communication of 

 the blood with the rest of the body, and thus jDrevent the absorp- 

 tion of the venom into the s^'stem till more etfectual means can 

 be adopted. It is well to suck the wound and make it bleed ; it 

 is necessaiy also to make an incision, so as to expose the internal 

 parts, and then to cauterize the wound immediately, either with 

 a red-hot iron or by means of a caustic agent. For this purpose 

 the follo'\'\'ing composition ma}' be emploj'cd : — 



Perchloride of iron GO jiTains. 



Citric acid 60 ,, 



Hydrochloric acid 60 ,, 



Water m 



A few drops of this is poured on the wounded part, which 

 is then covered with a small piece of lint. Iodine oi- iodinet of 

 potassium can also bo employed. M. Viand-Marais has sub- 

 stituted the following composition for this compound with o-reat 

 success : — 



Water . ■ .50 grains. 



lodrnet of rotassiura .50 ,, 



Metallic iodine 50 ,, 



To facilitate the introduction of caustic into tlie wound the 

 same naturalist has invented a little bottle closed with emerv; the 

 stopper, which is long, and conical at the lower end, pluno'cs 



