152 



evident that neutralization of the faintly acid cobra-poison 

 is quite ineifectual, for it is as readily neutralized by 

 ammonia as by potash; but as the former alkali has no 

 tendency to destroy it, cobra-poison mixed with Liquor 

 ammonise shows no diminution of activity whilst that 

 mixed with Liquor potassse may show an appreciable 

 diminution. If further proof were needful, I might mention 

 that the blood is sufficiently alkaline of itself to neuturalize 

 the acidity of any amount of cobra-poison.* 



The last antidote proposed is to the effect that artificial 

 respiration and galvanism has been tried with success in dogs 

 affected by cobra-poison. This is evidently on the theory that 

 cobra-poison acts by paralyzing the respiratory muscles and 

 that artificial respiration will enable the patient to tide over 

 the crisis until the poison becomes naturally eliminated. This 

 idea, borrowed from Mr. Waterton's experiments with the 



* It may appear singular that a medical man should fall into the 

 error of supposing that the secretion of a salivary gland could consist 

 principally of an acid capable of being rendered inert by neutraliza- 

 tion with an alkali. But really what can we expect when we' find 

 that Dr. Shortt's notions on the gland and its secretion are so vague 

 that he imagines the former to be a little bag situated at the base of 

 the fang, capable of being removed not only without injury to the 

 snake but without any trace of the operation being visible except on 

 the closest scrutiny, and also capable of reproduction so perfectly 

 that the operation can be repeated once a month. (M. M. J. Nov. 

 1871, pages 346 and 347.) That this gentleman should have neglected 

 to prepare himself for his experiments by some study of ophiology 

 is so little credible that I quote the passages :—" Some [snake 

 charmers] go further and cut out that portion of the jaws which 

 contains the poison gland.''—" My curiosity being excited, I examined 

 the mouth of the snake again more carefully, and found a small 

 cicatrix at the base and a little beyond the fang, and a more scruti- 

 nizing examination discovered to me that the entire poison gland 

 had been removed, although the fangs were left unmolested : and I 

 also learned that this operation of removing the poison gland is 

 resorted to once a month and that it was effected by an iron style." 



