>* 



COPHIA.S LANCEOLATUS. 99 



such as the Eau de luce, liquid ammonia, opium, and arsenical 

 preparations." 



In the post-mortem examination of such persons as have died 

 some time after the accident, Dr. Renzger, a German physician, 

 whose experience on these subjects has been considerable, always 

 found the brain and spinal chord partially softened, and a consi- 

 derable efiusion of bloody serum in the cavities of the skull, thorax, 

 and abdomen ; the lungs and liver were gorged with blood, and as 

 well as the intestinal canal, exhibited gangrenous spots ; the cellular 

 tissue round the wound was sloughy, and, on incision, a great 

 quantity of decomposed blood and sanies escarped from it. 



In those cases which do not end fatally the wound becomes 

 inflamed and erysipelatous, the general symptoms gradually dis- 

 appear, and the disease altogether ceases within from three to eight 

 weeks, under general perspiration and bilious diarrhoea. Sometimes, 

 however, great debility and cachectic appearances remain, and death 

 ensues, after two or three years, under paralysis, mental derange- 

 ment, or dropsical symptoms. In case of ultimate recovery, the 

 healing of the wound always takes place very slowly ; the skin and 

 neighbouring cellular tissue slough, and discharge a great quantity 

 of blood ; the margins of the wounds are of a livid colour, and 

 bleed on the least touch; after some time, the sloughs having 

 come away, suppuration begins to take place, but is always of an 

 unhealthy kind ; cicatrization hardly ever takes place before some 

 months, or even years ; the cicatrix is thin, of a livid colour, and 

 liable to be inflamed or absorbed. 



The best method of treatment consists in the excision of the 

 wounded part, and its subsequent scarification and cauterization. 

 If the necessary instruments are not at hand, the wound must be 

 sucked and repeatedly washed with water, lemon -juice, or brandy, 

 as in other cases of poisonous wounds ; at the same time it is 

 advisable to put a tight bandage round the limb. Stimulants must 

 be given internally, and the wound is continually, even after the 

 remission of the general symptoms, to be treated with stimulants 

 and antiseptics, otherwise it will become gangrenous. In India, 

 it appears the Tanjore pill, of which arsenic is the chief ingredient, 

 has been exhibited with considerable success against the bites of 



