74 On the Condition of the Blood 
starch, convert the whole of the latter into sugar in a little less 
than one minute. If ptyaline, the active principle of saliva, exerts 
this power at most in a few minutes, then surely the active principle 
of the secretion of the serpent’s poison-gland may exert an infinitely — 
greater power in as many hours. 
“ Té results, then, that a person dies slowly asphyxiated by depri; 
vation of oxygen, in whatever other way the poison may also act, 
and so far as the ordinary examination of the blood goes, the 
post-mortem appearances are similar to those seen after drowning 
and suffocation. 3 
““T have many reasons for believing that the materies morbid of 
cholera is a nearly allied anvmal poison. If so, may we not hope to 
know something definite of the poisons of hydrophobia, small-pox, 
scarlet fever, and indeed, of all zymotic diseases ? 
“‘T am, Sir, your obedient servant, 
“GEORGE. B. HALFORD. M.D. 
“ April 25. 
“«P.S.—At the suggestion of my friend Dr. Neild, I am going 
to try the inhalation of oxygen as a remedy.” —° 
My reason for addressing The Argus was to obtain 
immediate and extensive circulation, copies of the letter 
having been sent home by the mail the following day. I 
hope the subject will appear of sufficient general importance 
to have warranted my so doing. : 
The letter you will perceive contains a statement of facts, 
upon which is built the hypothesis of the cause of death 
after snake-bite, and of the probable origin of cholera from 
an allied animal poison. I proceed now to state those facts: 
to the Society, and to develop the hypothesis which I put 
forth, not as the whole truth, but as a means by which the 
action of animal poisons on the body may perchance be 
arrived at. 
A. gentleman, aged thirty-three, was bitten on the finger 
by a cobra-di-capella. About three hours afterwards he was 
discovered moaning by Mr. Fielder, who states: “I went to 
his side and found him perspiring freely, face flushed ; the 
third finger of the left hand punctured at the knuckle of the 
second joint, from which a dark fluid oozed freely ; finger 
swollen and turning black and purple, discoloration extend- 
ing to the back of hand, which was puffed up, having a 
glassy and livid appearance; thence upwards and nearly to 
the elbow, redness and irregular streaks and patches defined 
the track of mischief. I applied the ligature at first sight 
close above the elbow, and gave brandy, also washed the 
