88 On the Condition of the Blood 
and of the remarkable changes they produce on the nervous 
system and the blood ; often so speedily after their absorp- 
tion that all observation is frustrated in seeking to follow 
the train of events, and speculations equally at fault in 
attempting to find a theory for them. The action of the 
morbid cause of cholera seems to have most kindred with 
these poisons; the change which takes place with such 
rapidity in the properties of the blood being, as I think, the 
oreat feature of the disease, the basis probably of all the _ 
other symptoms.” 
We have seen that loss of heat and rapidly succeeding 
death, attended with fluid dark blood, are the principal 
features of severe snake-poisoning. 
In cholera, Dr. Aitkin says: “The phenomena resulting 
from the changes in the blood are the proper and distinctive 
symptoms of the disease, and the term ‘algide,’ first used by 
the French pathologists, very happily designates one of its 
most remarkable and constant symptoms, viz., the diminu- 
tion of animal heat. The algide symptoms, in truth, 
essentially constitute the characteristic phenomena of this 
disease. In proportion to them is the malignity and rapidity 
of the case. They afford the only measure of its severity, 
and from them only can a correct prognosis be formed. The 
vomiting, purging, and cramps are now considered as non- 
essential phenomena ; for authentic cases of cholera are on 
record, by several of the most eminent writers on this 
subject, entirely divested of these symptoms; and the 
suddenness with which the poison sometimes extinguishes 
life is extremely remarkable. When the cholera reached 
Muscat, instances are given in which only ten minutes 
elapsed from the first apparent seizure before life was ex- 
tinct.” Dr. Gavin Milroy relates that at Kurrachee, in 
1845-6, “ Within little more than five minutes hale and 
hearty men were seized, cramped, collapsed, and dead.” 
“ Instances of death taking place in two, three, four, or more 
hours are extremely common.” 
Sir Thomas Watson observes of the London epidemics 
of 1832, 1849, and 1853: “In fatal cases death took 
place sometimes in the course of two or three hours; and it 
was seldom delayed beyond twelve or fifteen.” Dr. James 
Johnsou says: “In rapidly fatal cases there is a great ex- 
haustion of the power of generating heat; the air expired 
from the lungs becomes progressively colder ; and so do all 
parts of the body until they are merged in that of death.” 
