1881.] On the Poisons of certain Indian Venomous Snakes. 333 



June 16, 1881. 



THE PRESIDENT in the Chair. 



The Presents received were laid on the table, and thanks ordered 

 for them. 



Professor William Edward Ayrton, Mr. Henry Walter Bates, 

 Dr. John Syer Bristowe, Mr. William Henry Mahoney Christie, Pro- 

 fessor Herbert McLeod, Mr. John Arthur Phillips, Mr. William Henry 

 Preece, Rev. Henry William Watson, and Dr. Charles R. Alder 

 Wright were admitted into the Society. 



The following Papers were read : — 



I. " On the Differences in the Physiological Effects produced 

 by the Poisons of certain species of Indian Venomous 

 Snakes." By A. J. Wall, M.D. (Lond.), Surgeon H.M. 

 Indian Army. Communicated by Sir JOSEPH Fayrer, 

 M.D., K.C.S.L, F.R.S. Received May 2, 1881. 



Hitherto no clear distinction has been recognised to exist between the 

 actions of the poisons of the various species of venomous reptiles. It 

 will be the object of this paper to examine closely the symptoms produced 

 by these poisons in order to detect any differences that may be present, 

 and to see if the poisonous agents can be classified according to their 

 physiological effects. As poisonous reptiles admit of a simple anato- 

 mical classification into colubrine and viperine, one member of each 

 group will be taken. It will be convenient to begin with the cobra, 

 which is one of the most virulent and best known of colubrine 

 venomous snakes. 



I. — The Physiological Effects of the Poison of the Cobra (Naja 

 Tripudians) . 



In order to exhibit the effect of this venom, it will be necessary to 

 detail the results that follow when animals of different classes have 

 been poisoned by this snake. 



Experiment I. 



At 10.46 a.m., a pariah dog was bitten in the thigh by a cobra. 



II. 14 a.m. Very lame in the bitten limb. 



2 a2 



