1881.] 



Poisons of certain Indian Venomous Snakes. 



361 



6 a.m. Depressed and ill. 



3 p.m. Passed some albuminous urine. 



9 P.M. Diarrhoea. 



12 P.M. Urine albuminous ; still very ill. 



As it was clear that the animal would suffer the usual prolonged 

 course of blood-poisoning, more poison was injected to shorten life. 

 1.30 p.m. Injection. 

 3.17 p.m. Cannot stand. 

 3.20 p.m. Respiration failing. 

 3.29 p.m. Dead. 



There is evidence, therefore, that daboia venom is a most severe 

 blood poison, producing death when not administered in sufficient 

 quantities to cause serious nerve symptoms, and that it is even possible 

 for death to occur early from this cause alone, nerve symptoms not 

 having supervened. 



Conclusions. — The regular course of the symptoms of cobra poison- 

 ing is slowly advancing general paralysis, coming on after a well- 

 marked interval without symptoms, with special paralysis of the lips, 

 tongue, larynx, and pharynx, and complete destruction of the 

 respiratory function. Death is often attended by convulsions, which 

 depend on asphyxia. 



Daboia poison commences its action by inducing violent general 

 convulsions, which are often at once fatal, or may be followed im- 

 mediately by paralysis and death, or may also be for a short time 

 recovered from, paralysis and death following later. These convul- 

 sions do not depend on asphyxia, and they may be absent if only a 

 small quantity of poison has been injected. The paralysis that 

 succeeds is general, and lasts a considerable time before respiration 

 is extinguished, and there is no special paralysis of the lips, tongue, 

 larynx, and pharynx. 



Cobra poison very quickly destroys respiration ; after slight ac- 

 celeration the respiration becomes slower, and the excursus is lessened. 



Daboia poison at first quickens the respiration very much more than 

 cobra poison does, and the lessening of the excursus, and the retarda- 

 tion of the respiratory movements do not occur so soon. 



Daboia poison invariably kills birds and reptiles at once in con- 

 vulsions ; cobra poisoning only after paralysis. 



The effect of cobra poison on the pupil is so small as to be a matter 

 of doubt ; daboia poison causes wide dilatation of the pupil. Salivation 

 is a constant symptom in cobra poisoning ; it is exceedingly rare in 

 daboia poisoning. 



The effect of cobra poison on the blood is not great, sanious dis- 

 charges are rare, albuminuria has not been seen, and should the 

 patient not die from the paralysis, recovery is perfect and complete, 

 no symptom being left in a few hours. 



