358 Drs. Brunton and Fayrer on the Nature and Action [June 19, 



the discussion other organic mixtures. Turnips aud cheese may be very 

 bad material for experiment ; but it would be well, as far as possible, to 

 settle the matter, or the way in which the matter is to be viewed with 

 regard to them, before going off to other particular cases. 



It would be a very excellent thing if all further reference to this 

 subject could be postponed for a year or two — that is, until further study 

 of Bacteria, such as that inaugurated by Sanderson and Cohn, has given 

 us surer ground to tread upon. 



II. u On the Nature and Physiological Action of the Poison of 

 Najatripudians and other Indian Venomous Snakes." — Parti. 

 By T. Lauder Brunton, M.D., Sc.D., M.R.C.P., and J. 

 Fayrer, C.S.I., M.D., F.E.C.P. Lond., F.R.S.E., Surgeon- 

 Major Bengal Army. Communicated by Prof. Huxley, Sec. 

 U.S. Received April 22, 1873. 



On the Poison of Naja tripudians. 



The destruction of life in India by snake-bites is so great, that, with 

 the hope of preventing or diminishing the mortality, in 1867 Dr. Fayrer 

 began, and has recently completed, a protracted and systematic series 

 of investigations on the subject in all its aspects; and, in a work entitled 

 the ' Thanatophidia of India,' has published a description of the 

 venomous snakes found in British India, with an account of a series of 

 experiments on the lower animals, conducted for the purpose of studying 

 the nature of the poison, its modus operandi, and the value of the 

 numerous remedies that have been from time to time reputed as anti- 

 dotes — that is, as having the power of neutralizing the lethal effects of 

 the virus, and of saving life. 



His object in carrying out these investigations has been : — 

 1st. To ascertain the nature and relative effects of the bite of the 

 different forms of Indian venomous snakes, and the conditions and 

 degrees of intensity under which the activity of the virus is most 

 marked. 



2nd. The physiological action of the virus, and its mode of causing 

 death. 



3rd. The value of remedies, and the extent to which we may, by pre- 

 ventive or therapeutic measures, hope to save life. 



4th. To ascertain and make known the actual state of our information 

 in connexion with these three points of inquiry, and to substitute scien- 

 tific and rational knowledge for vague, empirical, and dangerous theories. 



He has had the honour of submitting a copy of this work to the Ro}^al 

 Society ; and it is therefore unnecessary to occupy its time by repeating 

 much of what is therein related on the 1st, the 3rd, and part of the 4th 

 heads. 



