1873.] of the Poison of some Indian Venomous Snakes. 363 



already been traversed by previous observers, who have come to similar con- 

 clusions that most of the reputed antidotes have been powerless, and that 

 where there has been an appearance of success, it has depended not on 

 any antidotal or antagonistic action of the remedy so much as on the 

 fact that the quantity or quality of the poison was defective ; and how 

 this may be explained, Dr. Fayrer has endeavoured to prove by showing 

 that the snake may have been exhausted, that its poison may be deficient 

 in quantity or in quality, or that it may have wounded without inoculating 

 sufficient of the poison to cause death, or more than to cause slight poison- 

 ing, and probably that, by a sphincteral arrangement of fibres, as pointed 

 out by Dr. Weir Mitchell to exist in the rattlesnake, the snake may have 

 the power of imbedding its fangs without shedding its poison at all. 



Much virtue has been recently attributed to one of the oldest and 

 most trusted of all antidotes — ammonia ; but it was long ago shown 

 by Fontana by repeated experiments that the injection of this agent 

 into the veins, as well as its internal administration and external ap- 

 plication, were powerless (as may be seen by reference to the following* 

 pages of his works), so it has proved in all the experiments made with it 

 in India. Any complete and satisfactory means of resisting, antagonizing, 

 or eliminating the poison and of saving life are, we fear, still unknown ; 

 and it is in the hope that by determining the physiological action of the 

 poison we may make some advance in our knowledge of this important 

 subject, that the following investigations have been undertaken with cobra- 

 virus sent to us from Bengal, and of which we hope to receive continued 

 supplies from Mr. Vincent Richards, of Balasore, who, at our request, is 

 also carrying on a series of experiments on the subject. 



Appearance and Chemical Characters of Cobra-poison, 



The poison when fresh is a transparent, almost colourless fluid, of a 

 somewhat sirupy consistence, and not unlike glycerine in its appearance. 

 "When quickly dried it forms a transparent mass of a yellowish-brown 

 colour, and resembling some kinds of gum-arabic. The poison may be 

 kept in a fluid state for some months without undergoing any change, 

 but after a certain time it decomposes. 



During decomposition it gives off a quantity of gas, which has been 

 ascertained by Dr. Armstrong to be carbonic anhydride, and at the same 

 time acquires a dark brown colour and a disagreeable odour. The dried 

 poison may be kept for a much longer time without undergoing any 

 apparent change. 



The chemical constitution of the poison has been examined by Dr. 

 Armstrong. He has not been able to separate from it any crystalline 

 principle. It is partially coagulated by heat ; mineral acids produce in it 



* ' Traits sur le renin de la Vipere,' vol. i. pp. 108, 109, 118, 120, 124, 129 ; vol. ii. 

 pp. 5, 6, 7 (Florence, 1781). ' Opusculi Scientifici,' Letter iv. pp. 125 etseq. 



