24 



Prof. Pedler on Cobra Poison. 



[Jan. 17, 



cases the mixture of the poison and platinum salt was allowed to 

 stand for a short time previous to the injection ; and, in the remainder, 

 the injection was performed a few seconds after the platinum solution 

 had been added to the poison. The results are shown in Table B, 

 which is divided into two sections : the first, showing experiments 

 with the injection performed a short time after the mixture was made ; 

 and the second section showing injections made immediately after the 

 two substances had been brought into contact with each other. 



Table B. — Action of Cobra Poison mixed with Platinum Tetrachloride 



on Chickens. 



I. — Injection performed a short time after Mixing. 



No. 



Weight of 

 Dried Cobra 

 Poison. 



Wei glit of 

 PtCl 4 . 



Duration or 

 Symptoms. 



Result. 



No. of Chickens 

 -which the Poison 

 if used alone Tras 

 capable of killing. 



1 



3 milligrams 



'01 gram 



jSTo symptoms 



Suryrres 



1 



45 chickens 









of cobra 













poisoning 



55 







2 



6 „ 



•02 „ 



55 



90 „ 



3 



6 „ 



•02 „ 



55 



55 



90 „ 



4 



8 „ 



•025 „ 



55 



55 



120 „ 









bours. min. 







5 



10 „ 



•03 „ 



15 



Death 



150 



6 



15 „ 



•05 „ 



50 6 



55 



225 





II. — Injection performed at the 



instant of Mixing. 



1 







hours, mins. 









9 milligrams 



•025 gram 



4 



Death 



135 chickens 



8 



12 „ 



•04 „ 



1 25 



55 



180 „ 



9 



12 „ 



•025 „ 



4 10 



55 



180 „ 



The first, section of this table shows that almost any quantity, how- 

 ever large, of cobra poison mixed with the platinnm salt, may be 

 injected into chickens without producing any poisonous action ; in the 

 fourth experiment, for instance, enough poison to kill 120 chickens 

 was injected into one chicken, and although the animal became drowsy 

 and was evidently much upset by the injection of a large volume of 

 liquid, the symptoms which were developed were not those of cobra 

 poison, and the animal in the course of a day or two recovered its 

 usual health and strength. In the case of No. 5, Table B, enough 

 poison to kill 150 chickens was injected, and death resulted in fifteen 

 hours ; but the death apparently resulted from the effect of the shock 

 to the system of the chicken, caused by the injection of such a large 

 volume of liquid as was necessary. The same remark also applies to 



