1 



1878.] On Destroying the Activity of Cobra Poison. 465 



Emotional activity, of the kind we have been considering, often 

 extends very decidedly the tract of superior temperature on the left 

 side of all three regions. 



The effect of anger, in a moderate degree, after the intensity of 

 passion has subsided, has been usually to increase the extent of the 

 tract of superior temperature on the left side, in all three regions. 

 Vexation and mental irritability cause a rise of temperature, most 

 marked in the anterior region and in the anterior spaces of the middle 

 region ; the left side is most affected. 



VII. "Note on the Effect of various Substances in Destroying 

 the Activity of Cobra Poison." By T. Lauder Brunton, 

 M.D., F.R.S., and Sir Joseph Fayrer, K.C.S.I., M.D., F.E.S. 

 Received June 20, 1878. 



In a paper, read some time ago before this Society, by Mr. Pedler, 

 he mentioned his discovery of the fact that the activity of cobra 

 poison was completely destroyed by admixture with perchloride of 

 platinum. This substance, however, could only be regarded as a 

 chemical and not as a physiological antidote to the poison, inasmuch 

 as it had no power to modify or prevent the action of the venom after 

 its absorption into the blood. Mr. Pedler expressed his opinion that 

 the proper method of pursuing the investigation was to investigate 

 separately the action of platinum salts and of cobra poison upon the 

 animal body. In the discussion which followed we stated that the 

 method proposed by Mr. Pedler was in the present instance not likely 

 to lead to any results, and that as the action of the substance em- 

 ployed by him was in all probability due to its simply forming an 

 insoluble compound with the cobra poison and not to any action of 

 the platinum per se, certain other metallic salts would have a similar 

 action to the perchloride of platinum. Experiments have confirmed 

 the opinion we then expressed,* and we find the action of chloride of 

 gold is precisely similar to that of perchloride of platinum, the cobra 

 venom being rendered entirely inert by admixture with the gold salt 

 before its injection into the body. Chloride of gold T however, like 

 perchloride of platinum, is merely a chemical antidote, and does not 

 modify the action of the venom after its absorption into the circulation. 

 Permanganate of potash, which has been recommended as an anti- 

 dote, also destroys its activity completely. Chloride of zinc, chloride 

 of mercury, nitrate of silver, and carbolic acid all diminish the 

 activity of the poison, and prolong life when mixed with it before 

 its injection ; but they do not prevent death, nor do they pro- 

 long life to any great extent. Perchloride of iron has very much 



* The Poison of the Cobra, by A. W. Blyth, M.R.C.S. " The Analyst," 2Sth 

 February, 1877, p. 204. 



