1904.] 



Pharmacology of Indian Cobra Venom, 



183 



appear to be more rapid at low temperatures than at high tempera- 

 tures. 



The whole question of the formation of solids at very low tempera- 

 tures is of great interest both from a physical and from a biological 

 standpoint. It is quite possible that if living organisms were cooled 

 only to temperatures at which physical changes such as crystallisation 

 take place with measurable velocity, the process would be fatal, 

 whereas if they once were cooled to the temperature of liquid air, no 

 such change could take place within finite time, and the organism 

 would survive.* 



These experiments were made in connection with some investigations 

 which were being carried out at University College, London, with the 

 assistance of a grant from the Eoyal Society. As I am at the moment 

 unable to continue the work, I have decided to publish this note. 



" A Contribution to the Study of the Action of Indian Cobra Poison."f 

 By Captain E. H. Elliot, M.B., B.S. Lond., F.K.C.S. Eng., 

 D.P.H. Camb., etc., of the Indian Medical Service (Madras). 

 On special duty for Snake Venom Besearch under the orders 

 of the Secretary of State for India. Communicated by 

 Professor Sir Thomas B. Fraser, F.B.S. Beceived January 18, 

 —Bead February 25, 1904. 



(Abstract.) 



Previous Work on the Subject. 



Brunton and Fayrer| discussed the pharmacology of Cobra venom at 

 some length ; they attributed the effects of the poison to its action on 

 the cerebro-spinal nerve-centres, especially on the respiratory centre. 

 They observed that Cobra venom had a direct action on cardiac muscle, 

 and that it also affected the heart through the vagal system, but they 

 did not lay much stress on circulatory failure. They surmised that 

 the high and maintained blood pressure of a cobraised animal was due 

 to arteriolar constriction, but did not attempt to explain how this was 

 brought about. Amongst the many other points of interest they took 

 up, was the influence of artificial respiration in cobraism. 



* Experimental results are given by Macfadyen, ' Roy. Soc. Proc.,' vol. 66, 

 1900, pp. 180, 339, 488 ; Swithinbank, ' Roy. Soc. Proc.,' vol. 68, 1901, p. 502. 



f Owing to the kindness of Professor Sir Thomas Fraser and of Professor E. A . 

 Schafer, the writer was enabled to carry out this research in the Pharmacological 

 and Physiological Laboratories of the University of Edinburgh. Towards- the 

 expense of this research, grants were received from the British Medical Association 

 and from the Moray Fund for the Endowment of Research (Edinburgh). 



t 1 Roy. Soc. Proc.,' vols. 21, 22, and 23. 



O 2 



