Some Experimeyits with Fenom o/" Causus rhombeatus. 145 



the whole was injected into the pectoral muscles of a chicken weighing 

 5 ounces. 10.20 a.m., venom injected. 10.27, chicken looked sleepy, stood 

 without moving, respiration 47. 10.55, animal propped itself up against the 

 side of the box, respiration 40. 11.15, respiration 35, inspiration difficult, 

 ecchymosis over abdomen and lower part of thorax. 11.45 a.m. to 2 p.m., 

 respiration gradually slowed from 35 to 24. 2.45, the animal when placed 

 flat on its back remained in that position with quickened respiration. 3.15, 

 died quietly. Post mortem : a large, dark maroon-coloured ecchymosis over 

 the abdomen, most of the thorax, and the root of the neck : the pectoral 

 muscles of the side injected were deeply blood-stained. On opening the 

 body-cavity superficial haemorrhages were found in the gizzard, liver, and 

 heart : the right auricle contained a small, dark, soft clot ; the endocardium 

 of the right ventricle was much congested ; the lungs were pale, with no 

 excess of fluid. 



Experiment 2. — The venom, mixed with sterile salt solution, of one gland 

 was injected into the pectoral muscle of a chicken weighing 8 ounces, at 

 10 a.m. 10.5, wings began to droop, chicken gasped and kept swallowing 

 as if there were some obstruction in the throat, respiration 22, inspiration 

 very difficult. 10.40, respiration 16, inspiration much prolonged. 11.40, 

 respiration 16, chicken could not get up when placed on its side. 11.42, 

 respiration 11. 11.45, convulsions, with emission of blood-stained froth 

 from the mouth, death. Post mortem : the vessels in the neighbourhood of 

 the puncture were much enlarged, as were those of the abdominal wall and 

 peritoneum : the iliac veins and vena cava were engorged with dark blood : 

 a few hfemorrhages were found in the right lung : the left lung was of 

 a dark cherry colour and full of frothy fluid : the right auricle and ventricle 

 contained each a dark soft clot. In this case the comparatively rapid death 

 was probably due to some of the poison having entered a blood-vessel ; 

 for, after the injection, some clotted blood was found in the needle of the 

 syringe. 



Experiment 3. — The venom of one gland was mixed with sterile salt 

 solution in ''a syringe, and half of the mixture was injected into the left 

 pectoral muscle of a fowl weighing 17 ounces, at 10 a.m., the respiration then 

 being 30. 10.30, respiration 24, a little irregular ; fowl squatting. 1.30 p.m., 

 fowl quite lively. 10 a.m. on following day, dark ecchymosis near puncture ; 

 vessels on both sides of thorax and abdomen, but particularly of left side, 

 much enlarged. 7 a.m. on third day, skin of whole abdomen green ; the left 

 leg of the fowl stiff. The fowl completely recovered by the end of the 

 third day. 



Experiment 4. — The venom of both glands was dried in the sun and its 



