INSERTION OF THE POISON OF SERPENTS. 
63 
The poison here, having stood till it appeared rather thick and glutinous, was, previously to insertion, diluted 
with two drops of rum, which did not seem to impede its effect. 
Experiment VII. April 28, 1788.-For want of recent poison, some which had been taken several days 
before, from a Cumboo Nagoo, but was now become of a brittle gummy consistence, being previously moistened 
with water, was inserted into a small wound in the inside of the thigh of a stout dog. The dog remained 
well, without any suspicion of being infected. 
Observations. -Though some slight symptoms in dogs, were produced by the artificial insertion of 
poison, it frequently failed altogether, and in no instance proved either mortal or formidable. The case was 
different with respect to birds ; for though it frequently failed there also, it frequently produced some of 
the usual symptoms of poison, in a certain degree, and often death. 
EXPERIMENTS ON BIRDS. 
Experiment VIII. March 6. -Recent poison from a Cumboo Nagoo, was inserted into the thigh of a 
chicken, without producing any disorder. At the distance of three days, some of the same poison, now become 
dry, was inserted into the other thigh, after being moistened, but produced only a little swelling about the part. 
Experiment IX.-At the distance of six hours, the same chicken was bitten by the Cumboo Nagoo, 
which had bit a dog just before. The bird was seized with convulsions, and expired in less than four minutes. 
Experiment X.-Some recent poison taken from the Cumboo, was inserted into the thigh of a chicken, 
but produced no other effects than a little discoloration, and swelling of the part. 
Experiment XI.-The day following, part of the same poison used in the last experiment, (being pre¬ 
viously moistened,) was applied to both thighs of a chicken ; to one, by an incision made with an envenomed 
scalpel, besides rubbing poison repeatedly on the wound : to the other, by repeated punctures of a needle armed 
with poison. The event was the same as in Exp. X. 
Experiment XII. March 12.-A chicken, to which poison had been applied at two different times, with 
little or no effect, being bitten by a very young Cobra de Capello, (not eight inches long,) expired in eleven 
minutes. 
Experiment XIII. March 23.-Some poison of a Katuka R.ekula Poda, shed on a stick in endeavouring 
to make him bite a dog, was inserted into the thighs of two chickens, by simple incision ; but in neither had 
any effect. The snake had been captive five or six days. 
After three hours, to the same chickens was applied some poison from a Katuka fresh caught, and very fierce. 
In one, it was inserted by puncture ; in the other, by threads, in the manner of a seton : but in both without 
any more effect than in Exp. X. A pigeon, at the same time, was treated in the same way as the first chicken, 
and escaped in like manner. 
Experiment XIV. March 24.--In preparing the Katuka Rekula Poda this morning, he snapped at the 
stick, and left one of his fangs on it, in the midst of the poison he had emitted. The fang, moistened as it was 
with poison, being instantly plunged into the thigh of a pigeon, was left for some time in the puncture, from 
which little or no blood issued. The part swelled, and the legs seemed slightly affected, but no other symptoms 
supervened. 
Experiment XV. March 26“.-Some dried poison of the Cumboo Nagoo, which had been kept a fort¬ 
night, was moistened with a few drops of rum, and inserted into the thigh of a chicken ; without any other con¬ 
sequence, than the part swelling, and becoming livid. 
Experiment XVI,-The skin of the thigh of a pigeon being first divided, the fibres of the bare muscle 
were cut transversely with an envenomed lancet, and poison was also carefully inserted. 
It was one hour before any effect was observed. The bird then drooped, and would not eat: but continuing 
to walk about, (only roosting at intervals,) it was considered as out of danger. At the end of seven hours, how¬ 
ever, it was found dead. 
