64 
EXPERIMENTS ON THE ARTIFICIAL 
The wound remained open and dry, and there was little or no swelling. 
Experiment XVII. March 29,3788.-Some poison taken from a Katuka Rekula Poda, was applied to two 
pigeons ; to the breast of one, by puncture ; to the thigh of the other, by dividing the fibres of the muscle in 
the same manner as in Exp. XVI.; neither of them showed any symptoms of poison. 
Another portion of the poison, having become thickish, was thinned with some drops of rum, and applied to 
two chickens; to one in the thigh, to the other in the breast; but to both without effect. 
A hook, in the shape of a fang, was employed here instead of a lancet, and was plunged pretty deep into 
the flesh. 
Experiment XVIII. March 30.-Recent poison of a Katuka, was applied to one chicken in the neck, and 
to another in the thigh; and in both was carefully inserted into the bare muscles. Neither of the birds were 
infected. 
Two other chickens had the poison inserted by the hook ; but equally without effect. 
Experiment XIX. April 13.-Some poison from a Katuka Rekula Poda, (which had been kept captive 
and fasting for a month,) was inserted into the breast of a chicken, by twice or thrice pricking the belly of each 
pectoral muscle, with the hook, charged each time with fresh venom. 
While the operation was performing, the bird vomited; and when set down on the ground, stood motionless, 
as if stupified, for nearly half a minute ; it then staggered, and, before the expiration of the minute, fell down : 
violent convulsions succeeded, which continued with little intermission, till little more than three minutes after 
the operation, when the bird died. 
Another chicken, treated exactly in the same manner, expired in about three minutes and a half. It did not 
vomit when set down, but purged ; it appeared less stupified, and walked about during the first minute : it then 
staggered, and suffered convulsions, as in the preceding experiment. 
Experiment XX.--In waiting for another subject, the poison had acquired a thicker consistence, and 
being inserted into a chicken, as in the two foregoing experiments, produced only very slight symptoms, from 
which the bird recovered. 
Another chicken, to which the poison, a little diluted, was applied in the same manner, was not visibly 
affected. 
Experiment XXI. April 1 6. -The poison of another Katuka, applied by the hook to two places of 
the pectoral muscle of a chicken, produced no other effect than a little swelling, and discoloration of the 
part. 
Experiment XXII.-Into the biceps muscle of another chicken, some of the same poison (now somewhat 
thickened) was very carefully inserted, by repeated punctures. 
As soon as set down, the chicken purged, but walked about seemingly well, for nearly a minute. It then 
began to stagger, lay down, and suffering only very slight convulsions, expired in about three minutes and a half 
from the operation. 
Observations. -1 had suspected, that the failure in some of the foregoing experiments, might be owing 
to the poison having lost part of its power, by exposure to the air; or to its soon becoming much thicker in 
consistence than when first emitted. But in Exp. XXI. where a local effect only took place, the poison was thin 
and recent; whereas in Exp. XXII. where the poison had been some time exposed, and was grown glutinous, 
the chicken was killed. 
Experiment XXIII.-The chicken employed in Exp. XXI. continuing to walk about, in appearance per¬ 
fectly well, poison was inserted a second time, but in the biceps muscle, as in Exp. XXII. The poison had 
been taken from a Katuka of a lighter colour than the former, but was become glutinous from exposure. No 
alteration was perceived for the first minute. The bird then purged, and instead of walking about as before, 
retired into a corner, and stood as if stupified ; soon after which, it lay down, and violent convulsions super¬ 
vening, it expired in somewhat less than four minutes. 
Experiment XXIV.-Some poison from the same snake, but in a fluid state, (instantly after emission,) 
