7G 
EXPERIMENTS ON REMEDIES APPLIED AGAINST 
excessively. When raised up, the bird stood stupified, was unable to walk, and soon couched again. In the 
course of the next two hours, it purged twice. After which, gradually growing worse, it expired at the end of 
the seventh hour. 
Observations.- In the two last experiments, the medicine operated by stool; and the operation in 
both coincided with the first effects of the poison, that is, within five minutes after the bite. Perhaps death was 
somewhat retarded by the medicine in the last chicken, which lingered seven hours. 
Experiment XI. January 3, 1788.-A Cobra de Capello, immediately after having bit a dog mortally, 
was made to bite a stout young bitch in the thigh. The thigh became instantly paralytic. An iron having been 
previously prepared, the punctures were well cauterized, within three minutes after the bite. The bitch lay 
down after the operation, and when obliged to rise, walked on three legs, more lame than before, probably from 
the pain of the burning, for no other symptoms of poison supervened. Two hours after the operation, she eat 
heartily ; but soon threw up all she had eat. At the end of ten hours, she was very well. 
The above is the substance of Mr. Briggs's account, who had been so obliging as to make the experiment at 
my request. 
Experiment XII. March 12.-A Katuka Rekula Poda, which had been captive only three days, was made 
to bite a stout dog on the inside of the thigh. Symptoms of the poison having taken effect were soon evident, 
the punctures were very visible, and the parts around were swelling fast. 
Fifteen minutes after the bite, the parts were cauterized. The dog howled as if from pain, and the other 
symptoms increased. At the end of the hour, he vomited, rose up with difficulty, staggered when on his legs, 
and continued at intervals to ho vl. He died at the end of two hours and a quarter; and though, for the last 
hour, he suffered a few slight convulsions, he lay mostly in a torpid state. 
Experiment XIII.-In about ten minutes after the last experiment, the same snake was made to bite a 
slender dog. Both fangs acted, and were permitted to remain ten seconds in the skin. Unequivocal signs of 
poison followed, and were deemed of the most dangerous kind. 
After an hour had elapsed, the cautery was applied to both punctures, and the parts were embrocated with 
oil; the dog, however, continued to howl for half an hour. The usual symptoms of poison rather increased in 
the second hour ; after which, the dog began to recover, and at the end of five hours fed heartily. 
Observations. -This was the second bite of the snake, and therefore less dangerous than the first; 
but the case was attended with threatening symptoms ; and, notwithstanding the long delay, the cautery pos¬ 
sibly was of some service. 
On a supposition that the hot iron is applied too late to prevent completely the absorption of the poison, may 
it not, as a powerful stimulus, operate in counteracting its effects ? 
However that may be, it seems highly probable that the cautery, when properly applied, and in due time, 
may be of material service, though not an infallible remedy. But as it requires some time in preparing, and 
carries an appearance of terror to persons not accustomed to such operations, I was induced to make trial 
of an application, less dreadful, less painful, and the materials of which might be kept more readily at hand. 
This was opposite caustics, in the manner I recollected having seen applied to certain tumours and excres¬ 
cences* 
As the toughness of the dog's skin seemed to impede the action of the caustic, an incision was sometimes 
made on the punctures of the fangs ; and, in order to prevent burning the tongue, it was necessary to secure 
the dog for some time, so as he could not lick the wound ; an embrocation of oil also was generally used.'f- 
* Edinburgh Medical Essays, Vol. IV- f I was at that time unacquainted with the Abbe Fontana’s curious experiments contained 
in the second volume of his valuable and elaborate work on the Poison of Vipers. 
It has been very well observed by Dr. J. Hunter, (speaking of the bite of the mad dog,) “ that caustics may be admissible in some cases, where the knife 
“ cannot be used ; and though they have failed in certain instances, yet that was probably owing to their not having been applied to all the infected sur- 
“ faces. It would appear, however, that the best caustic has not been used, which is probably the caustic vegetable alkali, in a solid form, the kali purum 
“ of the London Pharmacopoeia; both as it acts more speedily, and also more completely destroys and dissolves all animal substances. By applying it to 
“ the various surfaces of the wound, and immediately removing with a spatula the parts upon which it has acted and dissolved, it may again be applied, 
“ and the part destroyed to what depth may be deemed necessary: the surgeon seeing all the time the extent to which the caustic goes.” Transactions of 
a Society for the improvement of medical and chirurgical knowledge. Lond. 1793. 
