THE POISON OF VENOMOUS SERPENTS. 
71 
Experiment XIV. March 17, 1788.-A dog was bitten by a Katuka Iiekula Poda ; but the bite seeming 
slight, he was bitten a second time, and four punctures were then visible on the skin. 
The dog complained very little ; but when let loose, he sunk down on the ground, unable to stand, or rise. 
No doubt remaining of his being infected, as soon as a quarter of an hour had elapsed, a drop of oil of vitriol 
was applied to each of the scarified punctures, and immediately after, (having no common caustic) oil of tartar 
thickened with a little quick lime, was applied. The application being repeated more than once, the dog com¬ 
plained much more than from the bite, but soon became quiet. In half an hour he was seemingly much disor¬ 
dered, and his breathing very laborious. At the end of four hours, convulsions supervened, which returned at 
intervals for an hour more, till his death. 
Experiment XV.-A second dog was treated exactly in the same manner. Symptoms of poison soon 
appeared, and increased after the caustics were applied. This dog also suffered much from the caustic ; and 
the application of sweet oil to the wound having accidentally been omitted, he howled horribly upon licking 
the thigh. 
In about forty minutes, his breathing became laborious, and he seemed dangerously ill; in which state he 
remained nearly an hour and a half. In the evening he began to recover, and next day was very well. 
Experiment XVI. March 23.-A Katuka Rekula Poda which had just bit a dog mortally, was made to 
bite a second dog in the thigh. The part swelled immediately; in ten minutes it became blackish, and the 
whole limb trembled in a remarkable manner. 
After a quarter of an hour, the caustics were applied to the bare muscle, as well as to the lips of the incision ; 
and the pain seemed to be mitigated by the oil of tartar. The dog appeared to be universally relaxed, and lay 
for two or three hours in a comatous state ; after which he gradually recovered, and, the sore on the thigh 
excepted, was very well the day following. 
Experiment XVII. March 24.-A dog bitten by another Katuka Rekula, soon showed very dangerous 
symptoms of poison. The caustics were not applied till after eighteen minutes. The dog howled dismally ; 
showed extreme disquietude; and, without suffering convulsions, expired within the hour. 
Observation.- In this case -1 conceive the progress of the poison to have been too rapid for the effec¬ 
tual application of any remedy : yet I regretted not having sooner used the caustics. 
Experiment XVIII.-A much stouter dog was next bitten by the same snake, and the caustics applied in 
fifteen minutes, yet not till after the part had swelled, accompanied with other symptoms of the poison having 
taken effect. The pain from the caustic was visibly allayed by the oil of tartar. 
He lay in almost a continual doze for two hours ; or, when roused, seemed sickish, and refused victuals. In 
the third hour, he grew more unquiet, howled frequently, and the leg remained drawn up. After dozing two 
hours more, he began to recover, and at night eat with appetite. 
Experiment XIX. March 2 6. -The dog in the preceding experiment being well recovered, the ulcer 
excepted, was bitten in the other thigh by the same snake, and the symptoms of poison advanced so rapidly, that 
the caustic was applied within eight minutes after the bite. 
The dog suffered less pain than from the former operation; and, after slumbering two or three hours, 
recovered. 
Experiment XX.-A dog, which three days before had been infected by poison, applied in the manner 
of a seton (see Sect. V. Exp. V.) was bitten in the opposite thigh by a Katuka Rekula Poda. The snake bit 
fiercely; and the dog almost instantly appeared to be infected. 
The caustic was applied in four minutes ; but the dog, as soon as let loose, staggered, sunk down, and in a 
few minutes more appeared to be dying. After this he remained comatous for two hours; unable to rise 
when urged, and only now and then lifting his head with difficulty half up. At the end of four hours and a 
half, he expired, without convulsion. 
Experiment XXI. May 27.-A small dog, bitten two days before by a Katuka Rekula Poda, but not 
Infected, was bitten again this day on the other thigh. In two minutes, both hinder legs were affected ; and 
