AND REMARKS ON SERPENTS. 
87 
One drop of the former diluted with water, and quite recent, was applied on the tongue near the tip, and 
five minutes allowed to elapse before I rinsed my mouth. I was not sensible of the smallest degree of acrimony. 
After an interval of half an hour, I applied less than one drop of the poison, undiluted, to the tongue, as 
before ; but the poison being now more viscid, it was necessary, in order to disengage it from the crow quill 
employed in applying it, to rub the tongue repeatedly. I remained ten minutes before washing, and kept all the 
while as still and attentive as possible. The result was the same as before. It appeared insipid and inert like 
pure water. I was neither sensible at first of any saline taste ; nor, though strictly attentive, could I perceive 
any subsequent effect whatever on the tongue. 
This experiment was repeated more than once, at different times, invariably with the same result. 
The poison of the Katuka Rekula Poda was tried, precisely with the same success. Of a quantity which 
was emitted through the fangs, I rubbed almost two drops, perfectly recent, on my tongue and palate; but 
was neither sensible of pungency, nor any consequence from it, more than from the poison of the Cobra de 
Capello. 
Whether the case be the same with respect to the poison of the other venomous serpents, may be conjectured, 
but can be determined only by trial. 
XI. -The recent poison of snakes applied to the eyes of chickens, caused no visible irritation, nor was it 
followed by inflammation. 
XII. -The recent poisons of the Cobra de Capello and the Katuka Rekula Poda, under the usual trials, 
gave no indication of possessing either an acid or alkaline quality. The other poisons were not tried. 
XIII. -Two drops of the recent poison of the Katuka Rekula Poda, diluted with four drops of spring 
water, were put into a wine glass, No. 1.; and six drops of water into another glass. No. 2.; into each glass was 
then permitted to fall a tea-spoonful of blood from the neck of a chicken just decapitated. Both mixtures 
being stirred, for five minutes, with small smooth sticks, were left to settle. 
The blood in No. 1. appeared of a colour considerably darker than that in the other ; and a clot was found 
adhering to the point of the stick, of a darker colour, and more grumous consistence than ordinary. To the 
stick belonging to No. 2. a much smaller clot adhered, of a brighter colour, and more loose contexture. 
After standing three hours, the difference was more remarkable ; the blood in No. 1. remained uncoagulated, 
and much blacker, with a little livid coloured serum above ; in No. 2. it nearly retained its primitive colour ; 
the crassamentum was formed, and a little serum of the usual colour remained at top. 
Upon repeating this experiment, the glasses were more carefully warmed, and the mixtures stirred only one 
minute. Very little blood was found adhering to the sticks. 
The same alteration in colour was observed as before ; but the blood in No. 1. was less fluid than in the for¬ 
mer experiment, though still much more so than in glass No. 2. 
XIV. -As the several poisons differ very little in appearance, so the organs which serve for their secretion 
and conveyance, are found, in their structure and situation, nearly the same, in the four principal Indian snakes 
which have been dissected : and, at the same time, vary so immaterially from the poisonous organs of the Rattle 
Snake and the Viper, that reference in a general way may be made to the anatomical descriptions already given 
of those animals, by three celebrated anatomists * 
I shall therefore confine myself to a few remarks on the poisonous apparatus of such snakes as have not been 
described, made either on the living animal, or on the recently dead subject; leaving other matters more 
strictly anatomical, to the explanation of Plates XLV. and XLVI. given by the ingenious anatomist Mr. 
Everard Home. 
XV. -The poison of snakes being used by the natives in a variety of diseases; the snake catchers obtain 
it from the living, as well as the dead animal. In both they make a gentle pressure from the poison-gland 
along the duct, forward to the mouth. In the former, the snake, in attempting to bite the small cup held before 
* Dr. Tyson, Phil. Transact. Vol. XIII. p. 35. Mr. Ranby, ib. Vol. XXXV. p. 377. Dr. Nicholls. Mead on Poisons, Appendix. 
