270 
H. C. YARROW. 
tion of the permanganate, no poisonous effect is produced by the 
venom. This effectually disproves de Lacerda’s statement. It 
should be mentioned that in all the experiments tried with the 
various reputed antidotes, different quantities of these were always 
first injected into the animals on the day preceding the test with 
the poison, in order to ascertain if the remedy itself was capable 
of producing mischief or death. 
In order to ascertain the amount of glycerine-venom required 
to destroy a pigeon, the following experiment was made Oct. 21, 
1887. 
Oct. 21, 1887—11:45 a.m. —Injected pigeon in the lower 
part of left breast with 3 minims of glycerine-venom solution. 
11:48 a.m. —Pigeon commenced to tremble and had difficulty 
in opening the eyelids. 
11:55 a.m. —All voluntary motion ceased. 
12 m. —A good deal of tumefaction was noticed around the 
part injected. 
12:05 p.m. —The pigeon has recovered partial muscular 
movement and the eyes appear brighter. 
12:15 p.m. —The pigeon has again lost muscular power. 
12:35 p.m. —The pigeon gave two slight flutters, a few gasps 
and was dead. A post mortem was made before rigor mortis 
set in, and it was found that the whole of the left breast was 
ecchymosed and congested with dark blood, and the heart was 
filled with venous blood. 
It was thus discovered that 3 minims of the venom solution 
was sufficient to destroy a large healthy blue rock pigeon in less 
than one hour, the strength of the solution being eight drams of 
glycerine to one dram of the crotalus poison. 
Oct. 22—11:43 a.m. —Injected pigeon with 5 minims of venom 
solution in left breast. 
11:45 a.m. —Injected 17 minims of 1 per cent, solution of 
potassa permanganate in left breast. 
11:54 a.m. —Convulsive movements of the pigeon’s head 
was noticed. 
11:55 a.m. —Injected 17 minims more of the permanganate 
solution, as the bird was getting very feeble. Opisthotonotic 
spasms took place. 
