84 
THE THANATOPHIDIA OF INDIA. 
This Chicken was rather smaller than the two preceding ones. 
These three experiments show that the snake liacl lost but 
little of its power in three efforts. The Cobra used in these 
experiments was not full-grown, hut it was very active and 
vicious. 
Experiment No. 9. 
The above small Cobra was bitten at 12.35 in two places, on 
the middle of its body and on the ventral surface, by a large 
and fresh Cobra. 
October 16th, 8 p.m. —Not affected; it lived. 
October 19 th. 
Experiment No. 10. 
11.40 a.m. —A large “ Dhamin ” (. Btyas mubosus ) was bitten 
in two places by a Dciboia. 11.47.—Is partially paralysed, 
the mouth is wide open ; appears unable to move; respiration 
continues. 11.47.—Moving about slowly. 11.52.-—Appears 
to be recovering. 12.—More active. 
October 20th, 6 a.m. —Appears sluggish. 10 a.m. —On 
being roused moves slowly ; but is weak and stiff. Recovered 
subsequently. 
October 26th, 12.47.1.—Bitten again by another Daboia. 
1 p.m. —No effect. 
Became sluggish, and died at 10.40 p.m., 27th October. 
October 26 th, 1868. 
Present, Dr. Fayrer and Mr. Sceva.—The following experi¬ 
ments were made with the view of again carefully examining 
the blood before and after the snake-bite. The blood was very 
carefully examined on three occasions :— 
1st. Before the animal was bitten. 2nd. Whilst it was 
under the influence of the poison. 3rd. After death. 
In no case was anything found to support Professor 
Halford’s theory, or to confirm his observations. There was no 
appearance of any new corpuscle, nor was there any change 
of importance in the condition of either the red or white 
globules of the blood. 
My impressions were in favour of the theory advocated by 
Professor Halford, and if any bias existed, it was certainly for 
rather than against the explanation he gives of the pathological 
changes in the blood. Nothing, however, that I have seen after 
many observations supports the view in question ; and I am 
constrained to believe that the change in the blood is of a 
much more subtle character than can be detected by the 
microscope. Moreover, in rapid death, as for example where 
it occurs in from thirty to forty seconds, it is impossible that 
such developmental changes could have taken place. The 
cause of death is evidently an impression made on the nerve 
centres through the medium of the circulation; but it is, I 
think, evident also that it is one of a dynamical nature, and 
not immediately dependent on any structural changes that 
may, if any do, occur in the blood, and can be seen with the 
microscope. When death is protracted, and the venom has 
thus time to set up blood changes, as in the case of zymotic 
poisoning, I can well imagine that the blood, as such, becomes 
unfitted for the purposes of life, and that death results in con¬ 
sequence of these changes; but I have not as yet seen anything 
to confirm this view of the cause of death, nor do the post¬ 
mortem appearances show that it is due to asphyxia from pul¬ 
monary congestion or embarrassment. I do not, however, 
positively assert that such is not the case. 
Experiment No. 11. 
A Pariah Dog was bitten in the hind-leg very slightly by a 
Cobra at 11.55 a.m. The blood was examined before the Dog 
was bitten and the appearance noted. The white corpuscles 
were apparently, relatively to the red ones, rather numerous. 
12.—Not affected. 12.23.—Bitten again in the right hind¬ 
leg by another Cobra. The snake struck of his own accord. 
12.48.— The Dog is fully under the influence of the poison; 
he is slightly convulsed, lying almost paralysed on the ground. 
The blood was again examined; no change could be detected. 
12.58.—The Dog died. Blood examined again after death, but 
no change could be detected. It coagulated firmly when re¬ 
moved from the body after death, which occurred in sixty-three 
minutes. 
Experiment No. 12. 
At 12.4 a Pariah Dog was bitten on the right hind-leg and 
on the back by a Daboia. The blood had been previously ex¬ 
amined ; there was nothing peculiar in its appearance. The 
wounds made by the snake’s fangs bled freely. 
12.18.—Very much depressed ; staggering ; almost paralysed 
in hind-legs. 12.20. — Lying down, head resting on the ground. 
12.21.—Cannot rise; hind-legs paralysed. 12.40.—-Blood 
again examined under microscope. No change. 12.48.— 
Dead. Blood examined after death. The microscopical ap¬ 
pearances not changed. 
In this case death occurred in forty-four minutes. The 
blood was kept for twenty-four hours after death, and it did 
not coagulate. It is worthy of note that the blood of the Dog 
in the last experiment poisoned by a Cobra in sixty-three 
minutes did coagulate firmly. In neither case did the micro¬ 
scope reveal any structural change in the corpuscular elements 
of the blood. 
Experiment No. 13. 
A ligature was tied round a Fowl’s thigh so tightly as appa¬ 
rently to obstruct the circulation. The limb below the ligature 
was then bitten by a fresh Cobra at 12.31. 
12.33.—Stretches out the leg, and is lame; wings drooping; 
it seems to be feeling the effects of the poison. 12.35.— 
Crouching; wings spread out ; point of the beak resting on 
the ground. 12.37.—Fully under the influence of the poison, 
but can still be roused. 12.42.—Insensible and is convulsed. 
12.47.—Again convulsed, and died. Death occurred in sixteen 
minutes. This experiment shows that the pressure of the 
ligature, although it did not completely prevent the entrance 
of the poison into the circulation, so far prevented it that death 
was deferred for sixteen minutes. In a Fowl of the same size, 
bitten by a Cobra in the same place, had no ligature been 
applied, death would probably have occurred within one minute. 
November 15 th. 
Present, Dr. Fayrer and Mr. Sceva. 
The following experiments were made with the view of 
testing the action of the poison of the Bungarus fasciatus on 
animals, and the influence of other snake-poison on the Bun¬ 
garus itself and other poisonous snakes :— 
Experiment No. 14. 
A full-grown Bungarus fasciatus, said to be fresh, bit a young 
Dog in the thigh at 1.37 p.m. 1.44.—Bestless; moves about, 
whining. 1.48. —Apparently not much affected. 1.54. — 
Seems uneasy and restless. 1.58.—Lying down, and getting 
up in a restless manner. 2 p.m. —Apparently not much af¬ 
fected. 2.10.— Staggers a little; is evidently uneasy. 2.20.— 
Seems sleepy ; when roused he moves about, but quickly 
lies down again. 2.27. — Is sick. 2.38. —Very drowsy; breath¬ 
ing hurried. Staggers when he walks ; vomits, and has general 
tremors. Bitten at 1.37 p.m. Died at 6.5— i.e., in four hours 
and twenty-eight minutes. 6.5 p.m. — The blood coagulated 
firmly after death. 
Experiment No. 15. 
The same Bungarus fasciatus bit a Fowl in the thigh at 
1.35 p.m. 1.37.—Fowl runs about much excited. 1.38.— 
