94 
THE THANATOPHIDIA OF INDIA. 
The thermometer registered at this time a maximum of 98°’30. 
11.26 a.m., thermometer 97°'90, respirations 28, pulse 60; the 
force of the pulse continued pretty well the same throughout; 
the skin was slightly moist; the respiratory movements were 
(as in the previous case) much increased. 
December 14th.-—A strong healthy man, aged twenty-five 
years, was placed on a couch, and a curved thermometer put 
into the axilla at 4 p.m. 
4.6 p.m. Thermometer 99 0- 25, respirations 18, pulse 76. 
4.20 „ „ 99°'0 „ 18 „ 76. 
Fifteen drops of liquor ammonite, with twenty-five drops of 
water, were injected into the left arm at 4.26 p.m. 
5.3 p.m. Thermometer 98°‘80, respirations 18, pulse 72. 
5.20 „ „ 98 o, 60 „ 18 „ 70. 
5.45 „ „ 98 o, 60 „ 18 „ 68. 
A healthy man, aged thirty years, was placed in a semi-erect 
position, and a thermometer put into the axilla at 3.48 p.m. 
3.58 p.m., thermometer 98°‘55, respirations 30, pulse 78, weak. 
Two ounces of brandy with hot water were administered now. 
4.14 p.m. Thermometer 98°'S0, respirations 33, pulse 82. 
4.40 „ 
53 
99°-40 
33 
32 
„ 78 full. 
4.57 „ 
35 
99° ; 70 
32 
„ 78 „ 
5.27 „ 
33 
99°-70 
33 
28 
„ 74 weaker 
A quarter of an hour after the administration of the brandy 
the temperature had increased 0°'25, the respirations 3, and 
the pulse 4. Temperature of the room in which these obser¬ 
vations were made 73°. 
December 16th.—A man, aged thirty, was placed in the hori¬ 
zontal position, and a thermometer put into the axilla at 
2.31 p.m. 
2.45 p.m. thermometer 99 o- 0, respirations 22, pulse 68. 
2.55 p.m., fifteen drops of liquor ammonia;, with twenty-five 
drops of water, injected into the arm; 3 p.m., brandy, two 
ounces, mixed with warm water, administered. 
3.9 p.m. Thermometer 99°‘40, respirations 25, pulse 74 full. 
3.21 „ „ 99°-20 „ 25 „ 74 „ 
3.41 „ „ 99°‘20 „ 24 „ 64 weak. 
3.50 „ An ounce of brandy given. 
4 „ Thermometer 99 o, 40, respirations 26, pulse 70. 
4.16 „ „ 99°-50 „ 26 „ 70. 
4.50 „ „ 99 o- 0 „ 30 „ 76. 
It must he remembered that all these men were in the habit 
of taking alcohol. I leave it to you to draw conclusions from 
these observations. I may remark, however, that ten and 
fifteen drop injections appear to have very little effect, and that 
I should be inclined to place more reliance on a combination of 
brandy and ammonia administered by the mouth as a stimulant; 
twenty drop injections seem to have some effect. The arms 
of the men were rendered very painful by these experiments, 
but a little cold water dressing and a rupee buhsheesh appears 
to be an efficient cure. 
Y. Bichards. 
Experiments on the Injection of Ammonia into a Vein in the 
Dog, by Mr. Richards. 
No. 1. 
July 1st, 1871. — At 2.30 p.m. twenty drops of liquor ammonia? 
diluted with forty drops of water were injected into the femoral 
vein of a Dog. The temperature of the Dog previous to the 
operation was 102°T0. The animal was large and in fair con¬ 
dition for a Pariah. 2.40.—Salivation. 2.45.—Temperature 
102 o- 20; nose cool. 3. — Seems little affected. Pulse 148; 
respirations 26. 3.15.-—Temperature 101 o- 90; is lying down ; 
pulse 140; respirations 22; slightly depressed. 3.45. — Tem¬ 
perature 102°'30; pulse 120; respirations 22; lying down; 
there is a tremor over the whole body, but more especially 
of the left leg. 4.30.—Temperature 102°'80; respirations 30; 
pulse 128; appears sleepy only. 4.40. — Is more lively. 
8 p.m. —Temperature (after food) 102 o- 20 ; pulse 120; respira¬ 
tions 24. 
No. 2. 
July 3rd.—Injected fifteen drops of liquor ammonia?, diluted 
with an equal quantity of water, into the left femoral vein of a 
Dog, which was small and ill-fed, at 1.27 p.m. The tempera¬ 
ture previous to the operation was 102°. 1.34.—Salivation; 
holds his tail between his legs. 2.45.—Seems little affected; 
temperature still 102°. 3.—Is quite unaffected; endeavouring 
to get loose. 3.30.—In the same state ; temperature 102°. 
No. 3. 
Injected thirty drops of liquor ammonia;, diluted with thirty 
drops of water, into the left femoral vein of a Dog, at 1.50 p.m. 
The temperature of this animal was very high, 104°, and this 
was probably due to a large cluster of pustules situated in the 
right groin, which I did not notice until I had commenced the 
operation. 1.52.—The eyes have a fixed stare, and he goes 
about wagging his head from side to side and barking in a 
furious manner. He staggers about, and appears to have no 
command over his movements. He seems in fact mad. 1.56.— 
Is lying down with the head resting on his left fore-paw. 
The mouth spasmodically opens and shuts, but he is perfectly 
quiet and conscious. 2.3.—Constant twitching of the fore¬ 
paws ; the spasmodic contractions of the muscles of the lower 
jaw are continual; temperature 104°'30—0 o- 30 higher than 
before the injection. 2.12.—Is lying down; the same spas¬ 
modic contractions of the muscles of the jaw. 2.50.—Appears 
depressed; temperature 103°—1°'30 lower than it was forty- 
seven minutes since. 3 p.m.— Is lying down; appears all right, 
except a constant twitching of both ears. 3.35.-—Temperature 
very much lower, 102°'80. 
Fifteen drops appear to have no effect, and the twenty drop 
injection but little. 
The same fact is observable in these experiments as was 
noticed in the hypodermic injections—viz., that the effects of 
the ammonia quickly pass off) without it is used constantly 
or in large quantities. After the injection there is a rise in 
the temperature for the first twenty or twenty-eight minutes 
(according to the quantity used), but a corresponding fall in 
the next forty-five minutes. The greater the rise, the greater 
the fall below the normal temperature. 
Experiments on the Treatment of Snalce-Eoisoning by Injection 
of Licpcor Ammonice into a Vein, by Mr. Richards. 
No. 1. 
June 20th, 1871.—A large Goat was bitten in the left thigh 
by a Cobra at 3 p.m. At 3.5 p.m. twenty drops of undiluted 
liquor ammonite were injected into the right jugular vein. The 
animal on being released limped off. 3.15 p.m.— Appears 
drowsy, and is lying down. 3.30.—Is strongly convulsed. 
3.40.—Dead; in forty minutes. The ammonia had not the 
slightest effect. 
No. 2. 
June 24th.—A Pariah Dog was bitten in the right thigh by 
a large Cobra at 12.20 p.m. 
12.25.—Forty drops of undiluted liquor ammonite were in¬ 
jected into the left femoral vein. 12.35.—Is evidently affected 
by the snake-poison. Making a whining noise, and is very 
restless. 12.40.—Staggers as he walks, and is holding his tail 
between his legs. 1 p.m. —Is lying down, and breathing very 
rapidly. 1.5.—Convulsed. 1.14.—Dead; in fifty-four minutes. 
In this case also the ammonia had not the slightest antidotal 
effect. 
No. 3. 
A country Goat was bitten bjr a Cobra that had been in my 
possession for some time, at 12.55 p.m. At 1 p.m. sixty drops 
of undiluted liquor ammonite were injected into the left jugular 
