EXPERIMENTS ON THE INFLUENCE OF SNAKE-POISON 
95 
vein. The animal on being released limped oft’; but did not 
seem affected by the bite. 1.15.— Seems slightly sluggish. 
1.30. — In the same state. Abdomen tympanitic. 1.40. — In 
the same drowsy stupid state, but is standing up. 1.47. — 
Suddenly fell over, and became convulsed. 1.50.—Dead; in 
fifty-five minutes. 
In each case the blood coagulated firmly after death. 
No. 4. 
July 3rd, 1871.—A Pariah Dog was bitten in the thigh by 
a Cobra at 12.54 p.m. The temperature in the anus before the 
bite was 102°'40. At 1.3 p.m. thirty drops of liquor ammonise 
diluted with an equal quantity of water were injected into the 
right femoral vein. 1.7.—Is lying down. Defecated. 1.13.— 
Breathing very rapidly: 80 per minute. Temperature 103 o- 90. 
The ammonia is evidently taking effect. 1.15.—Is standing 
up. Purged. 1.20.—Is running about in a silly manner. 
Appears to be endeavouring to vomit. Salivation. 1.22.— 
Convulsed. 1.25.—Temperature 104°'50. Is dying. 1.28.— 
Dead; in thirty-four minutes. Blood firmly coagulated after 
death. 
No. 5. 
July 5th.—A well-fed strong Pariah Dog was bitten by a 
Cobra at 12.53 p.m. The Cobra was casting its skin at 1 p.m. 
Twenty drops of undiluted liquor ammonias were injected into 
the right femoral vein. Temperature before the operation 
102°'60. 1.10.—Is restless and panting a great deal. 1.15. — 
Lying down and whining. Temperature 102°'40 (a fall of 0°'20). 
1.25.—Still making a whining noise. Salivation. 1.30.— 
Is walking about. Temperature 102°T0 (still falling). 1.45._ 
Is lying down, and does not appear much affected. 2.15.—In 
the same state. Temperature 101°’20 (still falling). 2.45— 
Same state. Temperature 101°-80 (rise of 0°'60. 3.29._Is 
becoming affected. Vomiting a black matter mixed with white 
froth. 3.40.—Is constantly retching, and is very restless. 
Temperature 101 o, 50 (falling again). 4.25.—Is still vomiting, 
and appears to be very much exhausted. 6.15.—Vomiting has 
ceased. Is lying down exhausted. 7.8.—Is lying down gasping, 
but is conscious. 8 p.m.—I n the same state. 8.45.—In the 
same state. Temperature 100°'90 (lower). 9.15.—Slightly 
convulsed. 10.—Comatose. 11.— Dead—in ten hours and 
seven minutes. 
The thermometer (Phillip’s maximum) was retained on each 
occasion for five minutes in the anus. 
I doubted whether the bite was a perfect one, because the 
snake had bitten itself when being laid hold of, and a quantity 
of the poison escaped on to the ground. Moreover, I did not 
think the poison had been properly injected, as the leg of the 
Dog was covered with it. The result of this experiment shows 
that no very great quantity of poison could have been injected 
—a circumstance favourable to the ammonia had it possessed 
any antidotal properties. 
No. 6. 
July 5th.—A Pariah Dog was bitten by a Cobra at 1.35 p.m. 
The Dog although large was not well-fed. Temperature (in the 
anus) 103°. 1.45.—Injected twenty drops of liquor ammonia 1 
diluted with twenty drops of water into the left femoral vein. 
1.50.—Is lying down and breathing very rapidly. 1.58.—In 
the same state. Temperature 102°. Respirations 72. 2.5._ 
Twitching at the corners of the mouth. Involuntary wagging 
of the tail. Convulsions about to set in. 2.10._Very much 
convulsed. There is a forcible expiration with each convulsive 
movement. 2.14.—Dead—in thirty-nine minutes. 
No. 7. 
At 2.20 p.m. a Pariah Pup was bitten by the same Cobra as 
that used in the last experiment. The Pup was very sickly 
and ill-fed. Temperature 104°'40. 2.25.—Injected twenty 
chops of liquor ammonia) diluted with an equal quantity of 
water. The thermometer, which was retained in the anus after 
the operation, registered a maximum of 104°’60, 0°'20 higher 
than before the injection. 2.27—Vomited and defecated. 
Lying down. 2.29. — Became convulsed. 2.32. Dead in 
twelve minutes. 
THIRTEENTH SERIES. 
Experiments on the Influence of Snake-poison and on the Injection 
of Certain Fluids into the Venous Circulation as Antidotes, 
and on the Application of the Ligature and Actual Cautery. 
June 12th, 1869. 
Present, Dr. Fayrer, Dr. Ewart, Professor of Physiology 
and Mr. Sceva. 
Experiment No. 1. 
A Fowl Avas bitten on the thigh by a Spectacled Cobra that 
had been kept in confinement for some weeks, had bitten before, 
and was therefore not fresh. The Fowl was bitten at 3 p.m. 
At 3.1.50.—Fowl staggering; fifteen drops of strong Condy’s 
solution, furnished by Messrs. Scott, Thompson, and Company, 
was injected with the hypodermic syringe into the Fowl’s thigh. 
3.2.50.—Fell down paralysed. 3.4—Lies almost dead; just 
breathing. 3.5.—Convulsed. 3.7.—Dead. 
Death occurred in seven minutes ; but the bird was evidently 
unconscious after the first two and a half minutes. I could 
not recognise any good effect from the injection. 
Experiment No. 2. 
The left crural vein of a Dog was exposed, ready to receive 
the injection. The Dog was then bitten by a Cobra in the 
right thigh at 3.20 p.m. The Cobra was not fresh, it had been 
in captivity for some time, and had bitten before; but it was 
tolerably vigorous. 3.23.—Dog is excited and restless. 3.24— 
Same condition; whining. 3.27.—Much excited; trying to 
break loose; is salivated; breathing hurried. 3.37._Is be¬ 
ginning to show signs of the influence of the poison; is 
slightly convulsed; falls over. 3.37.30.—Injected sixty drops 
of liquor ammonite, specific gravity ‘959, into the crural vein ; 
the injection followed immediately by convulsive twitchings 
of mouth and limbs. 3.42.—Lying down, very low, almost 
motionless ; irregular action of the heart; injected forty drops 
more of the liquor ammonite. 3.43.—No change; heart’s 
action very feeble. 3.44—Lies perfectly still, as though dead; 
no respiration; heart beats very irregularly; thirty-five pul¬ 
sations in thirty seconds. 3.45.—Dead. 
Post-mortem examination of body at 4.20 p.m. Lungs pallid ■ 
no congestion. Heart: right side much distended with black 
clots. Left ventricle contained a little dark fluid blood. The 
viscera generally were pallid; but the liver was somewhat 
congested. Brain: cerebral substance free from congestion; 
vessels on surface slightly distended with blood. The blood 
generally coagulated firmly. 
Experiment No. 3. 
The external jugular vein of a Dog was exposed at 3.34 p.m. ; 
forty drops of the liquor potassae permanganatis (Condy’s) was 
injected into the vein at 3.35. No effect produced at the time; 
the Dog did not appear to take any notice of the injection. 
3.40.—Dog apparently not affected. 3.45—Seems rather 
depressed, but this is not marked; it may be fear. 3.48._ 
Bitten by a large Cobra (not fresh, for it has been some time 
m captivity, and has bitten before) in the thigh. The fang 
punctures were at once washed with Condy’s solution, which 
was well rubbed in. 3.49—Bitten leg partially paralysed. 
3.50.—Lying down; when raised can stand, but quickly lies 
down again; is quite intelligent. 3.51.—Droops his head. 
3.52. Sixty more drops of the fluid injected into the vein. 
3.54. — Two drachms injected into the bowel; is able to sit or 
