EXPERIMENTS ON THE INFLUENCE OF SNAKE-POISON. 
103 
There was at the most an interval of five seconds between 
the Cobra’s bite and the tightening of the ligature, which was 
not afterwards relaxed. This experiment clearly proves that 
the poison is taken into the circulation very rapidly; certainly 
five seconds did not elapse between the bite and the applica¬ 
tion of the ligature, which had been previously thrown loosely 
round the limb, in order that no time might be lost in tighten- 
ing it after the bite, and yet the Dog (it was a small one), died 
of the poison in twenty-one minutes. During that very brief 
interval sufficient poison entered the circulation to destroy life. 
It is possible that more may have entered after the ligature 
was tightened, but the quantity must have been very minute, 
as the ligature was very tight. In an ordinary snake-bite it is 
difficult to conceive that a ligature could be applied more 
speedily than in the case of this Dog. So that, even this 
method of treatment, rational as it certainly is, can only be 
regarded as of doubtful benefit. 
I should note, and it is a subject, I believe, that I have not 
alluded to before in other experiments, that the rigor mortis 
took place in about one hour and a half after death, in these 
two Dogs. The blood coagulated after death. 
Experiment No. 3. 
A Fowl had a ligature placed on the thigh loosely : it was 
bitten by a Cobra at 3.47. The ligature was tightened at the 
same time that the snake bit ; before its fangs were with¬ 
drawn, the ligature was thoroughly tied, so tight that the limb 
seemed completely strangulated, the part becoming livid and 
disabled. 3.50.— No sign of the poison taking effect; the Fowl 
hops about on the sound leg. 3.52.— Actual cautery and 
carbolic acid applied to the fang punctures, which were bleeding 
freely venous blood from the congested limb, and the wounded 
parts surrounding were thoroughly disorganized. The ligature 
was then divided ; the Fowl being placed on the ground ran 
about; the ligatured limb still paralysed. 3.54. — Fowl crouch¬ 
ing, but rises and runs about when disturbed. 3.55 — Looks 
drowsy ; is crouching, and begins to hang its head, closing the 
eyes. 3.57. — Head drooping, beak resting on the ground. 
3.58.— Fallen over on its side, rises with a convulsive move¬ 
ment, and falls again. 4 p.m. — Is unable to stand or walk. 
4.4.— Convulsive movements. 4.11. — Dead—in twenty-four 
minutes. Blood coagulated after death when removed from the 
great vessels. 
This experiment more than ever proves the subtle and deadly 
nature of the poison. The ligature in this case prevented the 
entry of the poison into the circulation, but it was evidently 
retained in the congested part of the limb below the ligature. 
Carbolic acid and the actual cautery applied to the wounds, 
most thoroughly, failed to destroy it. For no sooner was the 
ligature relaxed than the poison entered the circulation, weak 
and altered as it must have been after the severe pressure of 
the ligature, and rapidly killed the bird. This proves that 
there is danger after removal of the ligature when it has been 
most effectually applied. The poison spreads itself by diffusion 
throughout the juices of the strangulated part ; so that nothing 
short of destruction or removal of the whole of that part seems 
to offer a hope of subsequent escape from toxic absorption. 
With reference to the application of a ligature above the 
bitten part, I would here remark that it is almost physically 
impossible with the power of one pair of hands so to tighten 
a cord round a dog’s leg, as thoroughly to strangulate the limb. 
The experiments seem to prove this, but also to show that it 
is possible completely to arrest the circulation through a fowl’s 
leg in this manner. 
With tourniquets it might be done no doubt, and a man's 
arm or leg, certainly his toe or finger, might be so strangulated, 
but as ordinary snake-bites do not occur where any tourniquets 
other than sticks and cords or the like are forthcoming, the 
desideratum is to obtain the most perfect compression of the 
limb in the simplest way possible, sufficient at all events to 
prevent immediate entry of the poison through the circulation ; 
and this may be done with an ordinary cord or strip of cloth, 
twisted with the common stick tourniquet, and to the fullest 
extent that the strength of the hands is able to twist it. But 
it must be borne in mind that this compression only extends to 
a certain depth, and that deeper the circulation still goes on; 
with this the poison retained by the ligature in the partially 
strangulated portion will soon communicate by diffusion, and 
symptoms of poisoning will supervene. In such a case we may 
fairly hope that the amount of poison entering the blood has 
been so far limited as not to be fatal, and that we may there¬ 
fore be able to help the sufferer through the troubles caused by 
the reduced dose of the poison. But it is obvious that the 
urgent necessity is for the application of some agent that will 
equally diffuse itself, and neutralize or destroy the poison whilst 
yet retained and only partially diffused through the strangulated 
part. 
In this, as far as I can understand it, lies the only hope of 
safety in a real Cobra bite. 
Carbolic acid or other allied substances would probably be 
useful. But it is obvious that the success of this, or indeed of 
any mode of treatment, lies in the promptitude and tension 
with which the ligature is tied, and the decomposing agent 
applied. 
Experiment No. 4. 
Dr. W. J. Palmer, Professor of Chemistry, was present also. 
A Fowl had a ligature thoroughly tightened round the thigh, 
and was then bitten below it by a Cobra at 4.7 p.m. 
4.19.—No effect of the poison visible. 4.2.2.—Breathing 
rather hurried, but otherwise seems unaffected. 4.30.—Begins 
to show signs of the effects of the poison, nods its head 
drowsily, rests its beak on the ground; it is evidently affected. 
4.35.—Much the same; thirty drops of the liquor ammonise 
injected in three doses with the hypodermic syringe. 4 37._ 
Fowl is drooping fast, cannot move. 4.41.—Convulsed. 
4.44.—Lies unconscious, but convulsed. 4.50.—Dead. 
In this case the ligature, which consisted of a cord soaped to 
make it run easily and knot firmly, was tied round a Fowl’s 
thigh, from which the feathers had been stripped, with the 
greatest amount of tension that a man’s hand could exert. 
The part below the ligature became livid, and the limb 
paralysed. In this condition it was bitten at 4.7 p.m. The 
ligature was never relaxed, and certainly did not slip, yet at 
4.30, perhaps earlier, that is, in twenty-three minutes, the Fowl 
began to show that the poison had, notwithstanding the 
ligature, found entry into the circulation. Its death, twenty- 
one minutes later, proved that sufficient poison had entered 
to destroy life, and also proves, I think, that it is almost 
beyond our power to keep it out. The question is, supposing 
the strangulation of the limbs to have been complete, how 
did the poison enter ? It must have passed the barrier of the 
ligature. How did it do so ? I can only explain it by sup¬ 
posing that tense as it was, the limb was not sufficiently 
constricted to prevent some diffusion of the poisonous fluids 
through the compressed tissues, and that in the space 
of twenty-three minutes enough found its way in to destroy 
life. 
From this experiment I think we may fairly deduce the 
amount of safety that may be expected from the ligature. 
That it retards the entry of the poison is abundantly proved, 
and that it gives time therefore to operate on the retarded 
venom is also obvious. But it is equally evident, so subtle is 
this poison, and such is the power of diffusion, that nothing 
short of the most rapid and effective application of the ligature, 
and the immediately subsequent application of some decomposing 
agent, can, in a bond fide Cobra bite, offer any hope of safety. 
