106 
THE THANATOPHIDIA OF INDIA. 
and very early excision. The natural deduction is, that the 
part should be cut out as rapidly and extensively as possible; 
otherwise, as in the case of these animals, delay of a few seconds 
may prove fatal. 
SIXTEENTH SERIES. 
Experiments on the Influence of the Poisons of the Cobra and 
Bungarus fasciatus, and on the Effects of Certain Methods of 
Treatment. 
August 21 st, 1869. 
Present, Drs. Fayrer, Cutcliffe, and Mr. Sceva. 
Experiment No. 1. 
A large Pariah Dog was bitten at 3.24 P.M., in the thigh by 
a Cobra that had been in confinement for some weeks, and had 
bitten before. Strong carbolic acid was immediately rubbed in, 
the punctures having been scarified. 3.30.—The Hakeem who 
administered the “antidote” last Saturday again presented 
himself with another, and he was allowed to administer as much 
of it, a fluid resembling the former one, as he pleased. 3.37.— 
The Dog staggers as he walks; another dose of the antidote 
administered by the Hakeem. 3.40.—The Dog is slightly 
convulsed, pupils dilated, and limbs partially paralysed. 3.42.— 
Enable to stand when raised; is convulsed. 3.46. — Quite 
paralysed. 3.48.—Dead—in twenty-four minutes. 
A gentleman who had believed, from some experiments per¬ 
formed under his own supervision, in the efficacy of carbolic 
acid, witnessed this experiment, and was satisfied that the acid 
is powerless to counteract the deadly effects of the poison. 
The Hakeem also expressed his conviction that the Cobra bite 
is inevitably mortal. Neither of these agents indeed had the 
slightest effect, and the Dog died very rapidly, considering its 
size and strength, and that the snake was not fresh. 
Experiment No. 2. 
A small Dog was bitten at 3.48 p.m. in the thigh by another 
Cobra, also not fresh like the first. A solution of the pow¬ 
dered leaves of Aristolochia indica, for which I am indebted to 
Mr. _, of Mirzapore, was then administered, the fang 
wounds having been previously thoroughly well rubbed with 
strong carbolic acid. 3.52.—The Dog is staggering. 3.57.— 
The Dog is staggering. 4.2.—Convulsed in liind-legs; paralysis 
of limbs commencing. 4.10.—Convulsive twitchings of the 
muscles generally. 4.12.—Unconscious and convulsed. 4.15.— 
Dead—in nineteen minutes. 
The antidotes were as powerless on this occasion as on 
others. The Aristolochia has long been held in estimation as 
an antidote ; it must, I fear, share the fate of all the others. 
Experiment No. 3. 
A small white Dog had the inguinal fold of integument 
raised with two pairs of forceps to stretch it. This was then 
bitten (at 3.56) by a Cobra not fresh, and that had been in con¬ 
finement for some time. The fangs must almost have per¬ 
forated the entire thickness of the fold of integument. With 
a sharp scalpel the fold of skin was at once entirely excised, the 
bitten part being certainly included in that removed. 
413 .—Looks sluggish, hut no positive indication of the 
action of the poison as yet manifested. 4.27.—Muscular 
tremors. 4.31.—Deep breathing; lies, looking very sluggish. 
4 40 . — Very sluggish; muscular twitchings. 4.45. — Can 
hardly rise; staggers and lies down again. 4.49.—In convul¬ 
sions. 4.55.—Dead—in one hour. 
This was a very interesting and very instructive experiment, 
most clearly demonstrating the deadly nature of the virus and 
the awful rapidity with which it passes into the circulation. 
The bitten part was not merely excised as we speak of excising 
the parts around the spot which the fang has penetrated, but 
the fold of skin into which the fangs had injected the poison 
was removed within a second after the bite, for the knife had 
entered almost before the fangs had left. In fact, it could not 
have been done more rapidly, and yet within one hour the ani¬ 
mal was dead from the effects of the poison. The infinitesimal 
portion of time during which the Cobra’s fangs were inserted 
into the tissues was sufficient to send the poison through 
the circulation, beyond the reach of incision; and yet how 
very small must the quantity have been. Nothing I have yet 
seen has so thoroughly demonstrated the deadly effects of the 
snake-poison. 
Experiment No. 4. 
Two drops of venom taken from an old Cobra, that is, from 
one some weeks in confinement, were mixed with four parts of 
water, and injected hypodermically into a Fowl’s thigh at 4.2 
p.m. 4.4.—Drooping; cannot rise when roused; comb and 
wattles becoming livid, losing their brilliant red colour. 4.7.—■ 
Lying on its side; convulsed. 4.10.—Dead—in eight minutes. 
Diluting the poison with water has no effect in destroying 
its action. Death occurred in eight minutes, and would have 
probably occurred sooner had the poison been taken from a 
fresh snake. 
Experiment No. 5. 
A Fowl was bitten in the carpus by a Cobra at 4.12 p.m., 
the fangs were deeply imbedded. The part was immediately 
amputated at the carpal joint, and a ligature placed above 
to prevent haemorrhage. This is the same Fowl that had 
precisely the same experiment tried on it on August 14th (15th 
Series, Experiment 15), and recovered. 4.55.—Fowl quite un¬ 
affected. At 7 p.m. of the 22nd the Fowl was still alive and 
well. It had thus escaped a second time, and is probably the 
only living creature that ever went through the ordeal of a 
Cobra’s second bite. 
It is evident that the immediate amputation of the part 
saved the Fowl’s life. 
Experiment No. 6. 
A small Cat was bitten in the tail by a Cobra at 4.27 r.M. 
The part was amputated above the bite in twenty seconds ; this 
time was purposely allowed to elapse before the operation. A 
ligature was applied to prevent serious haemorrhage. 
4.47.—The Cat still seems unaffected, except that the breath¬ 
ing is hurried. 4.55.—Still vigorous, runs about, hut breathes 
hurriedly. 5.30 p.m. —Seems slightly affected; breathing is 
hurried. 6 p.m. —No further change. August 22nd, 8 a.m. 
Appears natural, but it is evident from the muco-sanguineous 
nature of the excreta during the night that the Cat has been 
slightly under the influence of the poison. August 22 nd, 
1 p.m. —Looks well; appears free from pain; no symptom of 
the poison beyond slight weakness. 7 p.m. —The same. 
This animal has also escaped; the experiment is not 
thoroughly satisfactory or conclusive, as the Cobra was not 
fresh, and the tail is not a very vascular part. Still it is sug¬ 
gestive of the benefit to he hoped for from early excision, and 
seems to show that, although the operation may not altogether 
preclude the entry of the poison into the circulation, yet that it 
may limit it to a degree in which it is not fatal. 
Experiment No. 7. 
Two drops of carbolic acid put into a large Cobra’s mouth at 
4.50 p.m. 4.52.— Twitching in convulsive movements. 4.53.— 
Faint. 4.54.—Dead. 
This acid is very poisonous to all snakes. 
August 28 th, 1869. 
Present, Dr. Fayrer and Mr. Sceva. 
Experiment No. 8. 
I have received from Mr. H. 13. Simson, C.S., from Monghyr, 
