EXPERIMENTS ON THE INFLUENCE OF SNAKE-POISON. 
107 
some leaves and stalks of a wild plant growing in that vicinity, 
named by the natives “ Norbish,” and reputed to he efficacious 
in the treatment of the bites of snakes or stings of other ve¬ 
nomous animals, such as the scorpion, centipede, and wasp. 
The plant was brought to Mr. Simson’s notice by Baboo 
Hurrish Chunder. I have been as yet unable to find out its 
botanical name. The juice of the fresh plant was extracted and 
mingled with that of the green ginger, according to instructions. 
A medium-sized but strong and active Dog was then bitten 
in the thigh, at 3.37 p.m., by a Cobra (“Tentuliah Keautiah”), 
that had been in confinement for some weeks. One ounce of 
the juice was administered at 3.39, and some of the juice, with 
• the bruised leaves, rubbed into the fang punctures. The leg 
was partially paralysed almost immediately after the bite. 
3.40.—Staggers in his hind-leg as he walks. A second dose of 
the juice administered. 3.50.-—-The Dog is lethargic and 
breathes rapidly. 4 p.m. —Looks sluggish and sick; walks 
feebly, dragging the hind-legs. 4.2 p.m.— Another dose of the 
juice administered. 4.10.—Is sick; rejected a quantity of 
frothy mucus, tinged with the juice of the plant. 4.12.— 
Another dose given. 4.15.—Sick again. 4.18.—Constant 
retching. 4.21.—Staggering; very restless; keeps his nose on 
the ground. 4.27.—Again retching; rises and staggers as he 
walks. 4.30.—Fallen over on his side; convulsed. 4.32.— 
Violently convulsed. 4.35.—Slight convulsive movements in 
neck. Respiration has ceased. Heart still beats. 4.37.— 
Dead—in one hour. 
This Dog, though small, was full-grown and vigorous. The 
snake was not fresh, hence perhaps the reason that death did 
not occur for one hour, instead of in thirty to forty minutes, as 
is usual. 
Experiment No. 9. 
A small Pariah Dog was bitten in three places in the thigh, 
by a full-grown Bung arm fasciatus that was brought from 
Soorie, in Beerbhoom, about three weeks ago. The snake 
seemed vigorous, and was just completing the exfoliation of its 
epidermis. The snake bit at 3.48 p.m. At 5 p.m. there were 
no symptoms of poisoning, the Dog perhaps looked a little de¬ 
pressed, but that might have been from fear. The Bung arm 
would not strike, even when the Dog trod on it; it did its best 
to get out of the way, as I have so frequently seen with other 
snakes. It was only when its jaws were closed by the snake- 
man on the Dog’s thigh that it bit. 6 p.m.— No change. 
8 p.m. —Vomited. 9.15.—Lying down; on being raised on 
his feet appears weak; steps irregularly. August 29th, 7 a.m.— 
Vomited again. 9 p.m.— Lying on his side, in which position 
he has remained all day; refuses food. 30th, 7 a.m.. —Appears 
to have recovered partially. Noon.—No further change. 
G p.m.— Looks better. 31st, 8 a.m.— Still improving; takes 
food and water. September 1st, 8 a.m..— Appears to be again 
suffering from the poison. 2 nd.—Worse ; unable to stand, or 
walk steadily. 3rd.—Unable to stand. 4th.—Unable to 
stand; tries to eat, but takes very little. 5tli.—Very weak; 
has diarrhoea. 6 th.—The same. 7th, 4.55 p.m. —Died. 
This experiment remarkably illustrates the slow action of 
the poison of the Bungarus fasciatus, as compared with that of 
the Cobra or Viper. 
Experiment No. 10. 
The same Bungarus fasciatus (Experiment No. 9) was bitten 
severely in three places near the tail, so as to avoid iuj uring the 
viscera, by a Cobra (“Keautiah”) at 3.54 p.m. At 5 p.m. there 
was no change, the Bungarus was unaffected. 29th, 7 a.m.— 
Sluggish; appears to have received some injury about the head 
and neck. 
Mr. Sceva reports that the Bungarus died on Sunday morn¬ 
ing before noon. He expresses a doubt as to its death being 
the result of the poison. 
Experiment No. 11 . 
A Fowl was bitten in the posterior part of the thigh by a 
Cobra (“ Kala Keautiah ) at 4.G p.m. Immediately the snake’s 
fangs were withdrawn the part was cut out; the mass of muscle, 
including the two fang punctures, was completely excised; 
certainly not two seconds of time intervened between the bite 
and the removal of the part bitten. A ligature was tightly 
drawn around the thigh above the part bitten, and was relaxed 
just before the part was excised. The object of the ligature was 
to prevent entry of the poison by the circulation, during the 
short time that the fangs were actually imbedded in the flesh. 
4.12.—Fowl crouching; head beginning to droop. 4.13.— 
Head nodding; beak resting on the ground, but still easily 
roused, as though from sleep. 4.16.—Very drowsy; head 
fallen over on the ground. Cannot stand or walk, hut can still 
be roused. 4.25.—Can still be roused, but is very much 
depressed. 4.35.—In convulsions. 4.40.-—Convulsive move¬ 
ments; weaker. 4.56.—Slow respiration : occasional convulsive 
movements. 5.10.—Dead—in sixty-four minutes. 
It is evident that although excision in this case did not save 
life, it mitigated the effect of the poison and prolonged life. 
Had the part not been excised, it is probable that death would 
have occurred in a few minutes instead of an hour and four 
minutes. The inference is that when the poison is injected 
into a muscular part, before excision can be practised a certain 
amount has already entered the venous circulation, and some of 
it has by diffusion passed beyond the reach of the knife, and 
so more slowly enters the circulation and kills. In cases where 
amputation of the whole part can be practised, the latter danger 
is obviated; and if this be done very rapidly, as in the case of 
the Fowl, in which the carpus was amputated, it may save 
life. The blood coagulated firmly after death. 
Experiment No. 12 . 
A large Fowl was bitten in the thigh by the Cobra (“ Kala 
Keautiah”), that bit in Experiment No. 4, at 4.55 p.m. In this 
case the part was not cut out. The Fowl was left to its fate, 
the object of the experiment being to contrast the effects with 
those where the part had been excised, the bite being inflicted 
by the same snake. 
5.1.—The Fowl is crouching, but is easily roused; has hurried 
breathing. 5.4.—Drooping rapidly, beak resting on the ground; 
starts; raises itself, as out of sleep ; falls back into a profound 
state of lethargy. 5.8.—Springs from the ground with convul¬ 
sive movements. 5.12.—Violently convulsed, and lies on the 
ground. 5.15.—Dead—in eighteen minutes. 
This Fowl was a more powerful bird than the one previously 
bitten by the same snake, and yet it lived only eighteen minutes, 
whilst the first, that had the earlier, and consequently more 
vigorous bite, lived sixty-four minutes. The prolongation of life 
is evidently due to the excision of the bitten part in the first Fowl; 
and though it shows only mitigation, and not annihilation of 
the effects of the poison, the experiment is so far encouraging, for 
the proceeding gives time, during which other juvantia may he 
had recourse to. But it plainly proves, when contrasted with the 
experiments in which amputation was performed, that in excision 
diffusion of the poison takes place throughout the tissues 
beyond the limits of the fang punctures, and that from this 
diffusion fatal absorption may take place. 
Experiment No. 13. 
A Fowl was bitten in the fore-arm, between the ulna and 
radius, by a Cobra at 4.30 p.m. The part was immediately am¬ 
putated at the elbow joint; a ligature was applied to prevent 
bleeding. 4.40.—The Fowl seems unaffected. 5.6.—Seems 
quite well. 
7th September.—The Fowl is still alive and well; it also has 
been saved by the immediate amputation, as in the case of the 
