115 
EXPERIMENTS ON THE INFLUENCE OF SNAKE-POISON. 
“antidote. Tlie fluid was in a small phial, carefully covered 
with thick leather; it was hermetically sealed, and when the 
stopper was removed, a dark-coloured, clear, and very strongly 
ammoniacal fluid was found. 
Experiment No. 16. 
A Fowl had the feathers removed from its thigh, and was 
bitten by a “Gokurrah” (Spectacled Cobra) with only one fang, 
in the right thigh, at 3.25 p.m. The single puncture was im¬ 
mediately deeply scarified, and some drops of the fluid well 
rubbed into the wound. A drop of the fluid diluted with a few 
drops of water was then poured down the bird’s throat. But 
at 3.26 the Fowl was already paralysed. At 3.28 it was quite 
dead. The blood of this Fowl, on being removed from the 
heart, a few minutes after death, coagulated firmly. 
Experiment No. 17. 
A half-grown Pariah Dog was bitten in the thigh by the 
same Cobra at 3.30 p.m. In this case the eau de luce was 
again tried. Half a drachm sufficiently diluted with water 
given at 3.33 p.m. 3.34.—The Dog shows symptoms of poison¬ 
ing ; he is restless and uneasy. Lies down; rises again; 
breathing hurried. Tries to walk ; staggers ; hangs his head; 
frothing at the mouth. 3.38.—Another half drachm of the eau 
de luce administered. 3.40.—Has lain down, and is unable to 
move, evidently dying. 3.42.—Heart still beats, but he has 
ceased to breathe. 3.43.—Dead—in nine minutes. The blood 
of this Dog coagulated firmly after death. The so-called anti¬ 
dote obviously had not the least effect. 
Experiment No. 18. 
A Fowl was bitten in the thigh by the same Cobra at 3.46 
p.m. The wound was immediately scarified, and some drops of 
the Cape remedy well rubbed in. Two drops well diluted were 
immediately administered by the mouth. The Fowl was con¬ 
vulsed almost immediately, and was dead in less than two 
minutes. The blood of the Fowl exposed in a watch-glass, after 
death, became of a very florid colour, and coagulated very im¬ 
perfectly after fifteen or twenty minutes. There was some 
doubt about the watch-glass having had ammonia in it, but the 
attendant declares it was thoroughly washed. 
Experiment No. 19. 
A Fowl was bitten by a Cobra with one fang in the thigh at 
4.5 p.m. 4.5.30.—Legs paralysed ; feathers ruffled. 4.7.— 
Dying, convulsed. 4.8.—Dead. 
Blood drawn into three vessels : one a watch-glass, the second 
an ounce measure glass, the third a flat glass vessel (top of a 
jar); two or three drops of the Cape antidote (ammoniacal) put 
into the watch-glass. Two or three drops of eau de luce put 
into the measure glass. Into the third, nothing. At 4.49 the 
unmixed blood was firmly coagulated. The blood mingled with 
eau de luce coagulated much sooner, and became very dark. 
The blood mixed with the Cape antidote remained bright red, 
and did not coagulate. 
Experiment No. 20. 
A Fowl was bitten in the thigh by the same Cobra, now 
somewhat exhausted, at 4.44 p.m. 4.45.—Dead, with the usual 
symptoms. At 4.52 p.m. blood was drawn into three watch- 
glasses, a few drops in each. No. 1. Contained three drops of 
the Cape antidote in blood. No. 2. Four drops of eau de luce 
in blood. No. 3. Nothing but blood. These were placed aside, 
and watched for some hours. Nos. 1 and 2 remained fluid. 
No. 3 coagulated imperfectly. 
There are some apparent contradictions in these two experi¬ 
ments ; in the first the blood coagulated firmly when mixed 
with eau de luce. In the second it remained fluid. Had the 
shape of the vessel anything to do with it ? In the first it was 
deep and narrow ; in the second flat and shallow. I do not 
know that the results of experiments on the coagulability of the 
blood after death, under any circumstances, are of much import, 
but I record those as they were made. 
June Ath, 1870. 
Present, Drs. Fayrer, Chevers, and Ewart, and Mr. Sceva. 
Experiment No. 21. 
A small Pariah Dog was brought fully under the influence of 
alcohol; several ounces of brandy had been given, diluted with 
water, in divided doses during the morning. He was bitten in the 
thigh by a young one-third grown “ Gfokurrah,” at 3 p.m. The 
snake was with difficulty made to close its jaws, and the bite 
was doubtful. At 3.10.—No symptoms of poisoning. The Dog 
was bitten in the thigh by a “Keautiah” full-grown, and was very 
rapidly aflected by the poison, began to stagger; more brandy 
was administered. 3.15.—Dog convulsed. 3.16.—Dead. 
It has been suggested that persons in a state of intoxication 
from alcohol are less susceptible to snake poison, and that 
brandy administered to those bitten is useful. I have no 
doubt it is so to a certain extent; but this experiment seems 
to show that it can do but little in preventing the fatal effects 
of the poison on an animal at all events. 
Experiment No. 22. 
At 3.20 p.m. three drops of poison recently taken from the 
same “ Keautiah ” mentioned in the last experiment were put 
into a Fowl s mouth, being brought in contact with the lining 
membrane. 3.28.—Not aflected. 3.40.—Not affected. 3.56. 
Fowl is drowsy, eyes closed, crouching, cannot stand, resting 
the point ol the beak on the ground. 4.12.—More drowsy. 
4.20. Convulsed. 4.24. —■ Peculiar convulsion of neck. 
4.40.—Lies on its side, appears dying. 5.—Still alive, but 
completely paralysed. 5.20.—Violently convulsed. 5.43. 
Dead. 
Experiment No. 23. 
Half a drop of poison from the same “ Keautiah ” put into a 
Dog’s eye at 3.25 p.m. Immediate excitement resulted; the 
Dog began to rub the eye with his fore-foot with excessive 
lachrymation. The-eyelids began to swell and the conjunc¬ 
tiva to be chemosed. 3.28.—Eyelids much swollen. The 
Dog is evidently affected constitutionally, he is drowsy. 4 
p.m.— Eyelids swollen with great tension. The conjunctiva 
in a state of intense chemosis. Very drowsy. 4.12._Lies 
quiet. 4.40.—Dog was drowsy and partially paralysed; when 
raised on his legs he cannot stand, falls over. 4.45._Con¬ 
vulsed. 5.5.—Convulsed. 5.30.—Respiration ceased, heart’s 
action continuing, but irregularly. 5.34.—Dead—in two hours 
and nine minutes. 
This Dog had been taking liquor arsenicalis for some time 
before the poison was introduced : he was in excellent health 
and spirits at the time. The arsenic does not seem to have 
been in any way prophylactic. 
Experiment No. 24. 
About four drops of poison from the same “ Keautiah ” were 
diluted with four parts of water, and introduced into a Dog’s 
stomach at 3.50 p.m. No effect was manifested by 3.58, when 
about eight or ten drops of poison taken from a large “Gtokurrah” 
(Spectacled Cobra) were put into the Dog’s mouth, beino- 
dropped on to the tongue and roof of the mouth. 4.2._The 
Dog runs about uneasily and is restless, is evidently nauseated, 
tries to be sick. 4.8.—Retching violently. 4.11.—Vomited 
the contents of his stomach, followed by a quantity of frothy 
mucus. Mouth examined, no change apparent in the mucous 
membrane. 4.15.'—Involuntary defecation and micturition 
commencing; is very restless ; staggers; head rolling from side 
to side. 4.26.—In convulsions. 4.28.—Dead—in thirty-one 
minutes. The body was examined soon after death. The 
blood flowed freely from the heart and great vessels, and 
