11G 
THE THANAT0PH1DIA OF INDIA. 
formed into a peculiarly firm coagulum rapidly. The stomach 
and oesophagus laid open :—rugte of stomach deep pink, mucous 
surface of gullet quite blanched, tenacious and frothy mucus 
adhering to surface of stomach. 
The three last experiments quite settle the question of 
poisoning by absorption of the poison through a mucous sur¬ 
face. In all three animals death resulted rapidly, and with all 
the symptoms of snake-poisoning well marked. There could be 
no doubt of the absorption. The greatest care was taken not 
to abrade the surface, indeed nothing was done tnat could have 
abraded the surface ; and it was carefully noted at the time that 
no lesion had taken place. It must therefore be admitted 
that snake-poison may be absorbed through a mucous mem¬ 
brane, and that it is dangerous to apply it to the surface, and 
that the sucking of a Cobra bite might he followed by symp¬ 
toms of poisoning. This is quite contrary to hitherto expressed 
opinion, and confirms what I have observed and noted in pre¬ 
vious experiments. 
Experiment No. 25. 
The peritoneal cavity of a Fowl exposed by a small carefully 
made incision, no blood lost; a drop or two of “ Grokurrah poison 
then applied to the peritoneal surface at 3.58 p.m. The wound 
was closed and the Fowl released; it ran about for a moment or 
two and then began to droop. 3.58— Drooping, crouching, nod¬ 
ding its head, resting the beak on the ground. 4 p.m. —Symptoms 
increasing rapidly. Fowl convulsed and fallen over. 4.1.— 
Dead in eight minutes. This experiment proves that the 
peritoneum also absorbs the poison ; care was taken that the 
poison should not touch the slight wound; it was spread on the 
peritoneal surface. Symptoms of poisoning came on rapidly, 
and death occurred in eight minutes. This also tends to con¬ 
firm the absorption of the poison through an unbroken mem¬ 
brane. 
Experiment No. 26. 
A full-grown Pariah Dog was bitten in the thigh by the same 
“ Keautiah,” from which the poison had shortly before been ex¬ 
tracted at 4.43 p.m. Immediately after being bitten the exter¬ 
nal jugular vein was exposed, and one drachm of liquor potassse 
in two drachms of water was injected into the vein. No 
effect produced by the injection. 5 p.m.— Hind-legs weak; 
staggers ; restless ; lies down and rises again; defecation; falls 
over and is almost paralysed; tries to use legs, fails, and he falls 
over. Twenty drops of liquor potassse injected hypodermically 
into the thigh; thirty drops of eau de luce with water given 
by the mouth. Convulsed. 4.5.—Dead—in twenty-two minutes. 
In this case the liquor potassse seemed to accelerate the action 
of the noison. The snake must have been all but exhausted 
when he bit, for all the poison that could be got had been 
squeezed out of his glands not two hours before. There were 
no indications of poisoning for ten or twelve minutes after the 
bite, and it generally begins sooner than that; but the poison’s 
action having commenced its progress was fearfully rapid, death 
taking place in about twelve minutes after the first indication of 
poisoning presented itself. The liquor potassse may not have 
done any harm, but it certainly did no good. 
June 8 th, 1870. 
Present, Drs. Fayrer, J. Ewart, and J. Anderson, and Mr. Sceva. 
An Ophiophapus elap-s, nine feet six inches long, and seven 
inches in circumference, arrived from Bangoon yesterday. It 
seemed in good health, but sluggish and indisposed to bite, 
even when roused ; it is just about to cast its epidermis. 
Experiment No. 27. 
At 11.50 a Pariah Pup, one-fourtli grown, was bitten by the 
Ophiojohagus in the thigh, the snake being made to close its jaws 
on the part. 11.51.—The Dog much excited, hut apparently not 
in any pain. 11.52. —In a state of general tremor; defecation. 
11.55.— Fallen over paralysed. 11.56— Convulsed. 11.58. — 
Dead—in eight minutes. The body was examined soon after 
death. The blood coagulated in a minute and a half after 
removal from the great vessels, into a peculiarly firm clot. The 
Dog never gave the slightest indication of suffering; its death 
was very quiet and free from pain. 
Experiment No. 28. 
A full-grown Pariah Dog bitten on the thigh by the same 
Ophiophagus at 12 noon. The snake was made to close its jaws 
as before on the part. 12.2.—Staggers, being weak in the hind¬ 
leg. 12.4.—Standing up, but seems lethargic; head drooping ; 
no expression or sign of pain; when made to walk, does so with 
difficulty; limbs seem weak, or to be in a state of ataxy. 12.9.— 
In the same condition: breathing deep ; head drooping to the 
ground ; seems unconscious of anything; complete locomotor 
ataxy. 12.20.—Limbs now seem paralysed ; singular freedom 
from any expression or look of suffering. 12.26.—Slight con¬ 
vulsive movement of muscular system generally. 12.30.—Lies 
quite motionless ; expression of eye natural. 12.31.—Slight 
convulsions of muscular system generally. 12.34.—Involuntary 
discharges ; heart still beats ; no respiration ; convulsive waves 
over the whole body. 12.37.—Appears dead, but the heart still 
acts irregularly. 12.38.—Dead—in thirty-eight minutes. 
There was no salivation in either of these Dogs. The 
symptoms were like those of Cobra poisoning; if any difference, 
death was quieter, and free from suffering. Body examined 
after death: blood coagulated very firmly on removal from the 
body. The snake is about to shed its epidermis; it is sluggish, 
and may be sickly, but yet the poison was very active; however, 
so far as these two experiments show, it is not more active or 
fatal than that of a full-grown, vigorous Cobra. 
June Yitli. 
Present, Dr. Fayrer and Mr. Sceva. 
This morning the same Ophiophagus elaps was made to shed 
its poison into a shell by biting through a leaf stretched across 
the shell. The poison is a clear golden orange-coloured fluid, 
and the quantity must have been nearly half a drachm. The 
snake has just shed its epidermis ; it has not eaten for several 
days, but seemed tolerably well, though somewhat thin. It 
was handled by two men, one seizing it round the neck, the 
other by the body near the tail. It is very powerful, but they 
seemed to have no difficulty in controlling it. 
At noon I made the following experiments with the poison :— 
Experiment No. 29. 
Five drops of the poison were injected with the hypodermic 
syringe into a Dog’s thigh at 12.14 noon. 12.17.—The leg 
seems weak, partially paralysed; he walks with difficulty. 
12.22.—Sluggish, very weak in that hind-leg. 12.25.—Deep 
breathing, seems lethargic, lying down; no salivation, no 
appearance of distress; can walk when roused, but staggers and 
seems drowsy. 12.32.—Very lethargic, lying down; head fallen 
over. 12.34.—When roused can still walk with a tottering 
gait; lies down ; head falls over. 12.42.—Lying down; limbs 
convulsed. 12.43.—Involuntary micturition and defecation. 
12.48.—Heart beats still irregularly, but respiration has ceased. 
12.50. —Heart’s action still felt, but it is very slow and irregular. 
12.51. —Dead—in thirty-seven' minutes. 
There was in this, as in the other Dogs, no sign of suffering; 
a lethargy seemed gradually to steal over the animal until it 
became unconscious, and then a few convulsive movements 
preceded death. There was no salivation, as so generally occurs 
in Cobra poisoning. 
Experiment No. 30. 
Two or three drops of Ojjhiophagus poison were injected into a 
Fowl’s thigh at 12.16 p.m. 12.17.—Leg weak. 12.20.—Crouch- 
