130 
THE THANATOPHIDIA OF INDIA. 
specimens of Echis carinata, Bungarus cceruleus, and Naja 
tripudians; the latter are of the variety, or very near it, called 
by the snakemen in Bengal “ Koyah Gokurrah” (Spectacled 
Cobra). 
Experiment No. 1. 
An Echis carinata , twenty-three inches long by two inches 
and a half in girth, was made to bite a Pariah Dog in the thigh 
at 12,42 p.m. The snake bit with great ferocity, plunging in 
his long mobile fangs deeply. The Dog showed signs of pain. 
12.45.—The Dog is staggering; the bitten limb stretched out 
and powerless; the animal turns round and round. 12.49.— 
Sitting down; rises and is very restless. 12.54.—Getting 
weaker; staggers; nose resting on the ground. 1 p.m. — 
Fallen over on his side : limb seems painful and swollen, and 
ecchymosed about the bites. The local symptoms are indeed 
unusually severe. 2.30.—Much the same constitutionally, but 
the wounded limb is much swollen. 5.10.—The animal now 
lies quite paralysed ; the leg more swollen. 6.30.—Much the 
same ; salivated. 9.—Dying ; eyes half closed. 10.25.— 
Dead. 
The blood was removed from the great vessels, and it re¬ 
mained perfectly fluid. It was so when examined next morn¬ 
ing. Lungs not congested. 
The limb was one mass of black and infiltrated cellular tissue. 
There was not seen such severe local mischief from any other 
snake-bite. The Dog lived from 12.42 to 10.25 p.m., or nine 
hours forty-three minutes. 
Experiment No. 2. 
A large Krait ( Bungarus cceruleus), four feet in length, was 
bitten at 12.55 by an Echis carinata, twenty-two inches long 
and two and a quarter in girth, in the muscular part of the 
body in two places. The Echis was fresh and very fierce; blood 
was drawn from the Krait; no symptoms of poisoning followed. 
The Krait was perfectly well on the 8th, next day; 9th, still 
quite well. 
Experiment No. 3. 
A Cobra (“ Tentuliah Keautiah”), three feet eight inches in 
length, the same that was bitten some days ago by the Bungarus 
cceruleus, and has not suffered, was bitten at 1 p.m. by a fresh 
Echis, twenty-three inches long; no effect apparent on this day. 
September 8tli, 1 p.m.— The Cobra is now evidently affected; 
it is sluggish ; the snake men say it will die ; it moves slowly; 
does not expand its hood, and does not try to strike. 6.30.— 
Verv sluggish. 8.—Dead—in about thirty hours. There can 
be no doubt, I think, that the Cobra died of the poison. 
Experiment No. 4. 
A small Btyas mucosus (“Dhamin”), an innocent snake about 
two feet long, was bitten by a Bungarus cceruleus, forty-two 
inches and a half long, just come from Delhi, in the muscles of 
the back at 1.8 p.m. ; blood drawn. 2.30.—Sluggish; has lost 
all its vivacity. 8.25.—Found dead. 
September 8 th. 
Present, Dr. Fayrer and Baboo Kany Ball Dey, Assistant 
Professor of Chemistry. 
Experiment No. 5. 
A Fowl two-thirds grown was bitten by an Echis carinata, 
twenty-three inches long, in the thigh at 12.23 p.m, 12.24.—- 
In violent convulsions. 12.25.—Dead—in two minutes. 
The limb already swollen and ecchymosed. Blood remained 
fluid, but in half an hour formed a partial coagulum. I have 
observed this before in Fowls killed by Dciboia, though as a 
general rule the blood of Birds as well as of Mammals remains 
fluid after death from viperiue poison. 
Experiment No. 6. 
A young Dog was bitten in the thigh by an Echis, full- 
grown, at 12.27. The snake bit fiercely. The Dog seemed to 
feel it severely at the time, and for some time after it howled 
loudly. The bitten leg was rendered powerless almost imme¬ 
diately. 12.30.-—Lying down; seems depressed but not in 
pain ; is very weak in the hind-quarters; staggers as he walks ; 
is quite conscious; the bitten leg is swelled. 1.33.—Lying 
quiet, but does not seem much affected constitutionally; the 
limb is quite useless. 1.55.—Staggers on three legs, but does 
not seem otherwise much affected. September 9th, 8 a.m.— 
The limb is very much swollen and ecchymosed, but the Dog 
does not appear to suffer otherwise. 8.12.—Very restless; 
leg much swollen; ecchymosed. 10.5.—Convulsed. 10.55.— 
Dead ; the limb and great part of the body infiltrated and 
ecchymosed ; decomposition setting in ; blood removed from the 
body remained perfectly fluid after death. 
Experiment No. 7. 
A Delhi Cobra, about four feet long, bit a Dog in the thigh 
at 12.32. 12.33.—The Dog seems to feel pain; it howls; 
bitten leg paralysed. 1.2.42.—In convulsions. 12.44.— 
Paralysed. 12.46.—Bespiration ceased; heart still beats. 
12.47.—Dead—in fifteen minutes. 
Blood taken from right ventricle, which was distended, 
formed a firm clot in a few minutes. Lung not at all congested. 
The poison of this snake was very active. 
Experiment No. S. 
A Fowl was bitten in the thigh by an Echis at 12.37; lame 
immediately. 12.38.—Crouching; rises, and falls over in con¬ 
vulsions ; no appearance of lethargy as in Cobra poisoning of 
Fowls. 12.40.—Dead—in three minutes. 
Blood removed from the body remained perfectly fluid; in 
the other case the blood coagulated. 
Experiment No. 9. 
A Fowl bitten in the thigh by a Delhi Cobra at 12.41.— 
Limps; leg partially paralysed; feathers staring; crouches. 
12.43.—Head falls over; it cannot stand; rests the point of 
the beak on the ground in the usual state of lethargy observed 
in Fowls so poisoned. 12.45.—Convulsed. 12.46.—Dead—in 
five minutes. 
Blood examined ; coagulated firmly after death. 
Experiment No. 10. 
An Echis was made to bite through a piece of paper, stretched 
across a mussel shell. About a quarter of a drop of clear watery- 
looking fluid was obtained. This was diluted with five drops 
of water, and then with the hypodermic syringe injected into 
a Fowl’s thigh at 1 p.m. 1.4. — Very lame on that leg; looks 
wild and scared; runs about. 1.6.—Has fallen over; but its 
eyes are bright and it is perfectly conscious. 1.7.—Tries to 
rise and run; falls over ; limb is either paralysed or all power 
of muscular co-ordination is gone. 1.8.—Begins to look 
lethargic, as in Cobra poisoning; head nods ; point of beak 
rests on ground. 1.9.—Violently convulsed. 1.10.—Dead- 
in ten minutes. 
This experiment proves the very active nature of the Echis 
poison. The quantity was exceedingly small—certainly not 
more than a quarter of a drop; it seemed in the shell a mere 
speck, and it was diluted with five full drops of water, or twenty 
parts at least. It took effect almost immediately and killed in 
ten minutes. The blood examined after death was very dark at 
first, but became red on exposure to the air, and remained per¬ 
manently fluid. This experiment is remarkable when contrasted 
with the next. 
