144 
THE THANATOPHIDIA OF INDIA. 
Experiment No. 15. 
The fangs were removed from a Cobra on the 15th October, 
1870 ; the same precautions were observed as in the former case; 
new fangs were in their place on the 15th November, or in 
thirty-one days. 
Experiment No. 16. 
The fanns were removed from a Cobra on the 31st of October, 
O 
1870; the same precautions were observed— i.e., they were 
drawn out by a pair of forceps ; on the 18th of November new 
fangs were in their place, small hut perfectly effective. 
Experiment No. 17. 
The fangs were removed in the same way from a small Cobra 
on the 31st October. On the 18th November new fangs were 
in their place, and effective. 
Experiments by Mr. V. Richards. 
October 17th.—Black and white Cobras casting their skins. 
November 10th.—Again casting their skins. 
December 7th.—Ditto. 
October 17th .—Bung arm cceruleus ( f ‘Krait”) casting its 
skin. 
November 17th.—Again casting its skin. 
The fangs of a Cobra and those of a Krait were removed on 
O 
the 19th October, 1870. On the 12tli of December they had 
been replaced by new fangs. A few days previously the new 
fangs had not appeared. 
Mr. Richards says that he finds by experiment that the 
Cobra changes its epidermis about once a month. 
TWENTY-EIGHTTI SERIES. 
On Ipecacuanha as an Antidote in Snake-Poisoning. 
I have received the following quotation* and letter from Pro¬ 
fessor Sir R. Christison, of Edinburgh :— 
“Inter molestias tandem ope radieis [ipecacuanhas] debellandas acerrima ilia ex 
morsu serpentum venenatorum orta nobis nnmeranda est. Jam Piso magnas ei 
virtntes tribuit antidotales, quas nos qnidem ipsi nnnqnam experti sumus, sed 
diversornm dictis comprobatas babemus, qni lassos illius cnm aquatritae dosi maxima 
(ad uncias dnas usque) uno haustu sumta, copia muci ftecumque incredibili utraque 
via emittendo, morti ereptos esse prsedicaverunt.”— P. 8. 
“ Edinburgh, January 12th, 1871. 
“Mr dear Dr. Fayrer, —In the course of a recent literary 
excursion on the subject of ipecacuanha, I have fallen in with the 
above statement by an author of the highest authority as a bo¬ 
tanical traveller. You will take the statement, however, not as the 
scientific estimation of the man would rule, but according to 
what may be the result of actual trial, should you deem 
it right that the trial be made. I think it probable you will, 
although I also think it probable you will consign ipecacuanha 
to the same destiny to which you have already successfully con¬ 
demned various myths as to the cure of serpent-bites. I have 
long and constantly observed that whenever a native remedy 
for snake-bite has undergone the searching observation of a 
scientific traveller in the country or district where it was con¬ 
fided in, the remedy proved of no avail. But it may be said ot 
ipecacuanha, that it is by no means, like most reputed antidotes 
for snake-bite, an inert substance, and the enormous dose 
which is recommended ought to affect the constitution power¬ 
fully one way or another. Orfila could not kill animals with 
ipecacuanha, because they vomited it, but dogs were killed with 
doses of its alkaloid — emetia — much under the quantity 
existing in two ounces of the root. 
“ Yours, 
“ R. Christison.” 
* Extract from Yon Martins’ “ Specimen Materi® Medic® Brasiliensis. 
Munich. 1824. 
With reference to the above, the following experiments were 
made at my request by Mr. Y. Richards. They appear 
tolerably conclusive;— 
February 24 th, 1870. 
Experiment No. 1. 
A middling-sized though full-grown Pariah Dog was bitten 
in the thigh by a fine fresh Spectacled Cobra [N. tripudians ) at 
10.50. a.m. 10.57.—Two drachms of powdered ipecacuanha 
administered with a great deal of trouble. 11.5.—Foaming 
at the mouth, breathing hard, and is very restless. 11.7.— 
Becoming sluggish. 11.8.—Two drachms of powdered ipeca¬ 
cuanha administered. 11.10.—Retching most violently; passes 
faeces of a very black colour. 11.14.—Extremely distressed, 
cannot stand, and is moaning constantly. 11.17.—Dyspnoea. 
The animal appears perfectly exhausted. 11.18.—Convulsed. 
11.26.—Died—in thirty-six minutes. 
The ipecacuanha had not the slighest antidotal effect, but, 
on the contrary, apparently hastened death by its depressing 
influence. 
Experiment No. 2. 
A small Pariah Dog was bitten by the same Cobra at 
10.59 a.m. 11.3.—One drachm of powdered ipecacuanha ad¬ 
ministered. 11.6.—Foaming at the mouth. 11.16.—Sluggish, 
and is lying down. 11.19.-—One drachm of powdered ipeca¬ 
cuanha administered. 11.20.—Passes faeces of a blackish 
colour, but is not purged. 11.22.—Appears very much 
exhausted, and is lying down. Dyspnoea extreme. 11.27.—• 
I was about to administer another dose of the ipecacuanha 
when the Dog became convulsed. 11.30.—Died—in thirty-one 
minutes. 
In this instance there was no retching. The ipecacuanha 
apparently had not the slightest antidotal influence. Pros- 
stration was extreme from 11.22. 
The blood in both instances as usual coagulated firmly after 
withdrawal from the body. 
February 25 th. 
Experiment No. 3. 
An Ox was bitten by the Cobra used in the two foregoing 
experiments at 2.16 p.m. 
The wound bled a great deal, but I noticed some of the poison 
was left on the skin near the wound. I believe the bite was 
a doubtful one. 2.25. — One ounce of powdered ipecacuanha 
administered. 2.29.—Is standing up and grazing; defecated; 
faeces normal. 3.20. — Apparently slightly affected; one 
ounce of powdered ipecacuanha administered. 3.34.— In the 
same state. 3.45.—Is up and grazing. 4.30.—In the same 
state; one ounce of powdered ipecacuanha administered. 
4.40. — Bitten again by the same Cobra. The snake held 
on most tenaciously for some time. The poison must nearly 
be exhausted. 4.55. — Half an ounce of powdered ipecacuanha 
administered. 5.54.—Appears pretty well. Half an ounce of 
powdered ipecacuanha administered. 
February 26th, 8 a.m. — Appears pretty well, and is grazing. 
2.20 p.m. — One ounce of powdered ipecacuanha again ad¬ 
ministered. 
This makes five ounces and a half of ipecacuanha the animal 
has taken in the twenty-four hours. There is neither vomiting 
nor purging, but some amount of salivation. 
February 27th, 8 a.m. — There does not appear to be much 
the matter with the animal, for he is up and grazing; defecated ; 
faeces very black. 1 p.m. —Appears to be affected by the poison; 
endeavoured to get up, but fell over on his side, in which 
position he remains; one ounce of powdered ipecacuanha 
administered. 1.30 p.m. — Still lying on his side, and appears 
