EXPERIMENTS ON THE INFLUENCE OF SNAKE-POISON. 
145 
very sluggish ; temperature 10O 0, 7. 2 p.m. —Convulsed. 2.50.— 
Breathing very rapidly; temperature 103°'3. 3.25.—Dead— 
in forty-nine hours nine minutes. 
This experiment proves most conclusively that ipecacuanha 
is not of the slightest use, for had it possessed any antidotal 
power it must have been made manifest in this instance, 
where a large animal was not only operated on, but much of the 
venomous power of the snake must have been expended in 
biting the two Dogs. 
TWENTY-NINTH SERIES. 
Experiments on the immediate Application of a mixture of two 
parts of Carbolic Acid with one of Alcohol, and on the 
injection of Quinine into a Vein, in the Treatment of Snake¬ 
poisoning. 
August 24th, 1871. 
Experiment No. 1. 
A Pariah Dog was bitten by a Cobra at 3 p.m. A mixture 
of two parts of carbolic acid and one of alcohol was at once 
rubbed into the bitten part, and to insure its being well applied 
the fang punctures were cut through, and more carbolic acid 
applied. 
3.13 p.m.—I s whining and restless, trying to get away; 
breathing very rapidly ; is evidently affected. 3.30.—Is very 
sluggish. 3.35.—Convulsed. 3.45.—Convulsions increasing. 
3.50.—Dead—in fifty minutes. 
August 25 th. 
Experiment No. 2. 
A large hut weak Pariah Dog was bitten by a Cobra, one 
that had been used on the 24th, at 3.37 p.m. 
The mixture of carbolic acid and spirit was immediately 
applied, and well rubbed in. The bitten part was also well 
scarified, and the carbolic acid again frequently applied. 
3.40 p.m.—A ppears restless. 4.48.-—Became very drowsy; 
salivated; retching constantly. 5.25.—Convulsed; the con¬ 
vulsions became very severe. 5.27-—Defecation natural; mic¬ 
turition. 5.29.—Gasping. 5.30.—Dead—in one hour and 
fifty-three minutes. 
Experiment No. 3. 
A very large and strong Pariah Dog was bitten by a small 
Cobra at 3.46 p.m. The mixture of carbolic acid and alcohol 
was immediately thoroughly applied. About five drops of the 
mixture was also hypodermically, near the bite, injected. 
No symptoms appeared up to 5.15 p.m., when the Dog became 
slightly drowsy. I attribute this to the small size of the Cobra 
on the one hand, and the strength and size of the Dog on the 
other. 
6.50 p.m.—I s lying down and vomiting most violently. It 
has been vomiting for the past half-hour. 7.15. — Is retching 
most violently. 9.—Is very much exhausted. 10.—Is con¬ 
vulsed. 
This Dog died during the night, probably about 12—eight 
hours and fourteen minutes after being bitten. 
Experiment No. 4. 
A small Pariah Bitch was bitten by a Cobra at 3.53 p.m. 
The mixture of carbolic acid and alcohol was thoroughly 
applied at once. 
3.59 p.m.—B ecame drowsy, and then convulsed. 4.8.—Vomit¬ 
ing violently. 4.15.—Has been vomiting constantly a white 
frothy mucus. 4.30.—Breathing laboriously. 4.40.—Con¬ 
vulsions very severe. 4.54.—Dead—in one hour and one 
minute. 
I am indebted to Mr. V. Richards for the following Experi¬ 
ments, made to ascertain the value of the injection of quinine 
into a vein in the treatment of Snake-poisoning:— 
August 24 th, 1871. 
Experiment No. 5. 
A Pariah Dog was bitten by a Cobra at 1.14 p.m. 
1.23 p.m.— Ten grains of quinine made into a solution with 
very dilute sulphuric acid was injected into the right femoral 
vein. 
1.30 p.m. —Is lying down; the head jactitates at intervals, 
but the animal is sensible. 1.33. — -Convulsed; defecated. 
1.35.— Dead— in twenty-one minutes. 
Experiment No. 6. 
When the Dog was bitten it died so rapidly that there was 
no time to do anything. 
Experiment No. 7. 
Another Pariah Dog was bitten by a Cobra at 1.53 p.m. 
2.5 p.m.— Injected a fifteen-grain solution of quinine into 
the left femoral vein. 2.10.— Vomiting and purging most 
violently. 2.15, — Is restless. 2.20. — Constantly retching. 
2.25.—Vomiting. 2.27. — Is extremely restless, and breathing 
laboriously. 2.30.—Is lying down ; salivation. 2.35.—Con¬ 
vulsed, 2.45.—Dead — in fifty-two minutes. 
Experiment No. 8. 
A Pariah Dog was bitten by a Cobra at 2.35 p.m. 2.40. — 
Injected a seven-grain solution of quinine into the right femoral 
vein. 
2.53.—Breathing rapidly, and is salivated. 2.56. — Defeca¬ 
tion. 3.—Vomited; very much salivated. 3.2. — Is very 
restless. 3.5. — Has just fallen over, and is convulsed. 3.10.— 
Is still convulsed, and breathing laboriously. 3.21.—Dead — in 
forty-six minutes. 
August 25 th. 
Experiment No. 9. 
A strong healthy Pariah Dog was bitten by the Cobra used 
in Experiment No. 2 of yesterday, at 3.20 p.m. 
3 28.—A twenty-grain solution of quinine was injected into 
the left femoral vein. 3.30.-—Foaming at the mouth. Defeca¬ 
tion and micturition. Quickly became convulsed. 3.34. — 
Dead—in fourteen minutes. 
It will he observed by the foregoing experiments that the 
injection of quinine into a vein for snake-bite is useless. 
The snake used in this experiment was a remarkably deadly 
one, its poison was very active. 
THIRTIETH SERIES. 
Experiments on Cobra Poison, and on reputed Antidotes. 
November '6th, 1872. 
Present, Dr. Forbes Watson, Dr. Fayrer, Dr. J. Lauder 
Brunton, and Mr. Higgins. 
At Dr. Forbes Watson’s request, the following experiments 
were made in the chemical laboratory of St. Bartholomew’s, by 
the kind permission of Dr. Russell, Professor of Chemistry. 
The poison used was some that I sent to England nearly a 
year ago. It had become much altered, and is of a dark brown 
syrupy consistence, and very fetid from decomposition; it had 
proved itself in some former experiments to be active :_ 
Experiment No. 1. 
Two Pigeons were first experimented on. A diluted solution 
of the poison—about one or two drops in 20 drops of water—■ 
was injected into the thigh of each. 
The first bird injected showed symptoms of the poison in 
about three or four minutes, and died with the usual symptoms 
in about seven minutes. 
The second, a more lively bird, was injected in the same 
