148 
THE TH AN A TO PHI DIA OF INDIA. 
terrible rapidity when the injection of tbe poison takes place 
into a large vein like the crural or jugular. But we have not 
yet arrived at absolute conclusions as to the extent to which 
this neurotic action is carried, whether it be localized in the 
nerve-centres only, or whether there be, and to what extent, 
any action on other poi'tions of the nerve-apparatus. 
“ Our experiments so far, though pointing distinctly to the 
centres as the seat of its action, in some cases seem to imply 
that the nerve-periphery and perhaps even the muscles them¬ 
selves are involved ; but on this head, for the present, we 
reserve the expression of a positive opinion. 
“ With reference to remedial measures in Cobra poisoning, we 
would remark that, so far as our experiments have as yet gone, 
artificial respiration has certainly had the effect of prolonging 
life ; and without committing ourselves to any opinion, we 
would say that we would not yet abandon hope that it may, as 
in the case of the Curara, even save it altogether. This must of 
course depend on, first, the nature of the action of the poison 
on the nerve-apparatus—that is, whether it be of a transient or 
permanent character. Is it, for example, like Curara, which 
though it destroys the power of the peripheral extremity of the 
motor nerves during its presence, yet leaves them uninjured and 
capable of resuming their functions after the poison is removed 
(as it may be) by elimination, life being supported by artificial 
respiration during that process ? 
“ If so, and the Cobra poison, even though antagonistic and 
annihilative of the action of the nerve-centres and peripheral 
distribution, or of the muscular irritability itself, be only so 
whilst it is present, and would, if removed within reasonable 
time, leave the nervous apparatus or muscles in a condition to 
resume their operations, then, if elimination could be carried on 
whilst respiration is artificially sustained, we might hope to 
succeed eventually in Cobra as in Curara poisoning. 
“ Or could we, indeed, conceive of and find any agent so subtle 
as to overtake and neutralize the virus whilst it is in the 
system, and before it should have compromised the nerve- 
centres or other parts, then we should have the antidote which 
has been so long sought for, but yet, we fear, not found.* We 
do not now wish to speak of the action of the Cobra virus as it 
operates secondarily on the blood, either in those cases where 
great vigour of the animal or smallness of the dose have 
enabled the creature to resist the immediate and deadly 
neurotic effects of the poison. Such cases are to be classed 
among other septiciemise, and are apart from that we are now 
discussing. 
“ The question resolves itself into three points of inquiry -.— 
“ 1st. Is the nature of the virus such that w T e may hope to 
find any agent that may overtake, neutralize, and so render it 
(the virus) harmless or inert ? 
“2nd. Does the virus exert only a temporarilypernicious action 
on the ultimate structure of the nerve-centres or other parts of 
the nerve-apparatus ? i.e., is it only inhibitory or hurtful during 
its presence in the blood, but if removed would leave the nerve- 
apparatus in a condition to resume its functions (such is Curara), 
or does it enter into some permanent composition or union with 
the nerve-elements ? or, 3rd, does it so modify their arrange¬ 
ments as to render them permanently incapable of resuming 
their functions, even after the poison has been eliminated, if it 
may be so removed, as we know other poisons may ? Such, we 
fear, may be snake-poison ! 
“ If the first proposition be correct, then in some subtle 
chemical agent, or, if the second, in artificial respiration and 
eliminant action, we may have hope of success. 
* “ Fontana thought he had discovered such an agent in the ‘ pierre a cautere’ 
(caustic potash) . He says of it: — ‘ Mais on ne peut point douter cependant de l’effica- 
cite de ce remede, et on peut affirruer que la pierre a cautere est le vrai specifique de 
ce terrible venin.’— Sur les Poisons, p. 324 (Florence, 1781).” 
“ This agent has been tried in India, but has not proved of any service in cobra¬ 
poisoning.” 
“ If the third, what chance have we beyond that of sustaining 
life as long as artificial respiration be maintained ? for if the 
nerve-apparatus be permanently injured, no resumption of its 
functions can take place. Whichever of these propositions be 
nearest the truth, there must still be a condition in which, from 
the smallness of the quantity of virus inoculated, recovery is 
possible—one in which the full lethal effect of the virus is not 
produced. In such cases, no doubt, remedial measures may be 
of avail. 
“ The results of investigations in India have led to the con¬ 
clusion, then, that death is brought about by the action of the 
poison on the cerebro-spinal nerve-centres, paralysing them, 
and in some cases, where the quantity of virus was large and 
introduced into the circulation through the medium of a large 
vein, acting directly on the ganglia of the heart, causing arrest 
of its action. In those cases where the quantity of virus 
inoculated is smaller and of less intensity, according to the 
condition of the snake or its species (the poison of some genera 
being less active than that of others), secondary changes, though 
of what precise kind we are not yet prepared to say, occur in 
the blood itself, but allied in character to that of other blood- 
poisons and probably of a zymotic nature. We would merely 
for the present remark that, in the first class of cases, we believe 
that remedies or means of treatment other than those which 
may be of a preventive character are as yet of no avail, whilst 
in the second it is probable that they may be of some efficacy. 
So far we believe little more has been done than to go over 
ground that has already been traversed by previous observers, 
who have come to similar conclusions that most of the reputed 
antidotes have been powerless, and that where there has been an 
appearance of success, it has depended not on any antidotal or 
antagonistic action of the remedy so much as on the fact that 
the quantity or quality of the poison was defective ; and how 
this may be explained, Dr. Fayrer has endeavoured to prove by 
showing that the snake may have been exhausted, that its 
poison may be deficient in quantity or in quality, or that it 
may have wounded without inoculating sufficient of the poison 
to cause death, or more than to cause slight poisoning, and 
probably that, by a sphincteral arrangement of fibres, as pointed 
out by Dr. Weir Mitchell to exist in the rattlesnake, the snake 
may have the power of imbedding its fangs without shedding 
its poison at all. 
“ Much virtue has been recently attributed to one of the 
oldest and most trusted of all antidotes — ammonia ; but it was 
long ago shown by Fontana* by repeated experiments that the 
injection of this agent into the veins as well as its internal 
administration and external application, were powerless (as may 
be seen by reference to the followingf pages of his works), so it 
has proved in all the experiments made with it in India. Any 
complete and satisfactory means of resisting, antagonizing, or 
eliminating the poison and of saving life are, we fear, still 
unknown; and it is in the hope that by determining the 
physiological action of the poison we may make some advance 
in our knowledge of this important subject, that the following 
investigations have been undertaken with Cobra virus sent to 
us from Bengal, and of which we hope to receive continued 
supplies from Mr. Vincent Richards, of Balasore, who, at our 
request, is also carrying on a series of experiments on the 
subject. 
Appearance and Chemical Characters of Cobra JPoison. 
“ The poison when fresh is a transparent, almost colourless 
fluid, of a somewhat sirupy consistence, and not unlike glycerine 
in its appearance. When quickly dried it forms a transparent 
mass of a yellowish-brown colour, and resembling some kinds 
of gum-arabic. The poison may be kept in a fluid state for 
* See Appendix Ho. IX. 
f “ Traite sur le venin de la Yipere,” vol. i. pp. 108, 109, 118, 120, 124, 129 
vol. ii. pp. 5, 6, 7 (Florence, 1781), “ Opusculi Scientifici,” Letter IY. pp. 125 et seq. 
