EXPERIMENTS ON THE INFLUENCE OF SNAKE-POISON. 
149 
some months without undergoing any change, but after a 
certain time it decomposes. 
“ Luring decomposition it gives off a quantity of gas, which 
has been ascertained by Dr. Armstrong to be carbonic anhydride, 
and at the same time acquires a dark brown colour and a dis- 
agieeable odour. The dried poison may be kept for a much 
longer time without undergoing any apparent change. 
I he chemical constitution of the poison has been examined 
by Dr. Armstrong.* He has not been able to separate from it 
any crystalline principle. It is partially coagulated by heat; 
mineral acids produce in it a gelatinous precipitate; absolute 
alcohol throws down a white gelatinous precipitate; a drop of 
it evaporated with a little sulphate of copper solution and then 
treated with caustic potash gives a violet coloration. These 
reactions show that the chief constituent of the poison is an 
albuminoid body. On an ultimate analysis being made, very 
little difference was found to exist between the fresh poison, the 
alcoholic precipitate, and the alcoholic extract. This is the 
only ultimate analysis of the poison of any snake which has 
yet been made, so far as we know. We quote the results of it, 
and give the composition of albumen for comparison, f 
Crude Poison. 
Alcoholic 
precipitate. 
Alcoholic 
extract. 
Albumen. 
Carbon, 43’55 .... 
45-76 
43-04 
53-5 
Nitrogen, 43’30 . . . 
14-30 
12-45 
15-7 
Hydrogen . 
6-60 
7- 
71 
Sulphur. 
2-5 
Ash. 
traces. 
“We have recently received from Bengal some Cobra poison 
dried and in appearance resembling dried gum. On this we 
hope to report on a future occasion. 
“ Although there is little difference between the composition 
of the alcoholic precipitate and extract, there is an immense 
difference between their physiological actions, the extract being 
a virulent poison and the precipitate almost inert. It is to be 
observed that the poison examined by Dr. Armstrong had 
already begun to undergo decomposition; but if it should be 
found by further experiments that the properties of the extract 
and precipitate from perfectly fresh Cobra poison are the same 
as those of the poison he used, it will form a notable distinction 
between the poison of the Cobra and that of the Rattlesnake. 
The precipitate thrown down by alcohol from the poison of the 
Rattlesnake has been ascertained to be active, while the 
alcoholic extract is inert (vide Weir Mitchell, ‘ Physiology and 
Toxicology of the Venom of the Rattlesnake,’ Smithsonian 
Contributions, 1860, p. 36). 
“ We have experimented on four different samples of poison 
sent from Bengal. The first was originally a clear transparent 
fluid; but after keeping it decomposed and became almost 
black, as already described. It retained its fluidity and activity 
to the last. The third sample was of a light-brown colour, 
quite solid, and resembling dry hard cheese in its consistency. 
The second and fourth consisted of a clear, thin, transparent 
fluid and a white curdy precipitate. None of these specimens 
had the same activity as the first; they produced similar 
symptoms, but much less marked. 
Effects of the Poison. 
“ The local effects of the poison are partial paralysis of the 
bitten part, occasionally pain in it, ecchymosis around the 
spot where the poison has been introduced, and sometimes in 
* See Appendix No. YII. 
f “Dr. Armstrong in his analysis does not appear to have arrived at the same 
conclusions as the Prince of Oanino (L. Buonaparte), who detected the presence of 
a peculiar principle perhaps allied to ptyaline, to which he gave the name Echidnine 
or Yiperine, in addition to fatty matter, salts, albuminous and mucous substance. 
It has been suggested by Prof. Bust (vide Holmes’s ‘ System of Surgery,’ vol. v. 
p. 941) that the venom may reside in a principle analogous to, though differing 
from, ptyaline. We would not, however, regard Dr. Armstrong’s analysis as con¬ 
clusive, but hope to have the result of further examination of larger quantities of 
the virus.” 
other and distant parts, and, if the animal survives for some 
hours, infiltration and perhaps incipient decomposition of the 
tissues and haemorrhagic discharge. 
“ The general symptoms are depression, faintness, hurried 
respiration and exhaustion, lethargy, nausea, and vomitino- 
O * 
In Gruinea-pigs and Rabbits peculiar twitching movements 
occur, which seem to represent vomiting in them, and occasion¬ 
ally, in fact, Gruinea-pigs do vomit. Dogs vomit, are salivated, 
and present an appearance as if the hair had all been rubbed 
the wrong way, 1 staring.’ As the poisoning proceeds 
paralysis appears, sometimes affecting the hind legs first and 
seeming to creep up the body, and -sometimes affecting the 
whole animal nearly at the same time. There is loss of 
co-ordinating power of the muscles of locomotion. 
“ Haemorrhage, relaxation of the sphincters, and involuntary 
evacuations, not unfrequently of a sanguineous or muco-san- 
guineous character, often precede death, and it is generally 
accompanied by convulsions. 
“In Fowls the appearance is one of extreme drowsiness; the 
head falls forwards, rests on the beak, and gradually the bird, 
no longer able to support itself, rolls over on its side. There 
are irequent startings, as if of sudden awaking from the drowsy 
state.* 
The effects of the poison upon Dogs, Gruinea-pigs, and 
Rabbits are illustrated by the following experiments. 
“ The poison which was first sent home and still remained 
perfectly liquid, but had become of a dark brown, almost 
black colour, and somewhat inspissated, was used. 
Experiment No. 1. 
“ 1.30.—Three drops of this, diluted with water, were injected 
into the flank of a small Dog. Immediately after the injection 
the corresponding leg was drawn up, partially paralysed. 1.32.— 
He walks less steadily. Tail rigidly held out. 1.35.—Is rest¬ 
less and -whining. Walks about and then sits down again. 
Walks unsteadily. 1.45.—There are distinct muscular twitches 
in the shoulder. General tremor. 1.47.—There are twitching 
movements of the back. 2.8.—Has been standing perfectly 
still. Is now pawing and licking his lips. Vomits. 2.10._ 
Vomits again, but licks up part of what he had ejected. 2.22. 
—Has been continually vomiting. The ejection consisted at 
fii st of food, afterwards of tenacious mucus. He now lies down 
apparently exhausted. He is still trying to vomit, but can 
bring nothing up. He tries to rise, but cannot. Convulsive 
struggles occur. 2.25.—Breathing has ceased, but the cornea 
is still sensitive. Convulsive attempts to vomit. 2.27._ 
Cornea insensible. Heart is still beating strongly. Death 
soon followed. 
Experiment No. 2. 
‘ A- J°ung Babbit, weighing 900 grammes, was used. An in¬ 
cision had been previously made through the skin of the neck 
and the wound again sewn up, but the animal was otherwise 
uninjured. The two drops of Cobra poison, weighing 12 centi¬ 
grammes, were diluted with 1 cubic centimetre of water. At 
4.6 the diluted poison was injected under the skin of the left 
hip. 4.7. Washed out the watch-glass in which the poison 
had been placed with water, and injected it under the skin of 
the back. The animal sat quiet after the injection, occasionally 
licking its fore-paws. 8' 30".—Respiration seems hurried. 
The Rabbit occasionally makes a jerking motion with its hind 
feet. 104—Has been restless, running about, occasionally 
licking its fore-feet. 13' 30".—Still very restless, and when 
held makes convulsive efforts to get away. Ears are much con¬ 
gested. 17'.—The animal is now quiet. Its ears are no longer 
* “ I n cases w l le re the quantity of poison injected is large, and it is at the same 
time very active, the bitten animal small and weak, or if inoculation has taken 
place into a large vein, death is almost sudden, as if it were from shock. In such 
cases the cardiac ganglia are also probably paralysed; at all events the heart 
suddenly ceases to beat.” 
