150 
THE THANATOPHIDTA OF INDIA. 
congested. About 20'.—Quiet, with occasional starts. Dis¬ 
inclined to move, but can walk quite well. 25'.—Movements 
seem difficult, and bind-legs seem weak when it tries to walk. 
20'.—Paralysis of bind-feet is increasing. 26' 15".—The Rabbit 
lays its head down on the table. 28'.—When laid on its side 
it merely makes a few slight movements with its fore-paws and 
then lies still. The eyes remain in a half-closed condition, and 
have done so for some time. When the cornea is touched the 
head gives a jerk, but the eyelids move very little. Respiration 
slow and laboured. 4.30.—The chin is twitched inwards, the 
sternum once or twice, the hind-feet at the same time being 
twitched backwards. The eyes open widely. Slight convulsive 
extension of limbs. 4.31.—Respiration has stopped, cornea is 
insensible; thorax opened immediately. There were large 
extravasations of blood under the skin of abdomen and thorax, 
and under the skin of the left hip. Heart beating vigorously. 
The muscles contracted on direct irritation. The foot twitched 
when the sciatic nerve was exposed and irritated by an inter¬ 
rupted current. The peristaltic movements of the intestine 
were active after the abdomen was opened. 
Experiment No. 3. 
“ Dissolved 5 milligrammes of dried Cobra poison which had 
collected round the stopper of the bottle containing it in 1J cubic 
centimetre of water, and injected it under the skin of the left 
hip of a Guinea-pig, weighing 790 grammes. In three-quarters 
of a minute after the injection the animal became restless and 
uneasy, and began to cry. \\ minute it began to give little 
starts. 3J'.—The starting motions became greater, the hind¬ 
quarters of the animal being jerked upwards, and the chin 
drawn in towards the body; continues to cry. 4p.—Passes 
water. 7'.—Less restless. 15'.-—Washed out the watch-glass 
in which the Cobra poison had been placed with about half a 
cubic centimetre of water, and injected it as before. Imme¬ 
diately afterwards the restlessness increased. 24'.—Seems to 
be trying to vomit. 27'.—It cannot walk rightly. 28'.—The 
hind-legs are paralysed and spread out laterally from beneath 
it. 29'.—Respiration very slow and deep. The animal lies 
quiet, but convulsive twitches of the limb follow almost every 
respiration. Respirations, 8 in half a minute. 30'.—Cornea 
insensible. Respiration has ceased. Post-mortem examination 
made immediately. The left ventricle was much dilated, the 
rio-lit ventricle empty. There were two beats of the left auricle 
for every one of the ventricle, and the ventricular beat was 
weak and imperfect. 
Experiment No. 4. 
“ Dissolved 1 centigramme of a substance like gum, and 
labelled “ alcoholic extract of Cobra poison,” in 1 cubic centi¬ 
metre of water. It dissolved easily and formed a somewhat 
opalescent solution. Injected about one-third of this (equal to 3J 
milligrammes of the dried extract) under the skin of the thigh 
of a Rabbit weighing about a kilogramme. Four minutes after 
the injection there was no apparent effect; so a similar quantity 
was again injected, making the total amount received by the 
Rabbit 7 milligrammes of extract: 5J minutes after the first 
injection the animal became very restless. 7'.—Respiration 
rapid. The vessels of the ears were noticed to be much 
injected. On continuing to observe them the injection dis¬ 
appeared and then returned again. The alternate filling and 
emptying of the vessels was much more perceptible than in the 
normal condition. The Rabbit sits quietly, but every now and 
then gives a start. 22'. -— The condition of the ears has 
continued the same. The eyes are becoming half shut and the 
eyeballs turned up. The animal now begins to tremble. The 
head is laid down on the table and then raised again: this is 
succeeded by a nodding motion of the head. The head is next 
laid down on the table. Respirations 22 in 15 seconds. 24'.— 
The animal has sunk down on its face, and paws as if its fore¬ 
legs would no longer support it. The hind-legs, however, still 
support the posterior part of the body. Respirations 11 in 10 
seconds. It seems to be trying in vain to raise its head. 
26'.—Respirations 8 in 10 seconds. Convulsions. The cornea 
is sensitive. The Rabbit is now lying on its side. Respirations 
5 in 15 seconds. Pulse 12 in 18 seconds. 31'.—Cornea is 
nearly but not quite insensible. The eyeball is protruding. 
About 31-?.' respiration has stopped. The heart is still beating 
vigorously. 32'. — Cornea insensible. The animal opened 
immediately. The heart was beating vigorously; 21 beats in 
10 seconds. An attempt was made to insert electrodes into 
the spinal cord and pass uninterrupted current through them. 
No effect followed ; but it is not certain that they were well in 
the cord. Irritation of the nerves going to the hind-legs by 
uninterrupted current had but a slight effect. Direct irritation 
of the muscles caused them to contract. After the irritation 
was discontinued, a fibrillary twitching was observed in one of 
the extensors of the thigh. 42'.—Heart still feebly pulsating. 
Irritation of the brachial, sciatic, and crural nerves has very 
little effect. 45'.-—Heart still feebly pulsating. 
Experiment No. 5. 
“ Two drops of Cobra poison were injected under the skin of 
the thigh of a Guinea-pig. One or two minutes after the 
injection the legs of the animal began to twitch. It was then 
covered with a glass bell-jar. 6' after injection.—The legs are 
again twitching. This is a peculiar motion of the hind-legs, in 
which they seem to make an abortive attempt to kick involun¬ 
tarily. 7'.—Respirations are deeper than usual. 9'.—Legs 
again twitching. 10'.—The animal is restless and moves round 
and round inside the hell-jar. Grunts occasionally and grinds 
its teeth. The hind-quarters are twitched upwards, and the 
nose is drawn in towards the chin at the same time. 13'.— 
Bites at the spot where the injection was made and passes 
water. 22'.—It can no longer walk. 23'.—It has sunk down 
and lies flat on the table, leaning rather to one side. Respira¬ 
tions are deep. There are occasional twitches of the legs. 25'.— 
Cornea is sensitive. Occasional convulsive stretches. 27'.— 
Cornea almost insensible. Respiratory movement of nostrils 
continues. 28'.—Cornea completely insensible. Post-mortem 
examination made immediately. The muscles of the abdomen 
were dark-coloured. Peristaltic movements of the intestines 
occurred when the abdominal cavity was opened. The heart 
was dark and slightly dilated ; all its cavities were contracting, 
though feebly. There were three beats of the auricles to each 
one of the ventricles. Irritation of the nerves in the pelvis 
caused contractions of the legs. 35' after injection.—The heart 
is still feebly contracting. 
Experiment No. 6. 
“ October 28tli.—Injected about a grain and a half, or two 
grains, of the precipitate which was thrown down from Cobra 
poison by alcohol, into the thigh of a Guinea-pig. 2.30.— 
Injection made. A few minutes afterwards it passed some 
milky-looking water, and then remained perfectly quiet. 3.8J.— 
Passed water, which was quite clear. 3.33.—Injected about 
two grains into the right femoral vein. It passed clear water 
almost at once. 3.35.—Its nose gave a jerk inwards. Wounded 
leg drawn up. 3.38.—Nose twitches frequently, and the 
animal emits a faint barking sound. 3.40.—Slight tremors. 
3.50.—Begins to eat a piece of bread placed near it. 3.58.— 
Still twitches. 4.8.—Is still sluggish, but seems nearly well. 
Recovered. 
Experiment No. 7. 
“October 29th, 1872.—About J- a grain of fresh but coagulated 
and cheese-like Cobra poison was suspended in distilled water, 
and injected into the back of a Guinea-pig, weighing about a 
pound and a quarter. 2.23.—Injection made. 2.26.—The 
