152 
THE THANATOPHIDIA OF INDIA. 
Experiment No. 8. 
This experiment is the one previously described, No. 8, 
Thirty-first Series, p. 146, in which Cobra poison diluted with 
water was injected into the thigh of a strong Fowl. 
Experiment No. 9. 
This experiment is the one previously described, No. 5, 
Thirty-first Series, p. 147, in which Cobra poison was injected 
into the hip of a Babbit into whose trachea a canula had been 
introduced. 
Experiment No. 10. 
“November 28 th, 1872.-—One-fifth of a drop of Cobra poison 
(the first supply), diluted with about 2 cub. centims. of J per 
cent, salt, was injected into the external jugular of a Babbit. 
12.5.—Injection made. 12.20.—The animal has been con¬ 
vulsed and paralysed. Sensibility of the cornea has dis¬ 
appeared; canula placed in trachea and artificial respiration 
commenced. Temperature 100°. 1.15.—Temperature 96°'3. 
Heart is. beating vigorously. 3.13.—Heart is beating as 
before. 3.20.—In order to try if possible to quicken elimina¬ 
tion, milk was injected into the stomach. 4.5.—Heart is 
beating as well as ever. 4.40.—Heart still beating vigorously. 
Bespiration discontinued. Death soon followed. In this case 
also life was prolonged by artificial respiration.” 
THIBTY-SECOND SEBIES. 
Experiments on the Treatment of Snake-poisoning by Artificial 
Respiration, by Vincent Richards, Esq., Civil Medical Officer, 
Balasore. 
On leaving India in February, 1872,1 requested Mr. Vincent 
Bichards, of Balasore—who had already given me such valuable 
aid, not only in conducting experiments in accordance with my 
suggestions, but by his own original observations—to carry on 
a series of investigations on the subject of snake-poisoning, 
with a view of determining the precise nature of the physio¬ 
logical action of the poison, as well as the effects of artificial 
respiration and of alleged remedies. He has most energetically 
and scientifically done so. 
Mr. Bichards writes :—The following experiments, with the 
exception of the last, were made at the request of Dr. Fayrer. 
Experiment No. 1. 
October 7th.—I hypodermically injected one drop of fresh. 
Cobra poison diluted with ten drops of water into the thigh of 
a Fowl at 1.35 p.m. 
At 1.45 p.m. convulsions commenced. The trachea was 
opened, a small tube introduced, and artificial respiration kept 
up continuously. The wattles and comb gradually changed 
from a deep livid colour to a bright red, and the convulsions 
ceased. After the bird had apparently died, the heart still 
continued to beat for at least seven minutes; it ceased to beat, 
however, at 2 o'clock, exactly twenty-five minutes after the 
injection of the poison. The blood, as usual, coagulated after 
death, but the lungs, instead of being more or less congested, 
as is invariably the case, were of a bright red colour, and 
without the slightest trace of congestion. 
Experiment No. 2. 
I hypodermically injected three drops of Cobra poison diluted 
with ten drops of water into the thigh of a Fowl at 2.3 p.m. 
It soon became affected, and at 2.10 p.m. was convulsed. The 
trachea was at once opened, and artificial respiration commenced 
as before. Only a very little change took place in the colour of 
the comb, and the heart ceased to beat in five minutes—twelve 
minutes after the injection of the poison. As in the former 
case, the lungs were not congested. 
Experiment No. 3. 
At 3.10 p.m. a Dog was bitten by a fresh Cobra. It became 
very rapidly drowsy, and salivated. 
At 3.22 p.m. convulsed. The trachea was at once opened, a 
tube inserted, and artificial respiration commenced and con¬ 
tinued throughout. At 3.25 p.m. the Dog, to all appearances, 
was dead; no sensation when the cornea was touched, and the 
tongue was hanging out of the mouth. The heart, however, 
continued to beat, sometimes with force and regularity, until it 
finally ceased to beat at 3.35 p.m. —twenty minutes after the 
animal was bitten, and ten minutes after the Dog had apparently 
ceased to exist. The blood coagulated, and the lungs were not 
congested. 
Experiment No. 4. 
October 8th.—A Dog was bitten by a Cobra at 4.25 p.m. It 
became convulsed at 4.45 p.m., when artificial respiration was 
commenced as before. The convulsions ceased, but the heart 
continued to beat until 5 p.m., when it stopped—thirty-five 
minutes after the bite. The lungs were not congested. 
Experiment No. 5. 
October 9th.—A Dog was bitten by a Cobra at 3.40 p.m. 
At 3.50 p.m. it was convulsed. The trachea was opened, a 
tube inserted, and artificial respiration commenced as before. 
The convulsions ceased, and the heart continued to beat 
vigorously. To all appearances the Dog was dead. The heart 
ceased to beat at 4.20 p.m.— forty minutes after the infliction of 
the bite, and fully twenty minutes after the Dog had apparently 
died. Lungs not congested. 
Experiment No. 6. 
In this instance I combined the treatment advocated by 
Professor Halford with the artificial respiration. A Dog was 
bitten at 3.55 p.m. by the Cobra used on two former occasions. 
The snake was, moreover, casting its skin. The animal was 
a long time before it became affected at all, and convulsions did 
not set in until 4.30 p.m., when twenty drops of liq. ammonite 
fort, were injected into the right femoral vein. The trachea 
was then opened, the tube inserted, and artificial respiration 
commenced. The convulsions very soon ceased, and the heart 
continued to beat vigorously. Twenty drops more liq. 
ammonise were injected. The heart continued to act until 4.53 
p.m.— fifty-eight minutes after the animal was bitten. Lungs 
not congested. 
It was curious to note the effect of the artificial respiration 
on the convulsions, which almost immediately ceased when the 
treatment was commenced. I am afraid, however, that the 
treatment would not be of much avail in severe (effectual) 
bites. 
THIBTY-THIBD SEBIES. 
Expoeriments on the Treatment of Snake-poisoning by Artificial 
Respiration. By a Committee appointed by the Government 
of India. 
A Committee composed of Dr. Ewart, Professor of Physiology, 
Dr. Mackenzie, B.M.S., and Mr. Bichards of Balasore, has, at my 
suggestion, been appointed by the Government of India to 
carry out investigations in the treatment of Snake-poisoning 
by artificial respiration. 
The following is the memorandum I addressed on the 
subject to the Indian Government:— 
“ Since my return to London from India, I have, in conjunction 
with Dr. Lauder Brunton, been making further investigations 
into the subject of snake-poisoning, especially with a view of 
ascertaining if there be any means of saving life; and although 
I cannot say that the desirable object of research lias been 
actually attained, I am satisfied that the results of certain 
