EXPERIMENTS ON THE INFLUENCE OF SNAKE-POISON. 
153 
experiments are interesting and important, as they point in 
that direction. 
“ I have recorded an opinion derived from a long and elaborate 
series of experiments that none of the so-called antidotes possess 
the virtues or powers attributed to them ; but in the experiments 
recently made, it is ascertained beyond a doubt that the life of 
an animal poisoned by Cobra virus may be prolonged for many 
hours by artificial respiration, and it is therefore possible, that if 
respiration be artificially continued for a sufficient length of 
time, life might be altogether preserved. 
“ In experiments performed upon the Fowl and Rabbit, after 
the most complete development of the physiological action of 
the poison, amounting to total paralysis and convulsions—con¬ 
ditions which immediately precede death—the convulsions 
ceased, and in one case the heart was kept beating vigorously 
for about eic/lit hours, and probably then failed from imperfect 
operations carried on in cold—a result never before attained by 
any means that I am aware of. 
“There is apparentlyin some respects a strong analogy between 
the action of the Cobra virus and that of the Curara or Wourali 
poison of South America. It has been ascertained by experiment, 
that an animal poisoned by this agent may, after apparent death 
for many hours, be restored, if artificial respiration be carefully and 
continuously applied for a sufficient length of time, the temperature 
of the animal being at the same time sustained by artificial 
warmth. 
“ Curara kills by paralysing the peripheral distribution of the 
motor nerves, thus inducing asphyxia by involving the muscles 
of respiration in the general paralysis. 
“ If, however, the heart’s action can be sustained by artificial 
respiration during a sufficient length of time to allow of 
elimination of the poison through the excreting organs (for 
whilst the heart acts they continue to perform their functions), 
the paralysed muscles regain their power, and life is slowly but 
certainly restored. 
“ I am not in a position to assert that Cobra poison kills in 
exactly the same way as Curara; I am inclined to the belief 
that it does not; hut still analogy and the results of experiments 
support, or perhaps rather suggest, the idea that if artificial 
respiration be sustained in a case of Cobra poisoning, and life be 
thus artificially supported for a sufficient length of time—it 
might be for days—elimination of the poison may occur and 
recovery may result. 
“ It is, however, I fear, only too probable that during its 
sojourn in the system the poison may have, in the case of Cobra 
virus, done such irreparable mischief to the nerve-centres or 
peripheral distribution as would render recovery impossible, 
after life ceased to be artificially supported, unless the dose of 
poison were very small; but there is no proof as yet that such 
is the case; and therefore I am of opinion that further and 
most careful, and often repeated and sustained experiments 
should be made to test this very important subject. 
“ It is almost impossible to carry out completely the necessary 
investigations in this country for want of the snake-poison. 
The experiments referred to were made with a small quantity 
of Cobra poison sent to England by myself, but which is almost 
expended. 
“ It will be necessary to have an apparatus for conducting con¬ 
tinued artificial respiration constructed for the purpose, and as 
it might have to be used for days continuously, it should be 
worked by steam power. This, however, would not necessarily 
involve much expense, as a very small engine would suffice. I 
have sent to India for more snake-poison, and, when I succeed 
in obtaining it, I hope, in conjunction with Dr. Lauder Brunton, 
to continue the experiments; but as this is uncertain I would 
strongly recommend that the Indian Government be requested, 
through the Medical Department of Bengal, to sanction the 
necessary investigation, and I would venture to suggest that 
the following gentlemen be invited to carry it out .—Dr. Ewart, 
Professor of Physiology, Calcutta; Dr. J. Anderson, Curator 
Indian Museum, Calcutta; Mr. Richards, Civil Surgeon of 
Balasore, who has alieady done so much m snake-poisoning— 
subject of course to the approval of the head of the Medical 
Department, Dr. J. C. Brown, C.B. 
“ The investigations I would propose should be conducted in 
the manner hereafter detailed, and I also suggest that this 
mode of treatment by artificial respiration and warmth be 
tried in any cases of snake-poisoning of human beings that 
may come under observation in hospitals ; in itself it is abso¬ 
lutely unobjectionable, and can do no harm, whilst it may do 
good. 
“ I would distinctly be understood to say that I do not recom¬ 
mend this as certain; it is tentative, experimental at present, 
but it is the only means that science, so far as I know, su 2 , ° , csts 
of dealing with the matter in a rational way, and as such 
I would commend it to careful trial. It may obviously be most 
satisfactorily tested in India, and therefore I venture to hope 
that the Indian Government will be pleased to accept of these 
suggestions, with a view to their being carried into effect, as I 
hope by the gentlemen suggested, or, if they be absent or un¬ 
willing, by others. 
“ Animals, such as Dogs, Goats, &c. &c. to be poisoned by the 
hypodermic injection of Cobra poison into the areolar tissue, 
avoiding large veins ;* and when the symptoms of poisoning 
make their appearance, artificial respiration to be carefully kept 
up, in the case of animals through a canula in the trachea— 
in human beings by Silvester’s method, or by the canula—the 
artificial respiration to be continued uninterruptedly for hours, 
it may be days, and the temperature of the individual to be 
carefully supported up to blood-heat, throughout. 
“ The urine or other secretions might be withdrawn during 
the process, and tested by inoculation into other small and 
delicate animals, such as Pigeons, Mice, &c., so as to ascertair 
whether the poison was being eliminated by that channel. 
“ The doses of Cobra-poison should be of various degrees of 
intensity, say, from a quarter of a drop diluted with water, to 
several drops. 
“ Whatever the result in cases where the dose of poison had 
been overwhelming, there can be no doubt, I think, now, 
that in smaller quantities—such as would, if left to themselves, 
destroy life—the use of artificial respiration by any of the most 
certain and approved methods (the canula if desirable) would 
be of benefit in the treatment of persons so poisoned, and might 
save life. It is so simple in its application, that it might be 
made generally available; printed instructions might, as in 
the case of the Humane Society in England, be distributed 
throughout the country. 
“ Of course the canula could only be used by a Surgeon, but 
happily effective artificial respiration can be practised without 
a surgical operation, and may be done by any one. 
“ I would therefore recommend that in addition to the instruc¬ 
tions I have already suggested in my book on the poisonous 
snakes, and which have been promulgated in some parts of 
India, for the immediate treatment of snake-bite, artificial re¬ 
spiration by Sylvester’s or other method, and the application of 
warmth, as well as the ligature, cautery and stimulants, alcoholic 
or ammoniacal, be had recourse to in all cases of snake-bite, 
and that printed instructions to this effect, translated into the 
vernacular, be distributed throughout the Police Tbannahs and 
Dispensaries in India. 
“J. Fayrer.” 
* “ When the poison enters a large vein in any quantity, death results almost 
instantaneously ; no time is allowed for any treatment to offer hope of benefit. In 
some cases of snake-bite it is so. The Saphena vein may be wounded, and death is 
yery rapid. But in many, perhaps most, instances the snake inoculates his venom 
into the areolar tissue.” 
