EXPERIMENTS ON THE INFLUENCE OF SNAKE-POISON. 
155 
Experiment No. 4. 
July 12th.—A large Hog was bitten on the left hind-leg by 
a Cobra at 7.15 a.m. 7.30. — Respiration much hurried — 100, 
and sometimes more ; pulse slow, 80 ; temperature normal, 
103°. 7.45 a.m. —Respiration not so hurried, 80 ; pulse 
slower, GO ; temperature falling, 102 o- 3. 7.50 a.m. —Appears 
much distressed, and is salivated. 7.58 a.m. —Convulsed. 
7.59 a.m. —Commenced artificial respiration. Convulsions at 
once ceased, but returned on the interruption of the respiration- 
The pupils, from being widely dilated, became contracted. 
The animal appears sensible. 8.7 a.m. —Pulse 160, respirations 
40, pupils natural, temperature 102°; blinking of the lids; 
applied heat. 8.24 a.m.— Convulsive movements of the hind¬ 
quarters. 8.47 a.m. —The same. 8.50 a.m. —Ditto. 9 a.m.— 
Pulse beating rapidly, 176; respirations 32; pupils natural; 
temperature 101°'4 (has been gradually falling from the com¬ 
mencement) ; dilatation of the pupils only in response to the 
galvanic current. 10 a.m.— Heart beating 140, respirations 
40 ; temperature now rising, 102°‘6. The pupils dilated, and 
urine was passed on the application of the galvanic current. 
Lachrymation and salivation going on continually. 10.30 a.m. 
—Respirations 32, pulse (femoral) 176, temperature normal, 
103°. Passed urine, and the pupils dilated on the application 
of galvanism. 11 a.m.— Respirations 32, temperature 103°-2, 
pulse very rapid, about 200. Pupils dilate on applying the 
galvanic current. 12 noon.— Pulse 160, respirations 32. 
Passed urine, and the pupils dilate on the application of gal¬ 
vanism. Temperature 103°'4. 1 p.m. —Pulse 160, good; 
respirations 44; temperature 103°'2. The same effect on the 
application of galvanism. 2 p.m.— Pulse 176, pretty strong and 
regular; respirations 40; temperature the same, 103 o, 2. The 
same effects on the application of galvanism. 4 p.m.— Pulse 
160, regular, but weaker; very slight action of the iris on the 
application of galvanism ; urine is passed; temperature 105°. 
5 p.m. —Pulse 176, very weak; respirations 36; temperature 
104°'2. 6 p.m. —Pulse 166, very weak; respirations 42 ; tem¬ 
perature 104°. 7 p.m.— Pulse 160, stronger; respirations 42; 
temperature 103°'5. 8 p.m. —Pulse 176, pretty strong; respira¬ 
tions 42; temperature 103°'7. 9 p.m.— Respirations 32, tem¬ 
perature 103°-7, pulse too quick to count; irides dilate by 
galvanism. 10.10 p.m —Pulse good, 128; respirations 32; 
temperature 104°-5. Micturition and dilatation of the pupils 
on the application of galvanism. 11 p.m. —Pulse pretty good, 
160; respirations 36 ; temperature 104°. Pupils dilate on the 
application of galvanism. Midnight.—Pulse 160, pretty good ; 
respirations 36 ; temperature 105°. Micturition only on the 
application of galvanism. 
July 13th, 1.5 a.m.' —Heart ceased to beat; temperature 
105°‘2. The heart had gradually become weaker, and suddenly 
ceased to beat seventeen hours and six minutes after the com¬ 
mencement of artificial respiration. Inflation of the lungs was 
not complete, as we found them much congested. The blood 
was fluid, but very soon coagulated. We are indebted to Dr. 
O’Brien for assistance in this case. 
Second Instalment of a Report of the Committee appointed 
by the Indian Government. 
Experiment No. 5. 
July 14th.—A large Dog was bitten by a Cobra in the thigh 
at 6.50 a.m. Temperature 103° (rectum full of feces). 7 a.m.— 
Temperature 103 o, 80 (rectum now empty). 7.10 a.m. —Tem¬ 
perature 103°'60. 7.55 a.m. — Convulsed. Temperature 103°. 
8 a.m. — Commenced artificial respiration. 8.3 a.m. — Tem¬ 
perature 100 o '10. 8.5 am. — S light convulsive movements. 
8.12 a.m. — Respirations 36; pulse over 200; pretty regular. 
Temperature 103°. 8.42 a.m.'— Universal convulsions in response 
to the galvanic current. 9,12 a.m. — Temperature 103°’80; respi¬ 
rations 36. Heart beating very quickly, but without force. 
10 a.m.— Temperature 101 o- 80 ; respirations 40 ; pulse 160 ; 
! not very strong; pupils dilate, and there is micturition in 
response to the galvanic current. 11 a.m.— Temperature 
102°-80; respirations 36; pulse 176; pretty strong. The 
same response to the galvanic current. Noon.—Temperature 
104°’40; respirations 40 ; pulse 180, weak; micturition only 
in response to galvanism. 1 p.m. —Temperature 103°'60 ; re¬ 
spirations 36 ; pulse 140, weak; pupils dilate, and water is 
passed in response to galvanism. 2 p.m. —Had passed feces; 
temperature 105 o, 20 ; respirations 36; no reflex action of any 
kind, heart beating too quickly to count. 3 p.m.— Had passed 
faeces; temperature 105 o- 40. The femoral could not he felt, 
and the heart was scarcely beating. 3.20 p.m. —Heart ceased 
to beat, seven hours and twenty minutes after the commence¬ 
ment of artificial respiration. 
The lungs were found congested, showing that artificial re¬ 
spiration was not complete. This is the fault of the men working 
the bellows. Blood coagulated after death. Several gentlemen 
were present, including the Surgeon-General Dr. Brown, 
Surgeon-General Dr. Buckle, Drs. Payne, Palmer, Cowie, Daly, 
Laurie, O’Brien, and the President and members of the 
Committee. 
Experiment No. 6. 
July 15th.—A Dog was bitten by a Cobra at 7.17 a.m. The 
temperature was then 102°’40. 7.25 am. — Temperature 
101 o, 80. 7.40 a.m. —Convulsed; temperature 101 o, 60. 7.43 
a.m. —Commenced artificial respiration; the pupils were dilated, 
and the animal was much convulsed; the pupils gradually as¬ 
sumed their natural appearance, and convulsions ceased. The 
Dog shakes its ears when a fly settles on them. 8.8 a.m.— 
Temperature 101°-40. 8.30 a.m.— Temperature 101 o, 30; the 
pulse is beating steadily and well, 100 ; respirations 36. 9.30 
a.m. —Temperature 101°'20; respirations 28; much too slow; 
pulse 200, strong and regular ; the usual response to the 
galvanic current. 10.30 A.M.— Temperature 100°’20; respira¬ 
tions 36; pulse good, 144. 11.30 a.m.— Temperature 100°-20; 
respirations 32; pulse 112; very strong; same response 
to the galvanic current. 12.30 p.m. — Temperature 98°; 
respirations 32. 1.10 p.m.— Heart ceased to beat, five hours 
twenty-seven minutes after the commencement of artificial 
respiration. 
This was not at all a satisfactory experiment. Blood 
coagulated after death. 
Experiment No. 7. 
July 16th. — A Dog was bitten by a Cobra at 8.25 a.m. The 
temperature was then 103°'20. S.35 a.m. —Temperature 
103 o- 40. 8.44 a.m. —Temperature 103°. 8.50 a.m.'— Com¬ 
menced artificial respiration. The pupils were at first dilated, 
but afterwards became natural. 9.5 a.m— Temperature 103°; 
pulse 136 ; respirations 60. Applied heat. 10 a.m.— Tempera¬ 
ture 101°'60 ; respirations 40 ; pulse heating very rapidly— 
no response to the galvanic current. Noon.—Pulse 190 ; tem¬ 
perature 105°-50; respirations 42; pupils dilate by galvanism. 
1 p.m. —Respirations 44; pulse 180; one pupil only dilates by 
galvanism; temperature 105°. 2 p.m. —Respirations 42 ; pulse 
172; temperature 104°; no response to galvanism. 3 p.m.— 
Respirations 44; pulse 190; femoral cannot he felt; tempera¬ 
ture 103°-80. 4 p.m —Temperature 104°'40; respirations 40 ; 
femoral artery beating very rapidly ; no response to galvanism 
5 p.m .— 1 Temperature 104°'7 ; respirations 36; pulse 200; no 
response to galvanism. 5.30 p.m. —Temperature 104 o, 20 ; respi¬ 
rations 36; pulse about 200, and pretty strong. 7.30 p.m. — 
The heart is beating rapidly, but pretty forcibly; respirations 
44; temperature 104°'20; no response to galvanism. The 
blood coagulated after death. We were kindly assisted by 
Dr. O’Brien. 
