EXPERIMENTS ON THE INFLUENCE OP SNAKEPOISON. By J. Fayeee, M.D.,
Surae>v, Medical College of Bengal. (Continued from Vol. III., page 267)?
Professor o1
Peesent
:
Dr.
Fayrer
and Mr. Sceva.
Experiment No. 1. 12th December,
1868.?A small Cobra, about sixteen inches
long, was bitten in two or three places, about one-third of its length from the tail, by a very large, powerful, and -vigorous Cobra of the spectacled variety. The fangs penetrated deeply, and there could be no doubt that the venom was freely injected. When bitten the young snake threw itself into
a
series of momen-
curves, but on being released it appeared unaffected. It was closely watched for some time, but showed no sign of being affected. It was as active and vicious as before, assum-
tary
ing an aggressive attitude, with its little hood erect, and striking vigorously at anything that approached it. It was bitten at 11-45 a.m., and I saw it again at 4 p.m.; it was then lively, but looked rather stiff, and disinclined to be so active as it had been, probably owing to the pain and commencing inflammation in the bites. On the 13th, at 5 p.m., there was no apparent change in the snake ; it was as lively as ever. 14th, 2 p.m.?Mr. Sceva reports that, beyond a slight apparent soreness in the muscles of the bitten part, there is no change. The snake remains quite well. Experiment No. 2. A small Cobra, one probably of the same brood as the one bitten in the previous experiment, and of the same size, very active, vicious, and vigorous, was bitten at 12-15, 12th December,
1868, by a Daboia that had not bitten for many days, and whose poison glands and duets were apparently full of poison. The fangs of the Daboia were made to penetrate deeply in a part of the snake posterior to the viscera?that is, not far from the tail ; and a quantity of the poison was shed on the snake, and probably into the wound. The young Cobra, beyond the local effects of the bite, appeared unaffected; on being released, it deported itself just like theono bitten by the Cobra in experiment No. 1, and -\yas active, ill-tempered, and aggressive as ever.
THE INDIAN MEDICAL GAZETTE.
4 At 4 p.m. it
was
apparently quite
On the 13th, at 5 p.m., there
unaffected.
was no
apparent change.
On the 14th, Mr. Sceva reports of both? " There appears to be a slight soreness where
they were bitten,
and the muscles do not act so freely at those parts ; but the extremity of the tail, and the anterior part of the body, are as
being bitten." experiments are, I think, conclusive, and prove that the poisonous snake is not affected by the venom of its own or of other species.
lively
as
before
These
The Cobras bitten were young and weak ; the Daboia and the Cobra that bit them were full-grown, vigorous, and fresh snakes. There could bo no doubt that the venom was thoroughly injected, and that the fangs penetrated deeply. The bites were purposely inflicted near the tail, that no chance of
injuring
the viscera
might
be incurred.
closely watched for 48 hours, at the symptom but the local effects of the I think it may be fairly concluded, from these and other experiments, that the Cobra is not affected by The bitten Cobras
end of which period, bite was manifested. the
poison
were
no
either of the Daboia
or
of its
own
species.
[Jaktjaht 1, 1809.
Surae>v, Medical College of Bengal. (Continued from Vol. III., page 267)?
Professor o1
Peesent
:
Dr.
Fayrer
and Mr. Sceva.
Experiment No. 1. 12th December,
1868.?A small Cobra, about sixteen inches
long, was bitten in two or three places, about one-third of its length from the tail, by a very large, powerful, and -vigorous Cobra of the spectacled variety. The fangs penetrated deeply, and there could be no doubt that the venom was freely injected. When bitten the young snake threw itself into
a
series of momen-
curves, but on being released it appeared unaffected. It was closely watched for some time, but showed no sign of being affected. It was as active and vicious as before, assum-
tary
ing an aggressive attitude, with its little hood erect, and striking vigorously at anything that approached it. It was bitten at 11-45 a.m., and I saw it again at 4 p.m.; it was then lively, but looked rather stiff, and disinclined to be so active as it had been, probably owing to the pain and commencing inflammation in the bites. On the 13th, at 5 p.m., there was no apparent change in the snake ; it was as lively as ever. 14th, 2 p.m.?Mr. Sceva reports that, beyond a slight apparent soreness in the muscles of the bitten part, there is no change. The snake remains quite well. Experiment No. 2. A small Cobra, one probably of the same brood as the one bitten in the previous experiment, and of the same size, very active, vicious, and vigorous, was bitten at 12-15, 12th December,
1868, by a Daboia that had not bitten for many days, and whose poison glands and duets were apparently full of poison. The fangs of the Daboia were made to penetrate deeply in a part of the snake posterior to the viscera?that is, not far from the tail ; and a quantity of the poison was shed on the snake, and probably into the wound. The young Cobra, beyond the local effects of the bite, appeared unaffected; on being released, it deported itself just like theono bitten by the Cobra in experiment No. 1, and -\yas active, ill-tempered, and aggressive as ever.
THE INDIAN MEDICAL GAZETTE.
4 At 4 p.m. it
was
apparently quite
On the 13th, at 5 p.m., there
unaffected.
was no
apparent change.
On the 14th, Mr. Sceva reports of both? " There appears to be a slight soreness where
they were bitten,
and the muscles do not act so freely at those parts ; but the extremity of the tail, and the anterior part of the body, are as
being bitten." experiments are, I think, conclusive, and prove that the poisonous snake is not affected by the venom of its own or of other species.
lively
as
before
These
The Cobras bitten were young and weak ; the Daboia and the Cobra that bit them were full-grown, vigorous, and fresh snakes. There could bo no doubt that the venom was thoroughly injected, and that the fangs penetrated deeply. The bites were purposely inflicted near the tail, that no chance of
injuring
the viscera
might
be incurred.
closely watched for 48 hours, at the symptom but the local effects of the I think it may be fairly concluded, from these and other experiments, that the Cobra is not affected by The bitten Cobras
end of which period, bite was manifested. the
poison
were
no
either of the Daboia
or
of its
own
species.
[Jaktjaht 1, 1809.
