V ON THE INFLUENCE OF SNAKE POISON ON THE BLOOD.
The following experiments made with
Naja Tripudians, Bungarus Fasciatus,
and
Opbiophagua Elaps, Bungarus Coeruleua
for the purpose of examining the condition of the blood after death from the poison of those snakes. Were
Present: Drs. Fayrer,
Chevers, and D. Cunningham,? July 9th, 1870.
N.
Experiment No. 1.?A pariah dog, of about ten months old, bitten in the thigh by a Gokurrah (spectacled cobra), about half-grown, and that was partially exhausted by biting in previous experiments. This snake was purposely selected in order that the poison might be less active, and life not so quickly destroyed, with the view of allowing the blood time to become throughly affected by the poison. The dog was bitten at 12-3 p.m. 12-20.?Dog is restless. is 12-32.?Staggers when he walks; frothing at the mouth; 12-35.?Falls hurried. oyer, partially paralysed; breathing is convulsed. 12-45.?Convulsed ; involuntary evacuations. 12-47.?Dead?in forty-four minutes. The blood was removed was
September 1,
1870.]
MEDICAL HISTOEY OE H. M.'S 58th EEGT.-BY J. D. AMBROSE.
from the great vessels half an hour after death; neutral to litpaper, and rapidly formed a firm clot. Examined micros-
mus
copically by
Dr.
Cunningham.
pariah dog, pup, bitten in the 11 feet in length at Ophiophagus Elaps over The dog was affected at once, jumped, staggered, sat down. 12-16.?Hurried breathing. 12-17.?
Experiment No. 2.?A small
thigh by
an
12-15 p.m. then
and
cannot stand. 12-18. When raised, supports himself the nose resting on the on his legs with ground,
Paralysed, for
a
moment
and then falls over. 12-19.?Convulsed. beats still felt. 12-22.?Dead movements have ceased ; heart's half an hour after ?in seven minutes. Blood removed deatl^: at once into a firm clot. It is not reaction neutral; coagulated clot of the blood of the of so natural a red as in the dog killed by the cobra. Experiment No. 3. A young dog was bitten in the thigh that bit the dog by the same krait (Bungarus Coeruleus) No.? at 12-7 p.m. 12-45.?Seems sluggish. 1-10.?
12-21.?Respiratory
In
Experiment Sluggish, no
change. 1-13.?Bitten again by the same 1-22.?Sluggish, sits with the head drooping. 1-40.?Seems drowsy, but is easily roused. 2-5.?Almost paralysed, cannot stand, the legs fail, and he sinks down when raised on his feet. 2-15.?Involuntary defecation. 2-17. Convulsed. 2-19.?Respiration has ceased; heart still beats. other
krait in the thigh.
2-20.?Heart still felt. 2-22.?Dead?in two hours and fifteen minutes. The blood was removed an hour after death, ana sent to Dr. Cunningham for examination. In this case it clotted and was not discolored as in the case of
dog killed by the same krait. rigor mortis occurred in less than an hour. There was of the no extraordinary rapidity in decomposition body, though and hot was weather damp. the very Experiment No. 4.?A fowl was bitten in the thigh by the 12-35. Drowsy. same krait at 12-24 p.m. 12-58.?Eyes closing, begins to droop. 1-10.?Legs weak, crouches. 1-15.? fallen over, resting on point of Droops its head. 1-20.?Head 1-40.? beak. 1-25.?Quite paralysed ; slow, deep breathing. the first The
Convulsed.
2-12.?Dead?in
one
hour and
forty-eight
minutes.
Blood removed about an hour after death, sent to Dr. Cunningham for examination. This little snake is two feet seven inches in length, and one and three-fourths in circumference, but is very deadly, as these experiments prove; it has since the 7th July killed two dogs and three fowls; the action of the poison is but it
slower,
that of the cobra. days the krait has cast fts cuticle, and During The dark now shews its markings beautifully. brown, almost black, distinct white rings, with a pearly white abdomen. mortis was complete in this fowl in 45 minutes
appears to be
as
fatal
as
the last two
Rigor
death.
Decomposition
was
not
more
rapid than
after
in death from
It died at 2-55 p. m. causes. of decomposition at 1 There was do evidence a.m., notand heat humidity of the atmosphere. the great withstanding 9th. A dog, about six months Experiment No. 5.?July old, a full-grown Bungarus Fasciatus at was bitten in the thigh by 1-15. Slight 11-59. 12-45.?No apparent effect. sluggishness; Bitten again by the same snake. no apparent change otherwise. but is 1-41.?Seem3 drowsy, easily roused.
ordinary
1-22.?Sluggish.
2-14.?Stands with diffi2-5.?Seems more drowsy; staggers. is lame. culty. 4-2.?Is able to walk, but 10-14. In the same condition. eyes half closed. 7-15.?Coughs. 11-20.?Still coughing, and vomited. 10th.?5-15.?Seems unable to stand.
5-30.?Drowsy;
July
6-5.?Drowsy,
Noon.?Appears in the same condition, and reIn much the game day; refuses food. 9 p.m. condition; coughing frequently. July 11 th.?5-30 a.m.?Cannot stand. 11-30.?Cannot stand. 12-30.?Cannot stand. 3-15.?Purged. 6-55.?Lies quiet, with the eyes half opened. 8-30.?Seems very much depressed.
but standing. mained so all
183
July 12th.?6-10.?Breathing hurried. 8-30.?Dying. 11-30. ?Yery low. 2-10.?Found dead?had been dead probably an hour or more, as the body was quite rigid. This dog lived for upwards of seventy hours after being bitten by this Bungarus (Sankni), a very large and powerful snake of about five feet in length. It had been some weeks in captivity and may have been weak, but it bit fiercely when roused, and drew blood. It is evidently less virulent than its smaller congener, the Krait. The blood coagulated after death, and was sent to Dr. Cunningham for examination. The rigor mortis was complete. Experiment No. 6.?A half-grown cat was bitten in the thigh by the same Bungarus Fasciatus, at 12-36, i. e., immediately after the dog. The snake seemed to bite reluctantly until excited, when it appeared to strike its fangs deeply. The cat immediately became rigid, its pupils widely dilated, and its tongue protruded. These symptoms, I believe, were due to excitement, rage, or fear, for on being placed on the ground, it rapidly recovered. The pupils contracted, and it seemed unaffected a quarter of It was not affected after this, and an hour after being bitten. on the 12th, when the death of the dog is reported, it is quite well.
I
hausted,
am or
inclined to think that this snake was either exfangs were imperfect.?(To be continued.)
that its
The following experiments made with
Naja Tripudians, Bungarus Fasciatus,
and
Opbiophagua Elaps, Bungarus Coeruleua
for the purpose of examining the condition of the blood after death from the poison of those snakes. Were
Present: Drs. Fayrer,
Chevers, and D. Cunningham,? July 9th, 1870.
N.
Experiment No. 1.?A pariah dog, of about ten months old, bitten in the thigh by a Gokurrah (spectacled cobra), about half-grown, and that was partially exhausted by biting in previous experiments. This snake was purposely selected in order that the poison might be less active, and life not so quickly destroyed, with the view of allowing the blood time to become throughly affected by the poison. The dog was bitten at 12-3 p.m. 12-20.?Dog is restless. is 12-32.?Staggers when he walks; frothing at the mouth; 12-35.?Falls hurried. oyer, partially paralysed; breathing is convulsed. 12-45.?Convulsed ; involuntary evacuations. 12-47.?Dead?in forty-four minutes. The blood was removed was
September 1,
1870.]
MEDICAL HISTOEY OE H. M.'S 58th EEGT.-BY J. D. AMBROSE.
from the great vessels half an hour after death; neutral to litpaper, and rapidly formed a firm clot. Examined micros-
mus
copically by
Dr.
Cunningham.
pariah dog, pup, bitten in the 11 feet in length at Ophiophagus Elaps over The dog was affected at once, jumped, staggered, sat down. 12-16.?Hurried breathing. 12-17.?
Experiment No. 2.?A small
thigh by
an
12-15 p.m. then
and
cannot stand. 12-18. When raised, supports himself the nose resting on the on his legs with ground,
Paralysed, for
a
moment
and then falls over. 12-19.?Convulsed. beats still felt. 12-22.?Dead movements have ceased ; heart's half an hour after ?in seven minutes. Blood removed deatl^: at once into a firm clot. It is not reaction neutral; coagulated clot of the blood of the of so natural a red as in the dog killed by the cobra. Experiment No. 3. A young dog was bitten in the thigh that bit the dog by the same krait (Bungarus Coeruleus) No.? at 12-7 p.m. 12-45.?Seems sluggish. 1-10.?
12-21.?Respiratory
In
Experiment Sluggish, no
change. 1-13.?Bitten again by the same 1-22.?Sluggish, sits with the head drooping. 1-40.?Seems drowsy, but is easily roused. 2-5.?Almost paralysed, cannot stand, the legs fail, and he sinks down when raised on his feet. 2-15.?Involuntary defecation. 2-17. Convulsed. 2-19.?Respiration has ceased; heart still beats. other
krait in the thigh.
2-20.?Heart still felt. 2-22.?Dead?in two hours and fifteen minutes. The blood was removed an hour after death, ana sent to Dr. Cunningham for examination. In this case it clotted and was not discolored as in the case of
dog killed by the same krait. rigor mortis occurred in less than an hour. There was of the no extraordinary rapidity in decomposition body, though and hot was weather damp. the very Experiment No. 4.?A fowl was bitten in the thigh by the 12-35. Drowsy. same krait at 12-24 p.m. 12-58.?Eyes closing, begins to droop. 1-10.?Legs weak, crouches. 1-15.? fallen over, resting on point of Droops its head. 1-20.?Head 1-40.? beak. 1-25.?Quite paralysed ; slow, deep breathing. the first The
Convulsed.
2-12.?Dead?in
one
hour and
forty-eight
minutes.
Blood removed about an hour after death, sent to Dr. Cunningham for examination. This little snake is two feet seven inches in length, and one and three-fourths in circumference, but is very deadly, as these experiments prove; it has since the 7th July killed two dogs and three fowls; the action of the poison is but it
slower,
that of the cobra. days the krait has cast fts cuticle, and During The dark now shews its markings beautifully. brown, almost black, distinct white rings, with a pearly white abdomen. mortis was complete in this fowl in 45 minutes
appears to be
as
fatal
as
the last two
Rigor
death.
Decomposition
was
not
more
rapid than
after
in death from
It died at 2-55 p. m. causes. of decomposition at 1 There was do evidence a.m., notand heat humidity of the atmosphere. the great withstanding 9th. A dog, about six months Experiment No. 5.?July old, a full-grown Bungarus Fasciatus at was bitten in the thigh by 1-15. Slight 11-59. 12-45.?No apparent effect. sluggishness; Bitten again by the same snake. no apparent change otherwise. but is 1-41.?Seem3 drowsy, easily roused.
ordinary
1-22.?Sluggish.
2-14.?Stands with diffi2-5.?Seems more drowsy; staggers. is lame. culty. 4-2.?Is able to walk, but 10-14. In the same condition. eyes half closed. 7-15.?Coughs. 11-20.?Still coughing, and vomited. 10th.?5-15.?Seems unable to stand.
5-30.?Drowsy;
July
6-5.?Drowsy,
Noon.?Appears in the same condition, and reIn much the game day; refuses food. 9 p.m. condition; coughing frequently. July 11 th.?5-30 a.m.?Cannot stand. 11-30.?Cannot stand. 12-30.?Cannot stand. 3-15.?Purged. 6-55.?Lies quiet, with the eyes half opened. 8-30.?Seems very much depressed.
but standing. mained so all
183
July 12th.?6-10.?Breathing hurried. 8-30.?Dying. 11-30. ?Yery low. 2-10.?Found dead?had been dead probably an hour or more, as the body was quite rigid. This dog lived for upwards of seventy hours after being bitten by this Bungarus (Sankni), a very large and powerful snake of about five feet in length. It had been some weeks in captivity and may have been weak, but it bit fiercely when roused, and drew blood. It is evidently less virulent than its smaller congener, the Krait. The blood coagulated after death, and was sent to Dr. Cunningham for examination. The rigor mortis was complete. Experiment No. 6.?A half-grown cat was bitten in the thigh by the same Bungarus Fasciatus, at 12-36, i. e., immediately after the dog. The snake seemed to bite reluctantly until excited, when it appeared to strike its fangs deeply. The cat immediately became rigid, its pupils widely dilated, and its tongue protruded. These symptoms, I believe, were due to excitement, rage, or fear, for on being placed on the ground, it rapidly recovered. The pupils contracted, and it seemed unaffected a quarter of It was not affected after this, and an hour after being bitten. on the 12th, when the death of the dog is reported, it is quite well.
I
hausted,
am or
inclined to think that this snake was either exfangs were imperfect.?(To be continued.)
that its
