4
Scientific Memoirs by
of two-thirds of blood containing reduced hæmoglobin with one-third of blood the
respiratory properties of which have been abolished without the development of
any bright red colouring matter like that of CO-hæmoglobin ; and, if this be so, it
is quite clear that the exposure of the two-thirds of reduced quality to the influ
-ence of atmospheric oxygen must be followed by conspicuous changes in the
colour of the fluid. As will be presently shown one action of the venom on the
blood is to give rise to intense and permanent darkening in the colour of the
latter, and the mixture of blood which has undergone such change with blood
of highly reduced quality must imply the presence of very dark coloration, but
of a coloration liable to be very considerably brightened on exposure to air in
consequence of absorption of oxygen by the hæmoglobin. Under ordinary cir
-cumstances, then, we should naturally expect that such a change of colour
should occur even if the venom have the power of reducing the respiratory
property of the blood to a fatal extent, because, under ordinary circumstances,
the amount of venom which enters the blood is relatively small, and the entrance
is only gradually effected by absorption ; but, as will presently be shown, no
such change takes place when death follows the direct introduction of relatively
large quantities of venom into the circulation. In the one case, death takes
place long before the respiratory property of the blood has been entirely abo
-lished, and consequently exposure to air is followed by change of colour; in the
other, the direct introduction of a large quantity of venom determines immedi
-ate and total loss of respiratory property, and with this loss of capacity for
change of colour under the influence of atmospheric oxygen. Taking all the
facts into consideration, it is clear that they are of such a nature as to deprive
the first argument for the belief in the primarily neurotic action of cobra-venom
of all conclusive value.
On proceeding to consider the second foundation on which this belief rests,
it can, I think, be shown to be of an equally unsatisfactory nature, and here
again the data regarding poisoning by CO come in to afford very valuable in
-formation, because they show that nervous symptoms of a nature very closely
similar to those characteristic of intoxication by cobra-venom may be developed
in connection with the establishment of decreased respiratory property in the
blood. On referring to the most recent works on physiology and legal medicine,
we find that the characteristic symptoms attending intoxication by CO are of
the following nature : * The initial stage is marked by increased lachrymal, sali
-vary and nasal secretion, headache, giddiness, accelerated respiration, and occa
-sionally nausea and vomiting. This is followed by the paralytic stage with stag
-gering gait and paralysis, especially of the lower or hinder extremities, Finally
* 1. " Ueber die Kohlenoxyd vergiftung vom medicinal and sanitäts polizeilichen Standpunkte." Von
Dr. Med. Robert Stoermer, Arzt in Berlin. Viertel jahrschrift für gerichtliche Medecin.
Jahrgang, 1895, 2, Heft s. 367.
2. Lehrbuch der gerichtlichen Medicin. Dr. EduardR. von Hofmann. Wien u. Leipzig, 1893.