NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
29
of the solution was 0.2 per cent. The injections were made subcutaneously In
front of the chest. The following were the results obtained:—
Animal.
Weight.
Amount of venom
per kilo.
Result.
Monkey 1 .
. 2,480 grammes
. 6 milligrammes . Died in 44 hours.
”
2 .
.
1,640
”
.
3.7
”
.
Found dead after 120 hours.
”
3 .
. 2,760
”
. 3
”
.
Very ill : lost weight : paralysed :
recovered.
”
4 .
.
2,150
”
. 3
” . Died after 144 hours.
”
5 .
. 1,950
”
.
2.5
”
.
Died after 96 hours.
”
6 .
. 1,260
”
.
2 . 5
”
.
”
220
”
”
7 .
.
1,540
”
.
2
”
. .
Recovered.
It will be seen from the above table that a certain minimum lethal dose is over
3 milligrammes per kilo., although 2.5 milligrammes per kilo. killed in two cases.
SERIES No. X.—Experiments to determine the minimum lethal dose for rabbits
by subcutaneous injection of pure cobra venom.
The venom used was pure fresh cobra poison, got from five recently captured
cobras by squeezing the glands. The strength of the solution employed was
0.1 per cent. This was made with normal salt solution and was left unheated.
All injections were made subcutaneously in the inner side of the thigh.
The following were the results obtained :—
Animal.
Weight.
Amount of venom
per kilo.
Result.
Rabbit
1 .
.
1,470 grammes
. 0. 8 milligrammes . Died in 2½ hours.
”
2 .
. 1,550
”
.
0.7
”
.
”
2½
”
”
3
.
.
1,740
”
.
0.6
”
.
”
2 ½
”
”
4
.
.
1,570
”
.
0.5
”
.
Found dead after 24 hour s.
”
5
.
.
1,430
”
.
0 . 4
”
.
”
”
24
”
”
6
.
.
1,500
”
.
0.35
”
.
”
”
24
”
”
7
.
.
1,520
”
.
0.3
”
.
”
”
24
”
”
8
.
.
1,370
”
. 0.3
”
.
Very ill : recovered.
”
9
.
.
1,820
”
. 0.25
”
. III at first; recovered; died suddenly
on 4th day.
”
10
.
.
1,360
”
. 0.2
”
.
Lost weight . recovered.
”
11
.
.
1,620
”
.
0.2
”
.
”
”
”
12
.
.
1,360
”
.
0.15
”
.
”
”
”
13
.
. 1,590
”
.
0.1
”
.
No symptoms.
From the above series of experiments we can conclude that 0.35 milli-
gramme per kilo. is a certain lethal dose for a rabbit.
30
SERIES No. XI.—Experiments to determine the minimum lethal dose for
monkeys by subcutaneous injection of pure cobra venom.
The venom used was pure cobra venom, got by allowing the snakes to bite
through a sheet of water-proof cloth stretched over a stout wine-glass. The
strength of the solution employed was 0.1 per cent. All injections were made
subcutaneously in the front of the chest.
The following were the results obtained :—
Animal.
Weight.
Amount of venom
per kilo.
Result.
Monkey 1 .
. 2,200 grammes
. 3 milligrammes . D i e d i n 1 h o u r .
"
2 .
. 1,260
„
.
0 . 6
"
,,
3 hours.
,,
3
. . 1,480
„
.
0 . 4 " .
"
6 "
"
4 .
. 1,830
".
0 . 2 5 " .
"
6 "
" 5
. . 1,170
„
. 0.2
"
. III : recovered.
From the above series of experiments we can conclude that 0.25 milli-
gramme per kilo. is the minimum amount which can kill a monkey.
SERIES No. XII.—Experiments to ascertain if Calmette's serum has
any
neutralising power for the venom of Bungarus fasciatus.
The serum used in these series of experiments was perfectly fresh serum.
It had been received direct from Lille a few days before the observations were
made. Rabbits were the animals used.
All injections were made intravenously. Two series of experiments were
performed.
(A) In the first series the test dose of venom used was 4 milligrammes per
kilo., viz. , about 6 lethal doses. This test dose of venom in solution (1 per
cent.) in normal salt solution and the serum in different quantities were mixed in
vitro . The mixture was allowed to stand at laboratory temperature (about
25° C.) for half an hour. It was then injected into the marginal vein of the ear
of the rabbit.
The following were the results obtained :—
Animal.
Weight.
Amount of venom
per kilo.
Amount of serum.
Result.
Rabbit 1
. 1,180 grammes. 4 milligrammes. 0.5 c.c. .
. Died in 27 minutes.
" 2
. 1,890
".
4
,,
. 1
" .
.
" 3 4 "
" 3
. 1,570
,,
. 4
"
. 2
"
. .
" 2 ½ "
" 4
.
1,810 „ .
4
,,
. 5 ,, .
. Found dead after 50 minutes.
"
5 (con-
trol).
1,490
,,
. 4
".
Nil .
. Died in 30 minutes.
31
From this series of observations it will be seen that 5 c.c. of serum failed
to neutralise 7.24—1.08 milligrammes =6.16 milligrammes of venom.
(B) In the second series of experiments the test dose of venom employed
was 2 milligrammes per kilo., viz., about 3 lethal doses. With this exception,
the same technique was used as in the first series of observations with this poison.
The following results were obtained :—
Animal.
Weight.
Amount of venom
per kilo.
Amount of serum.
Result.
Rabbit 1 . 1,300 grammes . 2 milligrammes. 2 c.c. . . Died in 18 hours.
" 2
. 1,460 "
. 2
"
.
3 " . .
Found dead after 17 hours.
" 3
. 1,370 "
. 2
"
.
4 " . .
"
60 "
"
4
. 1,200 "
. 2 " .
5 "
. .
"
" 4 0 "
" 5 (con-
trol).
1,320 "
. 2 " .
Nil .
.
" " 1 8 "
From this series of experiments it is evident that 5 c.c. of serum failed to
neutralise 2.4—0.72 milligrammes
1:68=milligrammes of this venom.
These two series of observations show conclusively that Calmette's serum
is inactive against the venom of Bungarus fasciatus.
SERIES No. XIII.—Experiments to ascertain if the serum of a horse immunised
with the venom of Hoplocephalus curtus has the power to neutralise ehe
venom of Bungarus fasciatus.
The serum which was used in this series of experiments was prepared by
Dr. Tidswell of Sydney by immunising a horse with the pure venom of Hoplo-
cephalus curtus. It was very active for this poison but was quite inactive
against the venoms of three other Australian snakes. The observations were
made with rabbits. All injections were made intravenously.
The test dose of venom used was 4 milligrammes per kilo., viz., about 6
lethal doses. In each instance this test dose (1 per cent. solution) and the
serum were mixed in
vitro. The mixture was allowed to stand at laboratory
temperature for half an hour. It was then injected into the marginal vein of
the ear of the rabbit.
The following results were obtained :—
Animal.
Weight.
Amount of venom per kilo. Amount of serum.
Result.
Rabbit 1 . 1,450 grammes . 4 milligrammes . 0.5 c.c.
Died in 32 minutes.
" 2
. 1,780
"
. 4
" . 1 " . .
" " 1 2 "
" 3
. 1,460
"
4
" . 2
".
.
" 2 2 "
" 4
. 1,680
"
.
4 "
.
5 " . .
" 1 0 "
" 5 (con-
trol).
1,490
"
. 4
"
.
Nil . .
" 30 "
From this series of experiments it is at once evident that the serum of a
horse immunised with the venom of Hoplocephalus curtus has no power to
neutralise the venom of Bungarus fasciatus.
Notes and References.
(1) (a) "Scientific Memoirs by Officers of the Medical and Sanitary Departments of
the Government of India." New series, 1903, No. 3.
(b) Ditto: New series, 1903, No. 4.
(c) Ditto : New series, 1903, No. 5.
• (d) Lancet : August 16th, 1902.
(2) Loc. cit.
(3) " Indian snake poisons, their nature and effect." London, W. H. Allen and Co.,
1883.
(4) " Scientific Memoirs by Officers of the Medical and Sanitary Departments of the
Government of India." New series, 1903, No. 3.
(5) Loc. cit., vide reference 4.
(6) Loc. cit.
(7) " Scientific Memoirs by Officers of the Medical and Sanitary Departments of the
Government of India." New series, 1903, No. 4.
(8) The term ' isotonic' is not used in the strictly physiological sense. I have
employed it to mean the weakest strength of salt solution in which no 'laking' of the
blood was observed ; in other words, 'laking' and not swelling of the corpuscles was
taken as a standard.
(9)
" Scientific Memoirs by Officers of the Medical and Sanitary Departments of
the Government of India." New series, 1902, No. 1.
(10) " Scientific Memoirs by Officers of the Medical and Sanitary Departments of
the Government of India." New series, 1903, No. 5.
(11) " Notice sur le sèrum antivenimeux et sur le traitment des
morsures des serpents." Lille 1901.
(12) " Australasian Medical Gazette." April 21st, 1902, p. 177.
No. 7.
(NEW SERIES.)
SCIENTIFIC MEMOIRS
BY
OFFICERS OF THE MEDICAL AND SANITARY DEPARTMENTS
OF THE
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA.
SOME OBSERVATIONS ON THE POISON OF THE
BANDED KRAIT BUNGARUS FASCIATUS).
BY
CAPTAIN GEORGE LAMB, M.D. (GLAG.), I.M.S.
ISSUED UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
BY THE SANITARY COMMISSIONER WITH THE GOVERNMENT
OF INDIA, SIMLA.
CALCUTTA:
OFFICE OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF GOVERNMENT PRINTING, INDIA.
1904.
Price 8 Annas or 9d.
2
lasting from the 22nd August to the 6th October 1893, and a second tour, devoted
chiefly to the examination of witnesses, lasting from the 25th October 1893 till
the 25th April 1 894. From this last date till August 6th, the subject was dis-
cussed by the members of the Commission, and the report was drawn up.
I.—CULTIVATION.
3. The information obtained by the Commission as to the existence, pre-
Information obtained as to the spontaneous
growth of the hemp plant.
valence, and character of the sponta-
neous growth of the hemp plant shows
that, except in a tract which may be gener-
ally defined as the area that lies within 40 or 50 miles of the foot of the
Himalayas, the hemp plant does not grow wild, though there are two
areas in which the spontaneous growth is of some importance. One of these
areas is in the North-Western Provinces, and the second consists of the
country between the Ganges and the Bhagirati on one side, and the Eastern
Hill Tracts stretching down to Calcutta on the other. The plant grows wild
throughout the Himalayas from Kashmir to the extreme east of Assam, though
it probably disappears at a higher altitude than 10,000 feet. It is generally
found in mountainous regions and in the lower slopes of the hills, where
it probably springs from seeds carried down from the mountains. In the
populous parts of the Sub-Himalayan Tracts and in the valleys of Assam the
wild growth is kept up in a great measure by fresh importation of seed from
the ganja and bhang which are consumed by the people, and this is true also,
tthough in a limited degree, of the mountain and hill ranges. The plant is
hardy when once established, but would probably not long survive unaided in the
ow country.
4. The extent of cultivation and the total area of hemp cultivation in
India are given in the following table
taken from paragraph 150 of the Report,
in which the area is given as tar as it has been possible to state definite
figures:—
Extent, either ascertained or estimated, of cultivation in the various Provinces
and States.
PROVINCE OR STATE.
Area A
in i
acres.
For F
w what
product.
REMARKS.
Bengal
.
.
.
.
.
824 Ganja
, Average, five years.
North-Western Provinces
Farakhabad and Hardoi
•
British Kumaon and Garhwal
Punjab
.
.
.
.
Central Provinces
.
.
•
Madras
.
.
.
.
.
190
830
100
95o
35o
Bhang
.
Fibre
.
Bhang b
•
Ganja
.
Do.
.
,
Average,
do.
Reported,
Do.
Average, ten years.
Reported.
Bombay
British Territory .
•
Native States
.
.
.
Sind and Khairpur
•
.
Berar
.
.
.
.
Ajmere
.
.
•
.
.
Hyderabad .
.
.
.
.
1,000
157
345
58
5
35o
Do.
.
Do.
.
Bang
Ganja
.
Bhang
.
Ganja
.
Average, five years.
Reported.
Average, five years,
Average,
do.
Estimated.
Do.
Rajputana-
Jhallawar
.
,
,
.
Jaisalmir
.
,
.
.
Shahpura
.
.
.
.
3o
1 0
25
Bhang
.
Do,.
Do.
Reported.
Do.
Central India-
Indore
.
.
.
.
Gwalior
.
.
.
,
Dewas
.
'
.
.
Baroda
.
.
.
.
112
400
25
8
Ganja
.
Do,
,
Do.
.
Bhang
•
Average, five years.
Reported.
Do.
Do.
TOTAL
.
,_._
5,769
Extent of cultivation.
21
that no shop for the sale of hemp drugs should be opened without
consulting the Municipal Committee, and in rural centres notice
of the intention to open a shop should be given, and any objection
to the establishment of a shop which may be brought forward
should be considered, no shop being opened unless there is a
real demand for the drug.
(f) With regard to the maximum of possession, the Commission recom-
mend that it should be fixed at 5 tolas for ganja and charas and
20 tolas, or ¼ o f a s é r , f o r b h a n g . T h i s l i m i t i s r e a s o n a b l e , a n d
the Governor General in Council accepts it. In Bengal, the
adoption of this limit requires legislation.
(g) A proposal to tax hemp drugs according to their strength has been
made, but the Commission find that there are practical difficulties
in the way of adopting this suggestion, as " the physiological
value of the resin extraction present in all samples is not the
same; and though two specimens may contain precisely the same
percentage of resin extraction, it does not follow that the narcotic
power of the drug would be equal, and also that the percentage
of extraction in the drugs may vary from year to year;" and the
proposal is not, in the opinion of the Governor General in Council,
a feasible one.
64. That the incidence of taxation in different provinces ought not,
cœteris paribus, to vary greatly, is a
proposition which is laid down by the Corn-
mission. The table below, which has been furnished by the Commission, shows
the remarkably unequal retail prices per sér prevailing in the different prov-
inces:--
GANJA.
CHARAS.
BHANG.
Minimum.
Maximum.
Minimum.
Maximum.
Minimum.
Maximum.
R a. p.
R a. p.
R a. p.
R a. p.
R a. p.
R
a. p.
Bengal.
1 2 0 0
30 0 0
35 0 0
40 0 0
1
0 0
6 0 0
Assam.
15 0 0
40 0 0
North-Western
Prov-
inces.
2 8 0
30 0 0
7 8 0
40 0 0
0 4 0
1 0 0
Punjab
4 0 0
15 0 0
0
2
0
0 8 0
Central Provinces
5 0 0
10 0 0
Not given.
Madras
.
1 4 0
4 2 8
......
. .
.
0 6 8
3 5 4
Bombay.
0 6 0
5 0 0
......
... ...
0
8 0
3 0 0
Sind .
6 6 0
10 0 0
15 0 0
30 0 0
1 0 0
1
4 0
Berar.
Ajmere
..
.
2 0 0
4 0 0
2
8 0
5 0 0
16 0 0
20 0 3
0 8 0
0 8 0
0 8 0
1
0 0
Coorg
o 14 0
1 0 0
Not given.
Quetta-Pishin
.
7 8 0
7 8 0
20 0 0
20 0 0
1
0 0
1
0 0
65. On this table the Commission remark that
The figure given as the maximum for the ganja in the Central Provinces is not the
true maximum. It is "the average retail price in most districts for small quantities of
ganja. " The maximum must, therefore, be higher. In Jubbulpore the Commission found
that in some shops ganja was selling at R12 per sér. The maximum for the province is
not available. A maximum quotation of 4 annas per tola, equal to R20 per sér, is given
for ganja in Madras: this may be Rajshahi ganja. Bhang is said to reach a maximum
price of R10 per sér in the same district. in Malabar, Vellore ganja is said to reach 4
annas per tola, but the maximum price in North Arcot is 4 pies. Wynaad ganja in the
Incidence of taxation in different provinces
should not vary much.
23
of the use of hemp drugs upon their consumers, and the information which has
been brought together on the subject in the Report of the Commission is of
great interest and value, not only to Government and its officers, but also to the
general public.
69. The acknowledgments of the Government are especially due to the
three unofficial gentlemen, Raja Soshi Sikareshwar Ray, Kunwar Harnam Singh,
and Lala Nihal Chand, who at great expenditure of time and comfort, and, in one
case at least, at some risk to health, took part in the investigations of the Com-
mission. The inability of the Governor General in Council to agree with two
of these gentlemen, in the points on which they dissent from the views of their
colleagues, does not diminish his appreciation of the care and labour they have
bestowed on the task entrusted to them.
ORDER.—Ordered, that a copy of this Resolution and of the Report be
forwarded to all Local Governments and Administrations and to the Agent to
the Governor General in Baluchistan.
Ordered also, that copies of the Resolution be forwarded to the President
and Members of the Commission.
Ordered further, that the Resolution be published in the Gazette of India.
STEPHEN JACOB,
Offg. Secretary to the Government of India .
5
ganja and charas do impair the constitution in the long run, specially of the persons taking
low diet.
Again, no attempt is here made to estimate the value of this evidence; but
it is obvious that these witnesses cannot be quoted in support of the proposition
that the moderate use of ganja and charas is deleterious.
STATEMENT III.
Opinions of some medical witnesses on effects.
STATEMENT IV.
Opinions of some witnesses on crime.
The first of these two statements contains extracts from the evidence of 43 witnesses ;
the second from that of 102 witnesses. The evidence in question is analysed at length
by the Commission in paragraphs 500 to 509 in one case ; and in paragraphs 540 to 551 in
the other. It does not appear what objections are raised to the correctness of the Com-
mission's analysis.
STATEMENT V.
Political danger of prohibition.
Extract from the Minute of Dissent.
86. I have given a list in statement V of some witnesses of position and
experience, who state that there would be no political danger of
the use of these drugs if prohibited.
Of the 130 witnesses enumerated in this statement, 89 say that to prohibit the use of
ganja and charas would cause discontent, which might be more or less serious, and 97 are
opposed to total prohibition, either because they think it would be ineffectual, or because
they think it would be an unjustifiable interference with the liberty of the subject. The
reason why they think it would cause no political danger is because of the small number
of consumers as compared to the total population. The Commission analyse in para-
graphs 569 to 584 the evidence relating to prohibition ; and their general conclusion is
given in paragraph 585 of their report.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA.
Finance and Commerce Department.
SEPARATE REVENUE.
Excise.
RESOLUTION.
No. 1369 Ex.
Dated Calcutta, the 21st March 1895.
Report of the Indian Hemp Drugs Commission.
G. I. C. P. 0.—No. 793 F. & C. D.-21-3-95.-300.-R. N. D.
( NEW SERIES. )
N o. 3.
IP/QB.10
m. 91 . b.
SCINTIFIC MEMOIRS
BY
OFFICERS OF THE MEDICAL AND SANITARY DEPARTMENTS
OF THE
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA.
SOME OBSERVATIONS ON THE POISON OF RUSSELL'S VIPER.
(DABOIA RUSSELLII).
BY
G. LAMB, M.D., CAPTAIN, I.M.S., AND WM. HANNA, ESQ., M.B., ETC.
ISSUED UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
BY THE SANITARY COMMISSIONER WITH THE GOVERNMENT
OF INDIA, SIMLA.
CALCUTTA: OFFICE OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF GOVERNMENT PRINTING INDIA.
1903. Price As. 5 or 6d.
X
No. 3.
(NEW SERIES.)
SCIENTIFIC MEMOIRS
BY
OFFICERS OF THE MEDICAL AND SANITARY DEPARTMENTS
OF THE
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA.
SOME OBSERVATIONS ON THE POISON OF RUSSELL'S VIPER.
(DABOIA RUSSELLII).
BY
G. LAMB, M.D., CAPTAIN, I.M.S., AND WM. HANNA, ESQ., M.B., ETC.
ISSUED UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
BY THE SANITARY COMMISSIONER WITH THE GOVERNMENT
OF INDIA, SIMLA.
CALCUTTA :
OFFICE OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF GOVERNMENT PRINTING, INDIA.
1903.
Agents for the Sale of Books published by the Superintendent of Government
Printing, India, Calcutta.
IN ENGLAND.
E. A. ARNOLD, 37, Bedford Street, Strand, Lon
-don, W.C.
CONSTABLE & CO., 2, Whitehall Gardens, London,
S. W.
SAMPSON Low, MARSTON & Co., St. Dunstan's
House, Fetter Lane, London, E.C.
P. S. KING & SON, 2 & 4, Great Smith Street,
Westminster, London, S.W.
LUZAC & Co., 46, Great Russell Street, London,
W.C.
KEGAN PAUL, TRENCH, TROBNER & CO., Charing
Cross Road, London, W.C.
B. A: QUARITC H, I5, Piccadilly, London, W.
WILLIAMS and NORGATE. Oxford.
DEIGHTON BELL & CO., Cambridge.
ON THE CONTINENT.
R. FRIEDLANDER & SOHN, II , Carlstrasse, Berlin,
N.W.
OTTO HARRASSOWITZ, Leipzig.
KARL W. HIERSEMANN, Leipzig.
ERNEST LEROUX, 28, Rue Bonaparte, Paris.
N ARTINUS NIJHOFF, Hague, Holland.
IN INDIA.
THACKER, SPINK & Co., Calcutta and Simla.
NEWMAN & Co., Calcutta.
THACKER & CO., LD., Bombay.
D. B. TAR APOREVALA, SONS & Co., Bombay.
A. J. COMBRIDGE & Co., Bombay.
MRS. RA DHABAI ATMAR AM SAGOON, BOMBAY.
HIGGINBOTHAM & CO., Madras.
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RAI SAHIB M. GULAB SINGH AND SONS, Mufid-I-Ant
Press, Lahore.
SUPERINTENDENT, AMERICAN BAPTIST MISSION
PRESS, Rangoon.
SOME OBSERVATIONS ON THE POISON OF RUSSELL'S VIPER.
(Daboia Russellii.)
MUCH light has of late years been thrown on the physiological action of
the venoms of most of the poisonous snakes. Thus Weir Mitchell 1 in
America, has carefully investigated the nature and action of the venom of the
American rattle-snake ( Crotalus); Martin 2 of Melbourne has made similar
researches on the poisons of the Australian black snake ( Pseudechis ) and tiger-
snake ( Hoplocephalus curtus ); and Wall 3 and Cunningham 4, in India, have pub.
lished observations on the physiological actions of the venoms of the cobra ( Naja
tripudians) and of Russell's viper ( Daboia Russellii). In addition to this,
Kanthack 5 , Stephens 6 and Myers7 have done valuable work, principally on the
hæmolytic action "in vitro" of those venoms. Finally, Calmette and Fraser 9
have investigated the question of artificial immunity against those poisons, and
both have been able to obtain a serum which has a specific action, at least
against the venom of the cobra.
While all the older observers, such as Brunton and Fayrer 10, seem to have
regarded the physiological action of cobra venom as essentially identical with
that of the poison of vipers, such as Daboia, the result of the investigations
mentioned above has been to show beyond a doubt that this is not the case,
and that cobra poison exercises its poisonous effect in quite a different manner
from the venom of true vipers. However, in a recent publication 11 issued from
Lille it is stated that Calmette has shown that snake venoms differ from one
another only in the degree of their toxicity, and that they are all of the same
nature. It is stated, further, that an animal immunised with the most toxic
venom, i.e. , cobra poison, furnishes a serum which is protective against, and
anti-toxic to, the venom of all species of snakes. We shall return to the con
-sideration of these statements later.
It would appear from a perusal of the literature of the subject that, while
the descriptions of the symptoms which the different venoms produce in man,
and when artificially inoculated into animals, coincide fairly well, there is a great
divergence of opinion amongst different observers regarding the physiological
cause of these symptoms. Thus, while almost all writers, who have specially
A