Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1870-08-11
Other experiments, bearing less on the

main object OF this article were also enter.
ed upon. A viper was bitten by a cobra,
but no i'll effects followed, Acobra was
then made to bite itself on the tail-he also
suffered no i'll effects. cobra was bitten
by another Of the same species, but with
similar results,
An attempt was also made to discover If
the poison of one kind Of snake could be
used as the autidote against the power OF
another species. With this view cat was
bitten by viper and few minutes after
wards by cobra. The cat died III the
usual time, and there was nothing appar-
ent to show that the virulence of the poison
was either arrested or stimulated by the
variety OF poison.
A most exhaustive variety Of antidotes
were made use of in the course OF expert
m mt vet with what disastrous result
The deadliness of the poison and the utter
inability of the remedies to cope with 1t Is
clearly demonstrated; and the knowledge
thus gain ed leads one to suppose that the
recorded instances of cure are the excep-
tion-when the deadliness of the poison
has become exhausted by previous attacks;
or when sickness or want of vigor may have
impaired its power OF injury; or lastly,
when The poison penetrates so superhcslly
as not to be absorbed into the inner vessels
of the system.
DR.. Fayter's remarks are so much to the
point, that do not hesitate to insert them
"My belief is, that if an animal, and
probably man, is fairly bitten by fresh
and really vigorous cobra, or dabola- be-
lieye this is kind of viper)-it or he will
inevitably succumb, unless some immediate
and direct method OF arresting the entry OF
the poison into the circulation be practis-
ed That such may be done will not de-
nv: but the two experiments lust recorded
referring to the case IN which llgature
had been employed, and actual cautery IN
! hicted without success)-performed with
the greatest care by two surgeons accus-
toned to such operations, shows that at
least it is very difficult The
same may be said of the actual cautery.
Unless the hot iron enter the puncture
directly after the fang has been with
drawn, the poison is already far on its way
towords the centre; and the burning,
! though it destroys the tissues and such OF
of the poison as may not have entered the
circulation, can have no influence upon
| that which is already beyond its reach.
! To conceive an antidote, in the true sense
of the term, to snake poison, one must
/ imagine a substance so subtle as to follow
oversake and neutralize the venom in the
blood, or that shall have the power OF
counteracting and neutralizing the deadly
| influence it has eIerted ON the vital forces.
Such substance has still to be found, and
] nf ha
drugs doesnot lead to hopeful anticipation
that we shall find it,
! 1t was q matter Of regret that, while
making the experiment Of an injection OF
equal parts of cobra poison and ammonia,
! that of carbolic acid and the same poison
mixed, should have escaped the notice OF
the experimenters. Suggestions to this
effect were ventilated, andsa hope was eI-
pressed that this phase of the experiment
would receive attention at some subse'
uuent time. 1t was stated that the eftecs
of small quantity OF carbolic acid, ad-
ministered internally, was an almost in
Simultaneous death to the cobra. In less
than two minutes all self-directed vitality
and power of movement is destroyed,
and the paralyzed form only wrlthes in in
voluntary contortion. In very short
| time all motion is suspended, and the
snake lies stone dead. 1t was argued (but,
it must be confessed, it is not at all neces-
sary sequence) that, the effect of the inter
nal application being so decisive, it might
hayea counteracting effect as an antidote'
Though the supposition was supported by
no conclusive law of induction, it was
hoped that trial would be made, and in
certain quarters considerable confidence
wasdisplayed in the antidotal action of this
acid; and it was suggested that the point
should be settled determinately in manner
similar to that which proved so fatal to the
pretensions of mmonia-namely by It's
administration in conjunction with the
poison by injection. | am not aware that
this has ever been attempted, but a trial
sufficiently similar was made by DR.. Fay
rer, at the instance of those suggestions.
The cobra poison was, in the first place, in
iected into the jugular vein of dog, and
in almost immediate succession one OF car
bolic acid was applied; but not with any
favorable result, or giving evidence Of any
amelioration or any counter action OF the
ylruS