Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1871-08-10

In cases of poisoning by venomous
snakes, commissions follow, With some
these are marked, while with others
death is porceded by a more lethargic
appearance but in every case the
symptoms all point to exhaustion and
paralysis of the nerve centres, every
function failing rapidly, and vitality
soon becoming extinct. A complete loss
of consciousness is generally preceded
by local paralysis, great depression,
iaintness, exhaustion, nausea, vomiting,
hemorrhage, relaxation AMI involuntary
excavations, nor unfrequently of san
guineous or muco-sanguineous character
Little is shown by post-mortem exam
nation beyond the marks of the fangs
and of the wounds Immediately around
them although in certain cases decom-
positions of the tissues appear. The
lungs are not congested, nor is the heart
overloaded. The visceraappear natural,
and death does not seem to be depend
ent upon the disturbance of any one
particular function. A remarkable dit
ference is seen in the effect upon the
blood by the bite of different species.
Thus, in the case of the lower animals,
the blood coagulates firmly on being re-
moved from the body when death fol-
lows from poisoning by the colubrino
snakes, while in cases of death by the
poison of the viper it remains perma-
nently fluid. No explanation is given of
this popularity. From experiments DIR.
Fayrer ascertained that the poison acts
with more vigor or warm-b looded ami
mails, birds being especially sensitive-a
fowl sometimes being known to die in Il
few seconds. The power of resistance
generally appears to be in proportion to
the size of the ANIMAL although cats
seem to resist the influence Of poison
almost as long as dogs of three or four
times their weight. Cold-blooded ami
mails he found to srccumb to the poison
more slowly, though fish, non-venomous
serpents, and mollusca all die. He, how
ever, agrees with the observation of DIR.
Mitchell and others, that poisonous SER
penis are not affected by their own bite
that is, that's cobra may bite itself OF
another cobra with no evil result, but
that the less poisonous serpents are
I, somewhat affected by the more poison
+ Gus kinds, although slowly. Strange as
, it may appear, the bodies of animals
, that are poisoned by snakes may be eat
en- by man and animals with impuuity
OF this the experimenter had frequent
proof. He found, however, that the
blood of an animal that died from snake
poison is itself poisonous, and that if in
jected into another animal it destroys
,, life. Although venomous snakes are
not affected, or but slightly, by snake
poison, they readily succumb to strych
', nine or carbolic acid, the latter substance
: appearing to destroy them very rapidly
, and to be an object of special aversion.
The usual remedies in the way of an
tidotes, DIR. Fayrer considers of yer.
little account, as being either powerlcs
or quite inert A ligature, excision, o
cautery, if applied in time, appears tc
; be the only rational remedy that can b'
. of any avail in really poisonous case
Stimulants are not unfrequently judi
ciously recommended but as antidotes
in the ordinary sense of the term, the,
have no special value.