The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1874-10-12
From the New York 1rlbune.l
aNEtON OF REPTILE POISONS.
A serics OF Interesting Experiments
In New HOrk-Effect of Cobra, Moe
casin and Isattlesnalse Poison ON
Cats and Rabbits.

Some very interesting experiments have
lately been made bya distinguished physi-
clan in this city with the poison of reptiles.
especially that of the cobra di capello (naia
fripudans,) moccasin (crotalus duriSsus. J
The poison of the cobra was brought from
the East Indies, where the snake is found
in large numbers, and the experiments con-
firm the previous ones of DR.. Alfred S.
Taylor of London, and others who have
experimental with this deadly poison. The
poison received weighed about a dracbm
and was in the form of dry yellow scales.
1t had been collected about five years ago,
but had been carefully preserved IN q glass
stOppled bottle that had excluded the at
mo. phcre.
First small quantity was taken and dis
solved in little water. The solution was
made by triturati'n, about one and half
grains of the powdered scales being dis.
solved in about forty drops of distilled wa
ter. The solu ion looked like mucus, and
adhered to the spatula used in the manpu
lations. 1t slightly REDEEMED blue litmus
paper, which demonstrated the acidity of
the solution.
fine large cat wac then produced, and
the solution having been drawn into hypo-
dernic syringe, the whole was injected un
der the skin of the animal on its right side.
Care was taken to have the fluid pass well
into the cellular tissue, where it would be
quickly absorbed. n pain was inflicted
by the operation, and The cat at first did not
tuitsr any Inconvenience. About fifteen
mnut IS after the injection of I e poison the
cat began seemingly to lose its power of To-
comotion. 1t legs seemed to grow weaker
and weaker, until at length the animal was
unable to support the weight of its body
After few moments the cat turned over
and breathed its last. The chest was I'M
mediately opened and the lungs inflated by
catheter. The heart continued to beat
for short time, but at length the blood
seemed to engorge the organ and it ceased
to beat. This engagement was also noticed
by DIR. Taylor. The cobra poison in this
instance changed doubtless that life giving
AMI life-sustainlng element, the blood in
some peculiar manner, so that the heart
could not perform its functions and force
the blood through the capillary vessels. The
nervous centres were not affected, as far
as could be detected, except perhaps ulti-
mately.
Another cat was obtained, and after ia st
of twenty four hours similar dose was in
troduced into the stomach by means of
she manifested no bad symptoms apparently
from the dose of cobra poison. These ex.
periments confirm the views that have been
expressed in regard to this poison. that al
though very venomOus when introduced in
to the system through the circulatory APP
paratus, yet the mucous membrane does not
seem to absorb and take up this poison.
The poison of the mOccasin was in a red
dish. brown powder. There were only
about ten grains sent on, and it was coli
lected in the southern parts of the United
States. About one grain was dissolved in
about twenty drops of water. 1t made a
clear solution. A few drops of alcohol
added II another solution turned the whole
to milky-white mixture. showing that the
p 4 on isnot solub'e in alcohol. The so uti IN
IN water gave no reaction with blue litmus
paper, but with tumeric paper 1t gave slight
indications f an alkaline reaction. Into
comn"n-sized rabbit was injected one grain
OF the poison in solution, hypodcrmicaily
In less than five minutes a convulsive ac-
ton began to be manifest all over the body
OF the animil This increased until the
animal turned upon its back, all
ITS limbs being in violent motion.
The part where the injection had
had been made began to swell, and the an
imal soon began to gasp and finally died.
i he chest was opened. and the movements
OF the heart we're found 10 have ceased.
These movements could not he renewed bv
imitation OF the lungs, AS in the other case.
The medulla oblongata seemed to have
been affected, and this was the secondary
cause of death. The parts about the me-
dulla and the medula ITSELF under the mi
croscope, exhibited an increase of blood
cells and all the signs of acute inflamma-
tion. Of course one case cannot demon
strate truth, but in this instance the ac-
ton of the poison seemed to be almost
wholly upon the medulla oblongata and tho
surrounding parts.
The poison of the rattlesnake was Sc
cured in liquid form, and some OF it eject
ed beneath the skin of n rabbit The symp
toms were noticed in about fifteen minutes
The wounded part began to swell and a fe.
verish action was set up that rapidly be-
came more and more intense. The rabbit
soon began to rush wildly about the room
and seemed to be in a delirious condition
In about an hour the animal died. The
chest WAS opened as quickly as possible
and the heart could sti be stimulated &c
occasional action. But all the parts were
engorged, and evi ences of an irritable
blood poison were everywhere apparent.
Both the mOccasin and the ratilesnakt
poison were administered by the mouth, blu
inneither case was there anv bad effect
Other experiments are to be M ,de with
view to more careful examination of III,
physiological effects OF these pOisons. Tit
experiments are to be also made to discov
er, II possible, whether any antid ties car
be administered that will neutralizc tn,
toxical effects. The present experiment.
hayp haeu mostly pnnnrmntory I,,,t -,