Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1874-10-28
PLAYING WITH POISON.
Experiments in Killing Cats and Rabbits
with the Essence of the Cobra, IMOcassin,
and RattLesnnke.
From the New York Tribune.

and Rattlesnake.
From the New York Tribune.
Some very interesting experiments
have lately been made by a distinguish
ed physician in this city with the
poison Of reptiles, especially that of the
cobra di capello (Naio tripuda'as,)
moccasin (Toricoph,ts liscivorus), and
rattlesnake (Crotalats durassus.) The
poison of the cobra was brought from
the West Indies, where the snake is
found in large numbers, and the expert
ments confirm the previous ones of DR..
Alfred S. Taylor, of London, and others
who have experimental with this deadly
poison. The poison received weighed
about drachm, and was in the form of
dry yellow scales. It had been collect
ed about five years ago, but had been
carefully preserved Ill glass-stoppled
bottle that had excluded the atmo-
sphere.
First a small quantity was taken
and dissolved In a little water. The
solution was made ny trituration, about
l. grains of the powdered scales being
dissolved in about 40 drops of distilled
water. The solution looked like mucus,
and adhered to the spatula used in the
manipulations. It slightly redeemed
blue litmus paper, demonstrated
the acidity of the solution.
A fine large cat which was then pro-
duced and the solution having been
drawn into q hypodermic syringe, the
whole was injected under the skin of
the animal On it's right side. Care was
taken to have the fluid pass well into
cellular tissue, where it would be quick
ly absorbed. No pain was inflicted by
the operation, and the cat at first did
not seem to suffer any inconvenience.
About fifteen minutes after the injec.
ton of the poison the cat began seem.
ingly to lose it's power of locomotion-
Its legs began to grow weaker and weak
er, until at length the animal was unable
to support the weight Of it's body. At
ter few moments the cat turned over and
breathed it's last. The chest was i'm
mediately opened and the lungs in
hated by a catheter. The heart con-
tinued to beat for short time, but at
length the blood seemed to engorge the
organ and it ceased to beat. This en-
gorgement was also noticed by DR.. Tay-
lor. The cobra poison in this instance
changed doubtless that ife-giving and
life-sustaining element, the blood, in
some peculiar manner, so that the heart
could not perform it's functions and force
the blood through the capillary vessels.
The nervous centers were not affected,
as far as could be detected, except per
haps ultimately.
Another cat was obtained, and after
a fast OF d hours a similar dose was in
troduced into the stomach by means of
a tube. This cat was carefully watched,
but she manifested no symptoms appa-
aently from the dose of cobra poison.
These experiments confirm the views
that have been expressed III regard to
this poison. These experiments con-
firm the views that have been expressed
in regard to this poison, that although
the system through the circulatory ap-
paratus, yet the mucus membrane does
not seem to absorb and take up this poi
son.
The poison of the moccasin was in a
reddish brown powder. There were
only about ten grains sent on, and it
was collected in the southern ports of
the United States. About one grain was
dissolved in about twenty drops of wa
ter. It made clear solution. A few
drops of alcohol added to another solu-
ton turned the whole to milky-white
mixture, showing that the poison is not
soluble in alcohol. The solution in
water gave no reaction with blue itmus
paper, but with tumeric paper it gave
slight indications of an alkaline reaction.
Into common sized rabbit was injected
one grain of the poison in solution, ny
podermically. In less than five minutes
a convulsive action began to be manifest
all over the body of the animal. This
increased until the animal turned upon
it's back, all of it's limbs being in violent
motion. The part where the injection
had been made began to swell, and the
animal soon began to gasp, and finally
died. The chest was opened, and the
movements of the heart were found to
have ceased. These movements could
not be renewed by imitation of the lungs,
as in the other case. The medulla OBJ
longata seemed to have been affected,
and this was the secondary cause Of
Cedtu. LILO pdIGs dDOuu ulIt HtuuliA
and the medulla itself, under the micro
scope, exhibited an increase of blood
cells and all the signs of acute infam-
nation. Of course one cause cannot
demonstrate truth, but in this instance
the action of the poison seemed to be
almost wholly upon the medulla oblon-
gaia and the surrounding parts.
The poison of the rattlesnake was
obtained in liquid form and some of
it injected beneath the skin of rabbit.
The symptoms were noticed in about
fifteen minutes. The wounded part be-
gan to swell, and feverish action was
set up that rapidly became more and
more intense. The animal soon began
to rush wildly about the room and ap-
peared to be in delirious condition.
In about an hour the animal died. The
chest was opened as quickly as possible,
and the heart could still be stimulated
to occasional action. But all the parts
were engorged, and evidences of an ir-
ritative blood poison were everywhere
apparent.
Both the moccasin and the rattle
snake were administered by mouth, but