New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-10-08
ACTION OF REPTILE POISONS.

A SERIES or INTERESTING EXPERIMENTS N THIS
CITY-EFFECr OF COBRA MOCcAsIN AND RATTLE
SNAKE POISON on CATS AND RABBITS.
Some very interesting experiments have lately
been made by guished physician in this ey with
the poison reptiles especially that OF the cobra d
pello (ydid tDudan m0ccasin tIoricophu piseiroruS
aud rattesnake (Croalus durissus Tie poison Of tho
cobra brought from the East Indies. where the
is found 10 large numbers, and 1.-The experiments
confirm the previous ones OF Dr. Alfred 8. Taylor OF
London, and others who have expermented with this
deadly poison. The poison received weighed about
drachm, and in the form Of dry yellow scales Is
had been collected about five years ago. but had been
carefully preserved in glass stoppled bottle that had
excluded the atmosphere.
First small quantity was taken aud dissolved In
little water. The solution made By trituration.
about II grains the powdered scales being dissolved
In about 40 drops of distilled water The solution looked
like mucus and adhered to the spatula used In tho
manpulatous. 1t slightly Redeemed blue litmus paper,
which demonstrated the acdity Of the solution.
A fine large cat then produced and the solution
having been drawn into a hypodermc syringe. the
whole was injected under the skin OF the animal ts
right side Care was taken to have the fluid pass well
into the cellular tissue where ii would be quickly abb
sorbed No pain inflicted by the operation. and the
cat at frat did not to suffer any Inconvenience
About fifteen minutes after the injection OF the poison
the cat began seemingly to lose its power OF ocomoton
length the animal unable to support the weight Of
its body After few moments the cat turned and
breathed its last The chest was Immediately opened
and the lungs inflated by catheter The heart contin-
ued to beat for short time, but at length the blood
seemed engorge the and 1t ceased to beat This
engagement also noticed by Dr. Taylor The cobra
poison this instance changed doubtless that lfegiv-
ing and life sustaining element the blood IN pecu
liar manner so that the heart could not perform its
functions and force the blood through the capillary YES
sells The nervous centers were not affected, as FAR ~
could be detected. except perhaps ultimately
Another cat was Obtained and after FAST or "a hours
similar dose introduced INTO the stomach by means
Of a tube. This cat was carefully watched. but she
OF cobra poison. These experiments confirm the views
have been expressed in regard to this poison that
although veDOmOus when introduced into the sys-
through the circuatory apparatus yet the mucoui
membrane does not seem to absorb and take up this
The poison of the moecasp was in a reddish-b brown
powder There 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
OF alcohol added solution turned the whole TO
milky white mixture showing that the poison is nos
tion with blue itmus paper out vita tumeric paper
gave slight indications OF an alkaline reaction. Into
cOmmOn-sized rabbit was injected one grain OF the
poison in solution, hypodermicaly. In less than five
minutes a conyulsve action began to be manifest gil
animal turned upon Its back all Its limbs being in vo-
5 part the
and finally died The chest was opened and the move.
movements could not be renewed by imitation Of tho
lungs, as in the other The mednlla oblOngata
seemed TO have been affected and this the second
airy Of DEATH The parts about the medulla and
the medua ITSELF under the microscope, exhibited
increase Of blood cells and all the signs OF inam
nation. or course cannot demonstrate truth,
but in this instance the action OF the poison seemed to
be almost wholly upon the medulla oolongaa and the
surrounding parts.
The poison OF the ratesnake obtained in liquid
form and some OF it injected beneath the skin OF rab
Bit The symptoms were noticed in about fifteen min
ues. The wounded part began to swell aud o feversh
intense The animal soon began 20 rush wildly about
the and appeared to be n q delri0us condition In
about hour the animal died The chest opened
quickly possible and the heart could still be slim
uated occasional action But all the parts were
gOrged and evidences Of rritatiye blood poison
every where apparent.
Both the mOccasn and the rattesnake poison were ad-
minstered by mouth but in neither there any
bad effect Other experiments are TO be made with q
view to a careful examination OF the physiOOgi-
cal effects OF these poisons The experiments to be
made to discover possible whether antdotes
can administered that will neutraiZe the toxical Of
fects The present experiments have been mostly
hrmatory but opportunities for obtaining these posons