Year: 1871

W "oo" as the dntiuott against the pow
erof another species With thisview a cat
was bitten by a viper, and a few minuts
afterwards by a cobra. The cat died in
the usual time, and there was nothing
apparent to show that the virulence Of
the poison was either arrested or stimu-
lated by the variety of poison.


A most exhaustive variety of anti
dotes were made use in the course of ex-
pertinent, yet with what disastrous re-
suit The deadliness of the poison and
the utter inability the remedies to cope
with it is clearly demonstrated and the
knowledge thus gained leads one to sup
pose that the instances of cure are the ex.
ception-when the deadliness ofthe poison
has been 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 su-
perfcially as not to be absorbed into the
inner vessels of the system.


DIR. Faryers remarks are SO much to
the point that | do not hesitate to in
sert them:


'My belief is, that if an animal, and
probably a man, is fairly bitten by a
fresh and really vigorous cobra, or da-
boir-[ | believe this is kind of viper]
it or he will inevitably succumb, unless
some immediate and direct method of ar
resting the entry of the poison into the
circulation be practised. That such may
be done | will not deny but the two ex-
periments just recorded-[referring to
the case in which ligature had been en-
pioyed, and actual cautery inflicted
without success performed with the
greatest care by two surgeons accustomed
to such operations, shows that at least it
is very difficult.


The same may be esaidof the actual eau
terry. Unless the hot iron enter the pune
ture directly after the fang has been
withdrawn the poison is already far on
its way towards the center; and the
burning, through it destroys the tissues
and such of the poison as may not have
entered the circulation, can have no in
fuence upon that which is already be-
yond its reach.


To conceive an antidote, in the true sense
of the term, to snake poison, one must
imagine substance SO subtle as to fol-
low, overtake and neutralize the venom
in the blood, or that shall have the pow
er of counteracting and neutralizing the
deadly influence it has exerted on the
vital forces. Such substance has still
to be found, and our present experience
of the action of drugs does not lead to
hopeful anticipation that we shall find
it."


1t was 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, and a hope was
expressed that this phase of the expert
ment would receive attention at some
subsequent time. 1t was stated that the
effect of small quantity Of carbolic
acid, administered internally, was an al
most instantaneous death to thecobra. In
less than two minutes all self-directed vi
tality and power of movement is destroy
ed and the paralyzed form only writhes
in involuntary 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
necessary sequence) that the effect of
internal application being so decisive, it
might haye counteracting effect as an
antidote. Though the supposition was
supported by no conclusive law Of in
dication, it was hoped that a trial would
be made, and in certain quarters consid-
cradle confidence was displayed 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 preten-
sions of ammonia-namely, by its ad-
ministration in conjunction with the poi
son by injection. | am not aware that
thishaseve been attempted, buta trialsu-
fficiently similar was made by DIR. Fayrer
at the instance of those suggestions.
The cobra poison was, in the first place,
injected into the jugular vein of dog,
and in almost immediate succession one
of carbolic acid was applied but not
with any favorable result, or giving evil
dence Of any amelioration or any counter
action of the virus Good Health.


BLACK KNOTS IN PLUM TREEs.-The
Gardner's Monthly thinks, "The best