Venomous animals / by Sir J. Fayrer.

  • Fayrer, Sir Joseph, 1824-1907.
Date:
1877
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Venomous animals / by Sir J. Fayrer. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    almost entirely soluble in water. The solution is strongly alkaline, is precipitated by chloride of platinum, and also by phospho- molybdic acid. It is exceedingly poisonous. It produces all the symptoms caused by the entire secretion. “ Even by drying in the stream of hydrogen a part of the base was so altered that a resinous body was produced, insoluble in water, soluble in alcohol, solution fluorescent, fluorescence dis- appeared after some time. The aqueous or alcoholic solution of this body when saturated with HC1, and dried on a water bath in a stream of H, leaves before it is dry long crystalline needles, which disappear when the drying is complete. The substance when fully dried contains hydrochloric acid. The free base when once dried retains its poisonous power for months. “ Results.—Sainandrin is an organic base, not volatile without de- composition, easily soluble in water and alcohol, crystallizes with water of crystallization. Solutions are strongly alkaline, forms neutral salts with acids, precipitated from solution by phospho- molybdic acid, also by chloride of platinum which decomposes it. It is not decomposed by boiling its solutions, but is by gradual drying in air ; when dry it is permanent. “ Test.—Precipitate by phosphomolybdic acid, dissolve, evaporate to dryness with PtCl4 on water bath, a transparent amorphous blue mass insoluble in water forms during the drying. “ Symptoms produced by it.—After a few minutes (three to twenty-nine) the poisoned animal trembles, is- restless, epilepti- form convulsions occur, at first weak and confined to single limbs.. The animal moves, but goes backwards, instead of for- wards ; there are violent convulsions- of the muscles of mastica- tion (especially in rabbits), and marked salivation, most when the fresh secretion has been used. The convulsions increase ; there is opisthotonos, the animal can no longer sit, but falls in convulsions to the ground with head bent back. The eyes are open, the pupils much dilated and insensible. The animal seems insensible to all irritation, the respiration is weak, the pulse irregular, but strong, the muscles relaxed. During the convulsions the activity of the heart is unaltered, but respiration completely suspended. They last only one to two minutes at most, then there is rest, and then an- other often stronger than before, so that the animal is thrown clean into the air. Death occurs from exhaustion, with symptoms of paralysis. Rigor mortis comes on quickly, blood very dark, often bleedings in lungs, heart and veins full, heart pulsates after respiration has ceased. Brain normal, only great congestion of it and liver. e L “ In fish it produced rigidity of body (quiet-respiration) and death. “ In dogs, given by mouth, salivation, restlessness, vomiting, con- vulsions limited to posterior part of back and feet, intermittent, sudden like an electric shock. Vomiting and convulsions in- creased,^?^ passu, and convulsion affected whole body. During