On the nature and physiological action of the poison of Naja tripudians and other Indian venomous snakes / by T. Lauder Brunton and J. Fayrer.

  • Brunton, T. Lauder (Thomas Lauder), 1844-1916.
Date:
1873
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: On the nature and physiological action of the poison of Naja tripudians and other Indian venomous snakes / by T. Lauder Brunton and J. Fayrer. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Glasgow Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Glasgow Library.

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    rabbit 7 milligrammes of extract: 5| minutes after the first injection the animal became very restless. 7'. Bespiration rapid. The vessels of the ears were noticed to be much injected. On continuing to observe them the injection disappeared and then returned again. The alternate filling and emptying of the vessels was much more perceptible than in the normal condition. The rabbit sits quietly, but every now and then gives a start. 22'. The condition of the ears has continued the same. The eyes are becoming half shut and the eyeballs turned up. The animal now begins to tremble. The head is laid down on the table and then raised again: this is succeeded by a nodding motion of the head. The head is next laid down on the table. Respirations 22 in 15 seconds. 24'. The animal has sunk down on its face, and paws as if its fore legs would no longer support it. The hind legs, however, still support the posterior part of the body. Respirations 11 in 10 seconds. It seems to be trying in vain to raise its head. 26'. Respirations 8 in 10 seconds. Convulsions. The cornea is sensitive. The rabbit is now lying on its side. Respirations 5 in 15 seconds. Pulse 12 in 18 seconds. 31'. Cornea is nearly but not quite insensible. The eyeball is pro- truding. About 31 g' respiration has stopped. The heart is still beating vigorously. 32'. Cornea insensible. The animal opened immediately. The heart was beating vigorously; 21 beats in 10 seconds. An attempt was made to insert electrodes into the spinal cord and pass uninterrupted current through them. No effect followed; but it is not certain that they were well in the cord. Irritation of the nerves going to the hind legs by uninterrupted current had but a slight effect. Direct irritation of the muscles caused them to contract. After the irritation was discontinued, a fibrillary twitching was observed in one of the extensions of the thigh. 42'. Heart still feebly pulsating. Irritation of the brachial, sciatic, and crural nerves has very little effect. 45'. Heart still feebly pulsating. Experiment V. Two drops of cobra-poison were injected under the skin of the thigh of a guineapig. One or two minutes after the injection the legs of the animal began to twitch. It was then covered with a glass bell-jar. 6' after injection. The legs are again twitching. This is a peculiar motion of the hind legs, in which they seem to make an abortive attempt to kick involuntarily.