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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    On the Poison of Naja tripudians. The destruction of life in India by snake-bites is so great, that, with the hope of preventing or diminishing the mortality, in 1867 Dr. Fayrer began, and has recently completed, a protracted and systematic series of investigations on the subject in all its aspects; and, in a work entitled the ' Thanatophidia of India,' has published a description of the venomous snakes found in British India, with an account of a series of experiments on the lower animals, conducted for the purpose of studying the nature of the poison, its modus operandi, and the value of the numerous remedies that have been from time to time reputed as anti- dotes—that is, as having the power of neutralizing the lethal effects of the virus, and of saving life. His object in carrying out these investigations has been:— 1st. To ascertain the nature and relative effects of the bite of the different forms of Indian venomous snakes, and the conditions and degrees of intensity under which the activity of the virus is most marked. 2nd. The physiological action of the virus, and its mode of causing death. 3rd. The value of remedies, and the extent to which we may, by pre- ventive or therapeutic measures, hope to save life. 4th. To ascertain and make known the actual state of our information in connexion with these three points of inquiry, and to substitute scien- tific and rational knowledge for vague, empirical, and dangerous theories. He has had the honour of submitting a copy of this work to the Eoyal Society; and it is therefore unnecessary to occupy its time by repeating much of what is therein related on the 1st, the 3rd, and part of the 4th heads.