Report on the Effects of Artificial Respiration Intravenous Injection of Ammonia and Administration of various Drugs &c. in Indian and Australian Snake-poisoning; and the Physiological Chemical and Microscopical nature of Snake-poisons

9. There is evidence to prove that the great shock othe poison is first felt in the nerve centres of the cord gradually involving those of the medulla and the ganglia of the mesocephale ; and lastly implicating the functional integrity of the hemispheres of the brain.. [...] The variation in the rate at which poisoning up to the destruction of the natural functions of the cerebro-spinal system and respiration supervened was probably due to the difference--(1) in the quantity of the poison injected ; (2 ) in the proximity of the same to the venous radicles and lymphatics ; (3) in the rate at which venous and lymphatic absorption were carried on ; and (4) in the size [...] The power of artificial respiration in supporting the respiratory process ; in maintaining the action of the heart and the circulation of the blood to all parts of the body ; in effecting the arterialization of the blood; in sustaiing the life of the secreting and excreting organs and that of the organic system of nerves ; and in probably keeping up an imperfect form of nutrition of the tissu [...] Professor Halford in ignorance of the unfavourable results of the treatment of snake-bite in Italy by ammonia given by the stomach applied to the surface of the wounded part or injected in strong doses directly into the venous side of circulation has resuscitated the method of combating the effects of snakepoison upon persons in Australia by means of the intravenous injection of this volatile [...] The instantaneousness of the vaunted cures when the patients were supposed to be on the verge of death is of itself strong presumptive evidence to show that the poisoning of the nerve centres and the cerebrum could not have been of a very grave character the descriptions of Dr.