324 NOTES AND COMMENTS [November 1899 



which was rendered immune, and had thereafter young ones. These 

 proved to have cellular immunity, but the presence of an antiglobulicidal 

 substance was detected in their serum, so that both natural cellular 

 immunity and acquired " humoral " immunity were found co-existing 

 in one organism. What next ? 



Venom of Vipers. 



Many wonderful things have been discovered of recent years in regard 

 to the poison of snakes, such as the possibility of counteracting its 

 toxic properties with the snake's own bile, but that there is still much 

 to be discovered is evident from a recent communication from a well- 

 known worker, C. Phisalix (Comptcs Rendus Acad. Sci. Paris, cxxix. 

 1899, pp. 115-17). 



He has shown that the secretion of the poison glands of Vipera 

 aspis and other Viperidae contains a diastatic ferment or echidnase. 

 This varies in amount according to habitat and seasou. Thus it is 

 much more abundant in vipers of the Vendee than in those of Arbois 

 (Jura) ; it is not demonstrable in the secretion in early spring after 

 the hibernal period, but has become abundant by the end of May or 

 the beginning of June. It is indeed present in the glands in spring, 

 but the secretory cells are inactive and retain it. 



A solution of the viper's poison in glycerine-water gradually loses 

 its virulence, more quickly when the external temperature is high. 

 It often happens that in ten to fifteen days the venom has become 

 quite innocuous, and it is found that of its active principles the 

 echidnase is most persistent. Moreover, when the echidnase is 

 removed from the venom, the attenuation of the latter is much slower 

 than usual. It is therefore logical to suppose that the echidnase plays 

 an active part in the attenuation, directly attacking the venomous 

 principle. Experiments show that this is really the case, and thus we 

 reach the conclusion that the diastatic ferment of Viperidae has a 

 digestive effect not only on the tissues of the animals inoculated, but 

 also on the active toxic substance, the echidno-toxin. 



