200 VENOAIS 



lecithin), and that the latter, instead of fixing itself upon the 

 corpuscles, becomes united with the surplus fraction of the ambo- 

 ceptors, which has remained free in the liquid. 



Noguchi,^ resuming the study of this extremely curious action 

 of strong doses of venom, observed that the red corpuscles of 

 certain species of animals (such as the horse for example), when 

 previously washed and held in suspension in a physiological 

 solution of sea-salt containing 4 per cent, ol: Cobra-venom, acquire 

 a considerable augumentation of resisting power with regard to 

 various physical and chemical agents. In consequence of this they 

 are no longer hsemolysed by distilled water, ether, or saponin. 



Nevertheless, acids or alkalies, except ammonia, destroy cor- 

 puscles treated with venom more easily than those in their normal 

 condition. 



If corpuscles, previously treated with a strong dose of venom, 

 are subjected to repeated washings in physiological saline solution, 

 the special resistance acquired by them in the presence of the 

 venom disappears ; they even become more sensitive to the action 

 of destructive agents, such as water, ether, or saponin. 



The principle contained in venom, to which must be attributed 

 the protective action, is not destroyed by heating to 95° C, although 

 at this temperature Cobra-Yenom becomes partially coagulated. 

 Moreover, the protective substance is contained in the coagulum, 

 while the lucDioIijsiii remains entirely in the filtrate. The agglutinin 

 of venom, on the other hand, is destroyed at a temperature of 

 75° C. The protective substance, therefore, can be identified 

 neither with the hsemolysin nor with the agglutinin. 



It follows that it is impossible to accept the hypothesis of the 

 " deviation of the complement " suggested by Kyes and Sachs to 

 explain the innocuousness of strong doses of venom. Besides, it 

 would l)e difficult to reconcile this hypothesis with the fact, 

 observed by Noguchi, that venom in a strong dose protects cor- 



' Journal of Experim-nfal MnJiriiir, 1905. No. 2. pp. 191-222. 



