162 VENOMS 



diately, as happens in periods of cellular stimulation, or else 

 continue to exist for some time within the cell, indicating a period 

 of saturation by the elaborated material. 



During cytoplasmic activity the granule of venogen and the 

 ergastoplasmic venogen disappear. 



Nuclear elaboration and cytoplasmic elaboration constitute two 

 different cycles of secretion. The effect of the nuclear cycle is to 

 furnish the cytoplasm with the elements necessary for the work 

 of secretion properly so-called. Cytoplasmic elaboration is not 

 confined to the basal protoplasm, but takes place throughout the 

 entire cell : it is especially active in the perinuclear cytoplasm. 



The granule of venogen is distinguished from the granule of 

 elaborated venom l)y its affinity for Unna's blue, safranin, and 

 fuchsin. The granule of venom has an affinity for eosin ; it is 

 never excreted in granular form, but after intracellular dissolution. 



Venogen is never met with in the lumen of the gland-tube.^ 



Collection of Venom. 



Venom can be extracted from the poison-glands of either freshly 

 killed or living snakes. 



In cases in wbich the venom of dead snakes has to be collected, 

 the best method of extraction consists in fixing the head of the 

 animal to a sheet of cork and carefully dissecting out the gland on 

 each side. The reptile being" placed on its back, the lower jaw 

 is removed with a pair of scissors ; two strong pins or two tacks 

 are thrust through the skull, in the median line, in order to keep 

 the head from moving. The poison-fangs are next drawn out of 

 their sheaths, and, without injuring them, the two poison-ducts, 

 which open at their bases, are isolated and tied with a thread in 

 order to prevent the poison from running out. 



The dissection of the glands is then very easy ; they are lifted 



' L. Lannoy. '"These de doctorat es sciences," Paris, 1903, No. 1,188, serie A, 

 454. 



