78 VENOMOUS SNAKES AND THE PHENOMENA OP THEIR VENOMS 



turbidity, except the insoluble particles, which are nothing but epitheha, cel- 

 lular debris, and spherical refractory albuminoid granules. 



Venom dries quickly to a sohd mass when exposed to an air-current at 

 low temperature (about 35° C. or even as low as 15° C.) or placed in a vacuum 

 desiccator over concentrated sulphuric acid or calcium chloride. When dried 

 at a lower temperature, which does not bring about coagulation of the albu- 

 minous constituents, venom retains its original hue, shghtly intensified 

 through concentration, and presents the appearance of an aggregation of 

 crystals due to the cracking of the dried substances. Dried venom is more 

 brittle than the dried egg-albumin and resembles more the dried serum in this 

 respect. In a cracked condition it consists of small, yellowish, fragile, trans- 

 parent or translucent particles of varying sizes. Dried venom retains its 

 original solubility in water or weak saline solution for an indefinite length of 

 time, together with its toxicological properties in unaltered strength and 

 quality. It absorbs moisture quite readily and shows strong adhesiveness. 



Snake venom in watery or weak saline solution undergoes putrefactive de- 

 composition through multiplication of some bacteria, and gives an unpleasant 

 odor. The toxic properties of the venom disappear from such decomposed 

 solution. 



In i860 Weir Mitchell studied the effects of various chemicals upon the 

 crotalus venom, and his results are given in the report of his work in connec- 

 tion with Reichert. Mitchell also studied the effect of boiHng upon the 

 activity of the crotalus venom. He found that boihng a solution of the 

 venom, which contained 10 to 12 drops of the venom in 8 c.c. of water, for 10 

 to 1 5 minutes, produced a dense coagulum and separated out a pearl-colored 

 supernatant fluid. The coagulum was found to be innocuous, while the fil- 

 trate was speedily fatal. From the filtrate he precipitated active substances 

 by alcohol; when dried it presented a pale-yellowish tint, and it gave neutral 

 reaction when redissolved in sufficient volume of water. It gave positive reac- 

 tion to Millon's test and to cupro-potassa test. He designated this substance 

 crotaline. A general quahtative analysis of the rattlesnake venom was sum- 

 marized as follows, and it may be mentioned that, although he later made 

 slight modifications in regard to the proteid constituents, the facts in general 

 will remain established. 



(i) An albuminoid body (crotahne) not coagulable by heat of 100° C. 



(2) An albuminoid compound coagulable at 100° C. 



(3) A coloring matter and an undetermined substance, both soluble in 



alcohol. 



(4) A trace of fatty matter. 



(5) Salts (chlorides and phosphates). 



According to Mitchell, crotalus venom does not contain any noticeable 

 quantity of potassium sulphocyanide. 



