SPECIFICITY AND THERAPEUTIC VALUES OF ANTIVENINS 241 



the crotalus venom. On the other hand, anticrotahis serum was quite anti- 

 toxic both against the crotalus and the jararacussu venoms. 



LACHESIS FLAVOVIRIDIS ANTIVENIN.^ 



This vi^as first prepared in large animals by Kitashima at the Institute for 

 Infectious Diseases at Tokio, but a more detailed work on this venom and 

 its immunization was performed by Ishizaka. This investigator immun- 

 ized a number of rabbits with the venom modified with chloroform, glacial 

 acetic acid, hydrogen sulphite, at temperatures ranging from 60° to 68° C. 

 His modification was aimed at the removal of the haemorrhagin without at 

 the same time destroying the immunizing properties of this particular prin- 

 ciple — as Flexner and Noguchi have done with the American crotaline 

 venoms. In this manner he was able to obtain antivenins which very effec- 

 tively neutralized the haemorrhagic toxin of the unmodified venom. Thus 

 the work of Flexner and Noguchi on the production of haemorrhagin toxoids 

 is confirmed and extended. The haemorrhagin of the same venom was easily 

 neutralized, but that of viper's venom was neutralized only slightly or not at 

 all, showing the difference in the haemorrhagins of different species. 



Against the general toxicity of habu venom this antivenin was quite effec- 

 tive, but not at all or only slightly against the venom of viper. 



CALMETTE'S ANTIVENIN. 



According to Lamb 5 c.c. of this serum failed to neutrahze 0.002 gm. = 

 3 minimal lethal doses of Bungarus fasciatus venom and 0.00005 g^- = ^ 

 minimal lethal dose of Echis carinata venom. The same author has also 

 shown its inefficacy in combating the fatal effect of Daboia russelUi venom. 

 It is superfluous to detail here the controversies between C. J. Martin 

 and Calmette about the neutrahzing properties of this serum against certain 

 Australian colubrine species. It seems that the experiments carried out by 

 Tidswell supported Martin's old argument. 



Noguchi also found Calmette's antivenin inefficacious in neutralizing the 

 fatal effects of Crotalus adamanteus and Ancistrodon piscivorus. 



Brazil concludes that Calmette's antivenin has no neutralizing effects 

 against the venoms of Lachesis lanceolatus and Crotalus. 



THERAPEUTIC VALUE OF ANTIVENINS. 



The therapeutic value of antivenins is influenced by several factors. First, 

 it depends on whether or not an antivenin can neutrahze venom after symp- 

 toms of toxication have already developed. At least, it ought to be able to 

 neutralize venom even after the lapse of several hours, provided death does 

 not ensue within that period. With the venoms which kill the victim within 

 several minutes through the production of intravascular thrombosis, anti- 

 venin may be of but httle practical value; but in the case of bites of Colubridae 

 and most Crotahdae death usually comes after several hours or later, seldom 



' Ishizaka. Studien iiber das Habuschlangengift. Zeitschr. f. exper. Path, und Therapie, 1907, IV, 88. 

 Also, Kitashima. The Philippine Jour, of Science. 1907, III, Section B, 151. 



