53<5 SNAKES. 



saliva. Again, as Dr. Stradling expresses it, 'snake virus is 

 a natural secretion provided for the distinct physiological 

 purpose of enabling the reptile to secure its prey.'i Fayrer 

 also explains that some snakes, naturally sluggish, 

 * bite reluctantly ;' but, if irritated and made angry, then 

 ' with great force and determination.' In the one instance a 

 bitten person might recover, in the second case die, because 

 here the snake ' thoroughly imbedded its fangs ' (p. 379). 



It is often asked, ' Which is the most poisonous snake "^ ' — 

 a question as difficult to answer as, ' Which is the most 

 poisonous plant V Dr. Gunther's opinion is that the degree of 

 danger depends less on the species which inflicts the wound, 

 than on the bulk of the snake, the quantity of its venom, the 

 season or temperature, and the place of the wound. Quantity 

 for quantity, the virus of one snake is more active or more 

 powerful than another, and different in its effects ; but then 

 the lesser discharge of poison directly into a vein might be 

 more serious than a full discharge in a part where absorption 

 is slow. Also exactly the same quantity, minim for minim, 

 would more seriously affect a warm than a cold blooded 

 animal, more seriously affect a feeble and timid person or 

 animal than the brave and vigorous. Yet, as there is a 

 notable gradation in the development of the poison 

 apparatus, the perfection of which culminates in the viper, 

 it seems not unreasonable to decide that as a rule a viper is 

 more virulent than an elaps of the same size — let us say btilk, 

 because the viperine snakes are short and thick and the 

 elapidcB long and slight. Each snake is supplied with venom 

 adequate to its own requirements, that is, enough to kill the 



' Nafiire, July 6, 1882 : 'Hydrophobia and Snake-Bite,' by Dr. A. Stradling. 



