32 PHYSIOLOGY AND TOXICOLOGY 



tlie poisonous properties of the fluid remained unaltered, as I shall have frequent 

 occasion to demonstrate. 



The want of agreement among observers, as to the reaction of viper poison, is 

 such, that the point in question should be re-examined by some competent person. 

 Prince Louis Lucien Bonaparte,^ to whom we owe a chemical analysis of viper 

 poison, does not appear to have touched the matter, and contents himself with 

 stating that echidnine or viperine, the essential principle, is neutral, making no 

 allusion to an acid, when detailing the other ingredients present. 



Decomposition of the Venom. — Like most albuminoid matters, the venom entered 

 into decomposition when long kept in the moist state, but although it then deve- 

 loped vibrioues, and even low confervoid growths, and smelt most horribly, it was 

 still poisonous. How long it would retain its virulence under these circumstances, 

 and what extent of putrefactive change might be needed to destroy this quality, 

 I cannot state from my own experience. 



Many specimens of venom let fall, on repose, a white sediment, which, in a 

 few cases, was very abundant. The clear poison presented no points of interest 

 when viewed microscopically. When dry, it cracked like dried white of egg, 

 but under no management has it afforded me crystals. My friend Prof. Ham- 

 mond' has been more successful, and has obtained crystals by diluting the venom 

 of the C. cmifluentus, and allowing the mixture to dry slowly, sheltered by a 

 cover-glass. (Fig. 11.) The crystals thus formed, resembled those of ammoniaco- 

 magnesian phosphate, which affect the feathery form of crystallization. 



Fiff. 11. 



The white deposit was composed chiefly of amorphous, granular matter, with a 

 few pavement epithelial cells, compound granular bodies of oleaginous character, 

 and finally of the peculiar masses known and described as colloid bodies,^ and in 



' Prince Lonis Lucien Bonaparte, Gazetta Toscana, delle Scienze Medico-fisiche, Anno primo, Firenze, 

 1843. I have been unable to find this memoir, and have been forced to employ Orfila's quotation of his 

 results. Orfila, Tox. Gen., p. 844. 



» Fig. 1 1 is taken from Prof. Hammond's drawing, which he kindly put at my disposal. 



» Wedl, Pathological Histology, Trans, of the Sydenham Society, pp. 38, 264, 271, etc. 



