

OF THE YENOM OF THE RATTLESNAKE. 41 



It was evident from these experiments that, for some reason, the -land and its 

 infusions were less virulent than had been anticipated. Eeflectmg upon the great 

 relative size of the gland, and upon the minute amount of secretion elaborated by 

 it it seemed to me possible that the quantity of gland matter stored up for its 

 production, might also be but small, and that if this were so, the pigeon migh 

 not suffice as a test of its existence. The following experiments were the result 



of this view. . r- , • ui 



Experiment— K large snake, weighing four pounds, and measuring three feet eight 

 inches, was secured, and allowed to bite a reed-bird, which died within one minute 

 exhibiting both local and general symptoms. The snake was then teazeduntil it 

 struck, and threw out a drop or two of poison from each gland, after which its head 

 was cut off, the ducts divided, and the gland thoroughly emptied by pressure^ It 

 was then finely divided as usual, washed, and dried in bibulous paper. Thus 

 prepared, the gland was considered to be free from any poison which might have 

 been already secreted in a fluid form, and was treated with twenty-five drops of 

 water and kept at a temperature of 90° F. for thirty minutes, during which time 

 it was frequently stirred, and compressed with a small pestle, while the water was 

 renewed as it evaporated. The whole of the fluid was next drawn up into a fane 

 tube, and carefully injected under the skin of the breast of a reed-bird. After 

 four hours and twenty minutes, the bird was seen to be weak, but the local signs 

 were of uncertain value. Twenty-one hours after poisoning, the bird was found 

 dead Its muscles were firm, the blood dark and loosely coagulated. 



Experiment.— The remnant of gland tissue was put under the skin of a reed- 

 bird, one portion being placed in the breast, another in the thigh. This bird died 

 within twenty-one hours, and in it, also, the symptoms of local poisoning were 

 deficient. The blood was even better coagulated than in the last case. 



Experiment.—^ snake of middle size (about two and a half feet long) was made 

 to employ its glands, and was then decollated, the glands extracted, divided, and 

 washed as usual. Ten drops of water were mixed with the tissue of this gland, 

 and being placed in a test-tube, it was left at a temperature of 85° F. for two hours. 

 The fluid was then drained from the gland, and injected into the thigh of a reed- 

 bird. In two hours and four minutes the bird was becoming weak, and the extra- 

 vasation of blood— which is the most marked symptom of Crotalus poisoning— was 

 sufficiently distinct. Two hours later, the bird was rocking on its feet, and the 

 extravasation was larger. It died during the following night. On examination, 

 the muscles about the wound were softened, and even decomposing, and the blood 

 was chiefly uncoagulated with an occasional clot of minute size and loose texture. 



Experiment.— The remnant of gland used in the last observation was again 

 treated with ten drops of water, which became slightly milky in hue on being 

 agitated, and incorporated with the bruised tissue. After half an hour it was 

 finally drained from the gland, and injected as usual under the breast skin of a 

 reed-bird; proper precaution being always observed to avoid raising the skm too 

 much. Within two hours and ten minutes the bird was weak, and the breast 

 tissues contained a little extravasated blood. One hour and ten minutes later, the 

 local symptoms were unaltered, and the bird weaker. It died during the ensuing 

 6 



