OF THE VENOM OP THE RATTLESNAKE. 47 



CHAPTER V. 

 TOXICOLOGY OP THE VENOM OP THE CROTALUS. 



The strange and subtle poison which we have hitherto considered chemically, 

 will hereafter claim our attention in its relations to animal and vegetable life. In 

 the course of study thus laid down, we shall be called upon to examine, first, its 

 influence upon the lower vegetable existences. Secondly, its power to affect higher 

 vegetable organisms, and the germination of seeds. Thirdly, its activity with 

 relation to the lower animals ; and, fourthly, the influence of the venom upon the 

 mammalia, such as the dog, and, finally, man himself. 



The subject of the power of serpent venom to destroy vegetable life has attracted 

 the notice of but two, among the many observers who have studied the poison of 

 Indian, European, or American reptiles. Neither of the observers alluded to 

 has investigated the matter very fully, and I have, therefore, endeavored to fill 

 the void thus left, as completely as possible. 



Before I proceed to detail my own results, it will be proper to state, briefly, the 

 conclusions at which others have arrived.^ 



Dr. Oilman says : " During the process of robbing several species of serpents (of 

 venom), I inoculated several small, but vigorous and perfectly healthy vegetables 

 with the point of a lancet well charged with venom. The next day they were 

 withered and dead, looking as though they had been scathed with lightning." 



The experiments thus described are so very limited, and so wanting in state- 

 ment of details, that it is difficult to accord to them any great value as scientific 

 evidence. Even in so trifling a matter as this, the sources of error are numerous, 

 and we have a right to demand every possible knowledge as to the temperature 

 and season, the size of the plants, the amount of venom employed, and the eff'ect of 

 wounding similar plants to the same extent, but without the use of the venom.- 



> On the Venom of Serpents, B. J. Gilman, A. M. M. D., LL. D., St. Louis Med. and Surs'. Journal, 

 1854, p. 25. 



" An amusing story, wliicli passed tlirougli three persons, reached the Philosophical Transactions (vol. 

 xxxviii. p. 321) in the following form : " Sir Hans Sloan learned from Col. Beverley (Hist, of Va., 2d 

 ed. p. 260) that Col. James Taylor, of Metapony, had stated to him that, having found a Rattlesnake, 

 they cut off his head, with three inches of his body. A green stick, the bark being peeled off, was put 

 to the head. It bit it, when small green streaks were observed to rise up along the stick towards the 

 hand. At this juncture, the Colonel wisely dropped the stick, which, in a quarter of an hour, of its own 

 accord, split into several pieces, and fell asunder from end to end." 



