OP THE VENOM OF THE RATTLESNAKE. 



69 



Effect of Grotalus Venom on Dogs. — Thus far we have dealt with animals who 

 were almost inevitably destroyed by the bite of the Crotalus. The canine species 

 are for less liable to die, because their larger size is in itself a protection, as must 

 be evident, when we consider that the poison is active in proportion to the amount 

 injected, and that this will be the same, whetlier the animal bitten be a bird or a 

 horse. In the following cases, tberefore, some will be found to have resulted flivor- 

 ably. On the other hand, the most rapidly fatal termination was consequent upon 

 a number of bites, and took place at the close of twenty minutes. On this point 

 I have a brief explanation to make, before going further. 



At the time of my experiments upon dogs, my snakes had been often used and 

 handled, and had taken but little food, although in confinement from two to five 

 weeks. It was not to be expected that, under these circumstances, they should 

 prove as deadly as if they had been fresh, and were biting for the first time during 

 some weeks or months. I have thought proper to make this prefatory statement, 

 because it is well known that very often dogs have been destroyed in one, two, or 

 three minutes after the bite of a fresh animal. 



The following experiments were selected fi'om a series, made with the view of 

 establishing a rate of mortality, so as to compare the results with tliose obtained 

 when a supposed antidote was employed. They were made with' care, the snakes 

 employed having been previously left undisturbed during a week. 



With the defects which underlie this plan, so far as it has reference to antidotes, 



