220 Kansas Academy of Science. 



This article goes on to state that "there remains in our minds 

 no doubt as to the fact that the saliva which drops from the mouth 

 of Heloderma when it bites is a very active poison. The briefest 

 examination of the lizard's anatomy shows why it has been with 

 reason suspected to be poisonous and why it poisons with so much 

 difficulty. Unless the teeth are entire, the poison abundant, and 

 the teeth buried in the bitten flesh so as to force it down into con- 

 tact with the ducts, where they open at the crown of the teeth, it is 

 hard to see how even a drop of the poison could be forced into the 

 wounds. Yet it is certain that small animals may die from the 

 bite, and this may be due to the extraordinary activity of the poi- 

 son and to the lizard's habit of tenaciously holding fast to what it 

 bites, so as to allow time for a certain amount of absorption." 



The latest contribution to the literature of the subject is from 

 the pen of George Wharton James, of Pasadena, Cal., who writes 

 as follows: "Many people will tell you that the Heloderma has no 

 poison glands, and that therefore its bite cannot be dangerous. 

 This is a most dangerous illusion. The venom of the Heloderma 

 is as poisonous as that of the rattlesnake, as several people who 

 have been bitten have found out to their cost. For many years I 

 have been investigating this subject, and I will make quite clear 

 why some people are bitten by the Heloderm,a without injury and 

 others suflPer severely. The venom-glands are situated under the 

 chin, thus being on the lower jaw instead of the upper, as in the 

 case of the rattlesnake. They are modified from glands which cor- 

 respond to the sublingual glands of mammals. There are four 

 ducts leading out of each gland. These ducts perforate the lower 

 jaw and open in front of the grooved teeth. 



"A careful study of the dentition of the Heloderma shows that 

 there are several intermediate forms between the unmodified teeth 

 of the reptile and the fully developed poison-fangs. The poison- 

 glands are compound tubular glands, closely resembling the other 

 salivary glands in structure. The peculiarity of their secretion is 

 to be explained by their physiological activity rather than by their 

 structure. So writes my friend, Dr. 0. A. Whiting, of the Pacific 

 College of Osteopathy, who has given some time to the study of 

 the teeth and glands of the Heloderyna. Though their poison 

 teeth are grooved, there is no connection between the poison-glands 

 and the teeth, as in the case of the duct of the rattlesnake. The 

 poison pours out onto the floor of the moiith, between the lips 

 and the gums; that is, into the interior of the bottom jaw. Being 

 below the teeth and not directly communicated to them, the poison 



