324 NOTES AND COMMENTS [NOVEMBER 1899 
which was rendered immune, and had thereafter young ones. These 
proved to have cellular immunity, but the presence of an antiglobulicidal 
substance was detected in their serum, so that both natural cellular 
immunity and acquired “humoral” immunity were found co-existing 
in one organism. What next ? 
Venom of Vipers. 
Many wonderful things have been discovered of recent years in regard 
to the poison of snakes, such as the possibility of counteracting its 
toxic properties with the snake’s own bile, but that there is still much 
to be discovered is evident from a recent communication from a well- 
known worker, C. Phisalix (Comptes Rendus Acad. Sci. Paris, exxix. 
1899, pp. 115-17). 
He has shown that the secretion of the poison glands of Vipera 
aspis and other Viperidae contains a diastatic ferment or echidnase. 
This varies in amount according to habitat and season. Thus it is 
much more abundant in vipers of the Vendée than in those of Arbois 
(Jura) ; it is not demonstrable in the secretion in early spring after 
the hibernal period, but has become abundant by the end of May or 
the beginning of June. It is indeed present in the glands in spring, 
but the secretory cells are inactive and retain it. 3 
A solution of the viper’s poison in glycerine-water gradually loses 
its virulence, more quickly when the external temperature is high. 
It often happens that in ten to fifteen days the venom has become 
quite innocuous, and it is found that of its active principles the 
echidnase is most persistent. Moreover, when the echidnase is 
removed from the venom, the attenuation of the latter is much slower 
than usual, It is therefore logical to suppose that the echidnase plays 
an active part in the attenuation, directly attacking the venomous 
principle. Experiments show that this is really the case, and thus we 
reach the conclusion that the diastatic ferment of Viperidae has a 
digestive effect not only on the tissues of the animals inoculated, but 
also on the active toxic substance, the echidno-toxin. 
