372 THE SNAKES OF SOUTH AFRICA. 
blood from the gums, lining membrane of bowels and bladder 
also occurs. 
If the patient survives this stage, any extensive escape of 
blood into the tissues may set up mortification or gangrene, and 
death may take place two or three weeks after the bite. But once 
the danger point has been passed, however, the patient rapidly 
becomes mentally active and cheerful, and recovery quickly follows. 
How To CoLLEcT SNAKE VENOM. 
One of the best ways to collect quite pure snake venom for 
purposes of experimentation and chemical analysis is to procure 
a large and strong watch-glass, as convex as possible. Obtain a 
piece of sheet rubber or thin glazed cloth, preferably the latter. 
Stretch this loosely over the rim of the concave side of the 
watch-glass, bunch it up and tie it at the centre of the convex 
side. Hold the live snake by the neck, the forefinger of the 
right hand (unless you are left-handed) round its throat, and the 
thumb pressed firmly on the back of its neck, just behind the head. 
Seize the tail firmly in the left hand. If the watch-glass can be 
fitted into some fixture, all the better andsafer. Failing this, an 
assistant holds it with his fingers and presses its edge against 
the front of the lower jaw of the snake. The reptile instantly 
bites, its fangs penetrate the stretched rubber or cloth, and 
the venom is discharged on the concave side of the glass. If 
it should show a desire to grip firmly and hold on, quickly 
transfer the tail of the snake to the free fingers of the right 
hand. Then, with two fingers of the left hand, gently but 
firmly, press each side of the head behind the eyes, working 
your finger-tips forward. In this way you will succeed in press- 
ing out most of the venom remaining in the glands. Put the 
snake away, and repeat the process in a day or two. Remove 
the rubber from the watch-glass and allow the venom to dry on 
the glass by placing it in a current of air, or in some warm, dry 
place. Use the same glass repeatedly until sufficient venom has 
been collected to make it worth while to transfer it to a bottle 
with a good tight cork. Before putting the venom into the 
bottle, be sure that it is perfectly dry, else it will decompose and 
lose its poisonous properties. It may be very effectually dried 
in a desiccator over calcium chloride. It dries rapidly at 16° to 
