180 VENOMS 
after a few minutes, or a few hours, according to the dose injected, 
with the peritoneum full of blood. 
When deposited upon the mucous membranes of the eye, vagina, 
or urethra, all venoms, those of CozuBribÆ like those of VIPERIDÆ 
—but the latter with greater intensity 
cause very acute inflam- 
mation, comparable to that produced by jequirity ; the capillaries 
become distended, allow leucocytes to exude en masse, and, as for 
instance upon the eye of the rabbit, a purulent ophthalmia soon 
establishes itself. 
Certain species of Sepedon (COLUBRIDÆ), common on the West 
Coast of Africa, especially in Senegambia and in the hinterland 
of Dahomey, and to which the name Spitting Snakes has been 
given, possess the faculty of projecting little drops of venom to 
a distance by forcibly expelling the air from their lungs, and the 
natives assert that this venom, when it happens to come into 
contact with the eyes, causes blindness. This is true to a certain 
extent, in so far as it produces attacks of purulent ophthalmia 
which are often serious; but these attacks, like those provoked 
experimentally in animals, can be cured in a few days when 
properly treated, 
When absorbed by the digestive tract, the venoms of Cozu- 
BRiDæ often produce no ill-effects. It is otherwise with those 
of Vreertipa. The venom of Lachesis, for example, if adminis- 
tered in sufficient doses, sets up acute inflammation of the gastric 
mucous membrane, and the animals speedily succumb with attacks 
of gastro-intestinal hemorrhage, even before it has been possible 
for the toxic effects upon the nerve-cells to become apparent. 
These facts explain the contradictions that are to be found 
in the works of different investigators upon this subject. It is 
affirmed by some writers that venom can be swallowed without 
danger, and they even advise the sucking of venomous wounds in 
order to hinder its absorption. Others, including Sir Joseph 
Fayrer, Richards, and Weir Mitchell, have killed pigeons and 
fowls by making them ingest venom of Vipera russellii, or Crotalus, 
