184 VENOMS 
were very far advanced. The same applies to the muscular fibres 
of the heart. This organ exhibits, above all, hemorrhagic infiltra- 
tions in its peripheral portion, rarely in its substance. ° 
The lungs are the seat of more important lesions. We find in 
them a multitude of little infarcts. Around these the capillary 
vessels are extremely dilated, and the pulmonary vesicles have 
become very small. 
All these lesions of the visceral organs strangely resemble those 
observed in the case of individuals who have died from yellow fever. 
This observation has been made by several scientists, among others 
by Sanarelli, and it is this perhaps that has suggested to some 
(Dyer, of St. Louis, R. Bettencourt, of Sio-Paulo!) the idea of 
treating—without much success, however—yellow fever by the 
antitoxin of venom. 
(4) ACTION UPON THE STRIATED MUSCLES. 
The changes in the striated muscles in places at which venom 
has been injected do not present any specific character. The 
muscular fibres already become necrosed half an hour after the 
injection ; the diseased tissue becomes permeated with an albumin- 
ous mass rich in fibrin, and the blood is extravasated. <A few 
hours later we observe, between the bundles of degenerate muscle 
fibres, polymorphous leucocytes. The number of these latter con- 
stantly increases, and attains its maximum after one or two days. 
The muscular nuclei become distorted, appear long or angular, and 
assume the aspect of myoblasts (sarcoblastic muscle cells). In the 
protoplasm of the myoblasts we frequently find particles of broken- 
down muscle, and globules of fat. 
All these changes resemble those observed as the result of the 
action of a host of other muscle poisons, especially the irritant or 
caustic chemical substances. 
' Société de Médecine et de Chirurgie de Sao Paulo (Brazil), June 15, 1904. 
