xi VENOMOUS SNAKES AND THE PHENOMENA OF THEIR VENOMS 
protein nature of ricin and abrin, another toxic principle from the jaquirity 
bean, was then established. Flexner, who made the most minute pathologi- 
cal study on these phytalbumins, called attention to the close resemblance 
between some forms of toxalbumoids and snake-venom poisonings. Ehrlich 
finally succeeded in preparing antiricin and antiabrin serums by immuniza- 
tion, and confirmed their toxin-like nature. 
Strong evidences exist, however, that it is possible to separate pure toxic 
agents from the protein molecules to which they attach. The work of L. 
Mendel approaches this end, while peptic digestion has been shown by M. 
Jacoby to remove much of the protein with the toxicity well preserved. 
Turning our attention now to the toxin-like products of animal origin, we 
find that suitable examples are not lacking. Thus, many insects, worms, 
fishes, amphibia, reptilia, and even mammalia are provided with glands 
that secrete toxin-like principles of varying power. As proven by Calmette, 
Phisalix and Bertrand, Fraser, and others nearly twelve years ago, snake 
venom is placed among toxalbumoids by its apparent protein nature and 
capability of antitoxin formation. To the category of toxins we may assign 
various ferments, inasmuch as both are labile and antitoxin or antiferment 
forming in the alien animal body, and having the antigenous property. It may 
not be out of place, therefore, to make a brief comparison among the physio- 
logical products elaborated by the specified cell groups and snake venom. 
Of all physiological products elaborated by diverse groups of specified cells 
of animal body none is so complex as the venom of serpents. Any glandular 
secretion is more or less polytropic in its action, but the secretion of the poison 
gland of snakes takes the first rank in polytropism. It is well known that 
the gastric juice contains at least three active ferments, namely, pepsin, 
rennet, and lipase, and in the pancreatic secretion there are trypsin and lipase. 
In the saliva we find pthyalin. In the leucocytes, as shown by the interesting 
work of Opie, there are two kinds of proteolytic ferments and one fibrin fer- 
ment. ‘The multiplicity of these active principles becomes, however, almost 
insignificant when compared with snake venom. This particular product is 
found to be a remarkable polytropic one, and to-day we recognize in it a 
large number of constituents which impart to the venom the powers of proteo- 
lysis, lipolysis, plasma coagulation, and, above all, of dissolving the nerve 
cells, blood cells, endothelia, liver cells, kidney cells, testicle cells, egg cells, 
spermatozoa, protozoa, bacteria, and muscle fibers. In short, snake venom 
contains (besides proteolytic ferments, lipase, and fibrin ferments) a group 
of cytolysins of extreme activity, and, indeed, upon these cytotoxins depend 
the lethal properties of nearly all kinds of snake venom. The venom fibrin 
ferment has also been identified with the lethal principle of certain viperine 
or colubrine venoms. 
Besides these directly injurious agents, venom contains a certain principle 
which destroys the bactericidal property of the normal blood and causes 
eventual secondary septicemic infection. That these cytolytic properties 
of snake venom have nothing to do with the proteolytic or lipolytic ferments 
