98 VENOMOUS SNAKES AND THE PHENOMENA OF THEIR VENOMS 
Muriatic acid: The treatment of Crotalus adamanteus venom with con- 
centrated hydrochloric acid did not destroy its death-dealing principles when 
tested on pigeon. But no local lesion was observed. Neutralization of acid 
did not change the result. 
Sulphuric acid: The effect on the crotalus venom was not very destructive. 
Neutralization of acid did not affect the outcome. 
Acetic acid: This did not destroy the crotalus venom when mixed with a 
small quantity of the venom. 
Hydrobromic acid: The crotalus venom was destroyed by pure hydro- 
bromic acid, but not entirely by a half-dilution of the same acid. In this 
series adamanteus and horridus were both used. The action on the cobra 
venom was very different, as the acid did not destroy this venom so easily as 
the crotalus venoms. 
Tannic acid: Contrary to their expectation, Mitchell and Reichert found 
this acid to exert comparatively little effect on the venom of Crotalus adaman- 
teus. Cobra venom did not lose its activity after the treatment with tannic 
acid. 
Alum: When added to saturation to the solution of Crotalus horridus 
venom, it produced precipitate which, when mixed with some water and 
injected, did not cause death in the quantity of 0.015 gm., but was fatal with 
0.06 gm. 
Chlorine water: 0.5 c.c. of chlorine water (fresh) did not destroy the 
activity of the venom of Crotalus adamanteus. 
Bromine: As hydrobromic acid the action of bromine is very marked 
upon the crotalus and cobra venoms. 
Iodine: Produces a dense precipitate, which is non-toxic. 
Iodine and potassic iodide: A saturated solution of equal parts of iodine 
and potassic iodide caused considerable delay of the action of crotalus venom. 
Potassic iodide: No effect on crotalus venom. 
Potassic bichromate: Almost no effect on crotalus venom. 
Potassic permanganate: Crotalus adamanteus dried venom 0.015 gm. in 
0.5 c.c. was completely destroyed by 0.005 gm. of this salt, but not by 0.0038 
gm. or less. When the amount of potassic permanganate reaches over 0.015 
gm. it produces local slough. The venom of Crotalus horridus and that of 
Cobra are likewise destroyed by this salt. 
Peroxide of hydrogen: This powerful oxidizer did not exert any appre- 
ciable destructive effect upon the venom of Crotalus adamanteus. 
Silver nitrate: Notwithstanding the powerful action of silver nitrate on 
albuminoids it was found to have comparatively little effect upon the toxicity 
of the venom of Crotalus adamanteus when used in equal weights. (Venom 
0.015 gm. + AgNO, 0.015 gm. in 3 c.c.) But ina larger quantity the nitrate 
destroyed the venom completely. 
Mercury chloride: Dried crotalus or moccasin venom 0.03 gm. + mer- 
cury chloride 0.03 gm. in 1 c.c. produced precipitate. The precipitate after 
washing in water was injected into pigeons without showing any symptoms. 
