138 VENOMOUS SNAKES AND THE PHENOMENA OF THEIR VENOMS 
Notechis was the strongest, Daboia the weakest, and the other two occupied 
intermediary positions. Very remarkable is the strength possessed by the 
notechis venom. Oxalate plasma of dog was mixed with varying quantities 
of the solution of venom, and the time required for coagulation was noted. 
The result may briefly be quoted here, as it furnishes us with a more accurate 
conception of its coagulating potency. 
2c.c. of the plasma were mixed with one drop = 0.017 c.c. of venom 
solution of the following strengths, and the mixture placed in a bath at 40° C. 
o.1 per cent =0.00017 gm. Coagulated in less than I minute. 
0.01 per cent =0.000017 gm. Coagulated in less than 1.5 minutes. 
0.001 per cent=0.0000017 gm. Coagulated in less than 15 minutes. 
0.0001 per cent=o0.0cc000t7 «gm. Coagulated in lessthan to _ hours. 
0.00001 per cent=0.0c0o0000017 gm. Permanently fluid. 
Control Permanently fluid. 
The strength of the venoms of Pseudechis and Echis carinata proved to be 
one-half to two-thirds of that of notechis venom. 
Martin states here that the mechanism of coagulation of oxalate or citrate 
plasmas is independent of the presence of calcium ions, as these venoms clot 
ro per cent oxalate plasma as rapidly as 0.2 per cent, and the action is the 
same upon oxalate, citrate, fluoride, and magnesium sulphate plasma, and 
also upon hydrocele fluid! and solutions of fibrinogen prepared from the 
horse by the Hammerstein process. 
According to Martin, the ferment contained in the venoms does not appear 
to be used up in the process. After a portion (5 c.c.) of plasma is clotted by 
one drop of o.1 per cent solution of the venom, it can be removed and then 
another portion be added. This will clot. This process can be repeated 
four or five times, coagulation occurring more and more slowly with each 
successive addition. ‘The experiment can not be repeated as many times as 
would be expected from the calculated minimal clotting dose, as presumably 
each successive crop of fibrin carries away absorbed ferment. 
A slow deterioration of clotting power takes place when aqueous solution 
of the venom is kept at ordinary temperature, and more rapidly if the dilution 
be greater. The coagulating ferment of the venom dialyzes slightly, and when 
a o.o1 per cent solution is filtered through 8 per cent gelatin,’ the filtrate 
possesses about 34 of the ferment power of the original solution. 
In a later section I will refer further to the specificity of fibrin ferments 
contained in the venoms of different species of snakes. 
1 Certain discrepancies exist between Martin’s observations and those of Lamb in regard to the effect 
of venom upon hydrocele fluid and also upon the concentrations of oxalate in the plasma. Lamb 
found no action upon the hydrocele fluid, and much influence was noticed to be exerted by 
higher concentrations of the oxalate upon the coagulating power of daboia venom. 
2 C. J. Martin, Jour. of Physiol., 1896, XX, 364. 
