184 VENOMOUS SNAKES AND THE PHENOMENA OF THEIR VENOMS 
Having found that a certain constant proportion exists between the inherent 
hemolytic power of lecithin and the hemolytic power augmented through 
the addition of venom, Noguchi undertook a series of studies in which he 
sought to compare the native hemolytic power and the hemolytic power with 
venom of various groups of substances, in order to ascertain whether certain 
chemical bodies are or are not able to perform the function of venom activa- 
tion. The chemicals subjected to this test are numerous and comprise normal 
fatty acids from formic up to ceratinic, unsaturated mono-carbonic acids con- 
taining ihe higher members, aliphatic acids, unsaturated dicarbonic acids, 
mineral acids, sodium salts of fatty and acrylic acids, neutral fats, lecithin, 
neurin, cholin, and some saturated and unsaturated alcohols. 
From his experiments Noguchi discovered that the compounds which 
contain in their molecules a double bond only can become many times more 
hemolytic than their native activities upon the addition of venom. Normal 
fatty, aliphatic, and mineral acids do not act stronger in the venomized 
corpuscular suspension than without the venom, whereas unsaturated organic 
acids, especially oleic acid, have their action increased by nearly 10 to 20 
times their inherent strengths. This does not mean that each acid of this 
particular group has an equal hemolytic power — which is far from being 
the case —but simply means that the proportion or ratio is sufficiently 
constant to rank them with lecithin or kephalin as venom activators. In 
reality triolein and oleic acid were the only substances worthy of comparison 
with lecithin in hemolytic activity, the rest, although maintaining the con- 
stant ratio, being far inferior in this respect. 
Again coming to the mechanism of venom activation by these simpler fatty 
compounds — simpler when compared with lecithin —it was noticed that 
their velocity of reaction was but little affected with the venom, in contradis- 
tinction to that with lecithin. It appears from this that the activation caused 
by these chemicals is essentially different from that brought about by lecithin; 
nevertheless they are venom activators in a certain sense. 
Noguchi further studied the quantitative relation of the requirement of 
venom and venom activators to produce a definite degree of hemolysis. 
Using a uniform amount of venom and variable amounts of activator, he 
found that the requirement for producing an equal degree of hemolysis is in 
proportion to the square root of the amount of venom present in the mixture. 
In reversing the condition, namely, using a uniform amount of activator and 
variable amounts of venom, it was found that an increase in activator per- 
mits of a reduction in venom approximately in proportion to the square of 
the amount of activator employed. 
The antihemolytic property of cholesterin against that form of hemolysis 
where venom and lecithin are concerned has been found by Kyes. Accord- 
ing to Noguchi the action of cholesterin is directed to lecithin, but not to 
venom. Noguchi prepared a series of heemolyzing mixtures in which varying 
amounts of lecithin and venom were so combined as to result in an equivalent 
hemolyzer. Cholesterin was added to such mixtures in sufficient amount to 
