EFFECTS OF SNAKE VENOM ON CERTAIN MEMBRANES a1 
symptoms produced by the rectal administration of cobra venom are exactly 
the same as in the cases of other modes of inoculation. 
When we consider the effects of digestive ferments on the toxic principles 
of cobra venom, the results obtained by various observers, though seemingly 
contradictory in a few instances, are uniformly equal in their demonstrative 
values. 
Gastric digestion has but little effect upon the neurotoxin, while the tryptic 
digestion exerts far greater destructive influence upon this chief principle of 
cobra venom. Thus, should the ferments be prevented from their action on 
venom under certain circumstances there would be greater absorption of the 
more intact neurotoxin from the alimentary tract than under reverse circum- 
stances. It is not surprising that in some instances death followed, while in 
other cases the animal survived the alimentary administration of the venom. 
Similarly we ought to expect a varying degree of antivenin formation. 
The rapid fatal issue which follows the rectal administration of venom only 
confirms the occurrence of the fermentative destruction of venom in the upper 
parts of the alimentary canal and the ready absorption of venom from the 
lower region (rectum) without profound modification. 
The action of snake venom upon the conjunctiva and cornea has also been 
studied by various investigators. 
Brunton and Fayrer found that cobra venom produces slight congestion of 
the membrane and sometimes was even absorbed in sufficient quantity to kill 
the animal. 
Weir Mitchell and Reichert observed that crotalus venom produces on the 
conjunctiva, in a few minutes, ecchymatous and cedematous changes and 
rapidly closes the eyelids. In one case, in a rabbit, death occurred in 5 
hours from the conjunctival application of venom. Cat’s eye reacts similarly 
to that of the rabbit. They found, however, that the cornea remained quite 
transparent. 
The author once met with an accident during one of the manipulations 
to extract venom from arattlesnake. A minute particle of venom sprinkled 
from a fang entered my left eye. Within 20 seconds an intense pain set in 
and forced me to close the eye in an instant. I ran to a sink nearby and 
washed the eye in running water for fully 10 minutes. The sharp pain 
persisted for about 2 hours, during which both lids were so swollen as to 
close the eye completely. After 4 hours the pain gradually decreased and 
I felt some nausea and light headache. The next morning the swelling and 
other symptoms disappeared, leaving several ecchymoses on the conjunctiva. 
Calmette states that cobra venom induces a purulent inflammation of the 
conjunctiva of the rabbit, comparable to that caused by abrin. ‘This property 
disappears from the venom heated to 80° C. 
The action of crotalus venom upon various serous surfaces has been studied 
by Mitchell and Reichert, and is described as consisting of the rapid rupture 
of small capillaries (hemorrhage) and the simultaneous absorption of the 
