SPECIFICITY AND THERAPEUTIC VALUES OF ANTIVENINS 241 
the crotalus venom. On the other hand, anticrotalus serum was quite anti- 
toxic both against the crotalus and the jararacussu venoms. 
LACHESIS FLAVOVIRIDIS ANTIVENIN.' 
This was first prepared in large animals by Kitashima at the Institute for 
Infectious Diseases at Tokio, but a more detailed work on this venom and 
its immunization was performed by Ishizaka. This investigator immun- 
ized a number of rabbits with the venom modified with chloroform, glacial 
acetic acid, hydrogen sulphite, at temperatures ranging from 60° to 68°C. 
His modification was aimed at the removal of the hemorrhagin without at 
the same time destroying the immunizing properties of this particular prin- 
ciple —as Flexner and Noguchi have done with the American crotaline 
venoms. In this manner he was able to obtain antivenins which very effec- 
tively neutralized the hemorrhagic toxin of the unmodified venom. Thus 
the work of Flexner and Noguchi on the production of hemorrhagin toxoids 
is confirmed and extended. The hemorrhagin of the same venom was easily 
neutralized, but that of viper’s venom was neutralized only slightly or not at 
all, showing the difference in the hemorrhagins of different species. 
Against the general toxicity of habu venom this antivenin was quite effec- 
tive, but not at all or only slightly against the venom of viper. 
CALMETTE’S ANTIVENIN. 
According to Lamb 5 c.c. of this serum failed to neutralize 0.002 gm. = 
3 minimal lethal doses of Bungarus fasciatus venom and 0.00005 gm. = I 
minimal lethal dose of Echis carinata venom. The same author has also 
shown its inefficacy in combating the fatal effect of Daboia russellii venom. 
It is superfluous to detail here the controversies between C. J. Martin 
and Calmette about the neutralizing properties of this serum against certain 
Australian colubrine species. It seems that the experiments carried out by 
Tidswell supported Martin’s old argument. 
Noguchi also found Calmette’s antivenin inefficacious in neutralizing the 
fatal effects of Crotalus adamanteus and Ancistrodon piscivorus. 
Brazil concludes that Calmette’s antivenin has no neutralizing effects 
against the venoms of Lachesis lanceolatus and Crotalus. 
THERAPEUTIC VALUE OF ANTIVENINS. 
The therapeutic value of antivenins is influenced by several factors. First, 
it depends on whether or not an antivenin can neutralize venom after symp- 
toms of toxication have already developed. At least, it ought to be able to 
neutralize venom even after the lapse of several hours, provided death does 
not ensue within that period. With the venoms which kill the victim within 
several minutes through the production of intravascular thrombosis, anti- 
venin may be of but little practical value; but in the case of bites of Colubride 
and most Crotalide death usually comes after several hours or later, seldom 

1Ishizaka. Studien iiber das Habuschlangengift. Zeitschr. f. exper. Path. und Therapie, 1907, IV, 88. 
Also, Kitashima. The Philippine Jour. of Science. 1907, III, Section B, 151. 
