90 Prof. C. J. Martin. 



(1) Mixed together prior to injection. 



(2) Injected simultaneously, the anti-toxin into a vein, and the 



venom subcutaneously. 



(3) Injected simultaneously, but separately, under the skin. 



The venom of Hoplocephalus curtus, the Australian tiger-snake, was 

 used. After weighing the dried venom, it was dissolved in enough O9 

 per cent. NaCl solution for 1 c.c. to contain O'OOOl gram of the venom. 

 This solution was heated momentarily to 90 C. in order to destroy one 

 of the poisonous constituents which coagulates at 85 C.* The poison- 

 ous proteose remaining produces the same symptoms as cobra poison, 

 and is very probably identical with the principal poisonous constituent 

 in that venom. 



The anti-venene was prepared by Dr. Calmette. Two quite different 

 serums were used. For the experiments in Series A above, samples 

 dated November, 1896, were employed, and for the experiments in 

 Series B samples bearing date December, 1897. The anti-toxic value 

 of the former, according to Behring's method of notation, I found to- 

 be I/ 50th of a normal unit per c.c. ; of the latter 1 /200th of a normal 

 unit per c.c.f 



The control experiments are in Table I. Here the same proportions 

 of venom to body weight, as employed in the experiments in Tables 

 II, III, and IV, were injected, but no serum given. The effect of 

 these doses of venom upon the rectal temperature and the time they 

 took to kill is shown for comparison. From these experiments it is 

 seen that 0'00003 gram venom per kilo, is just on the margin of 

 fatality. From other experience I have found that this quantity 

 generally kills. 



II and III show parallel series of experiments. The amount of 

 anti-venene per kilo, remains constant, but the quantities of venom 

 in each case increase from 0*00003 to 0*00008 gram per kilo. In II 

 the venom and anti-venomous serum were mixed together in a glass 

 and allowed to remain in contact for fifteen minutes at temperature 

 13 C. prior to injection. In III the anti-venene was injected into the 

 jugular vein at the same time that the venom solution was placed 

 under the skin. II and III are similar in every other respect. The 

 solution of venom and the serum used were the same, and the experi- 

 ments were made at the same time. 



The two experiments in IV, made with the same venom solution and 

 serum, show for comparison the result of injecting the venom and anti- 



* C. J. M., ' Roy. Soc. N.S.W. Proc.,' August, 1896. 



f For the latter sample I am indebted to the kindness of Dr. Calmette. The 

 anti-toxic ralue mentioned above refers to the serum as it arrives in Australia, and 

 titrated against the yenom of Hoplocephalus curtus, heated to 90 C. I believe, 

 from Dr. Calmette's statement, that the serum must be much more effective against 

 cobra poison, or else that it deteriorates before reaching me. 



