90 THE TOXINS OF THE HIGHER PLANTS AND ANIMALS. 



as high as 100 C.) while the viper's poison is entirely destroyed at a tem- 

 perature varying between 80 to 85 C., and markedly weakened at 70. 



Snake poisons, as a rule, produce both local reactions at the point of the 

 bite, and severe general disturbances. 



The cobra bite is only slightly painful. A characteristic feeling of stiffness extends 

 from the point of infection over the entire body. In several hours a rapidly increasing 

 weakness sets in terminating in deep coma and death. 



The viper bite incites a very strong local reaction. The point of infection is red, 

 extremely painful and swollen. Convulsions and hemorrhages, followed by delirium 

 which finally changes into stupor are manifest, and death takes place in one to three days. 

 If the poison gets into the circulation directly, death is likely to occur in a few minutes. 



The prognosis of a snake infection depends largely upon the situation of 

 the bite. The greater the blood supply of the infected area the more dan- 

 gerous is the result. Bites received through the clothing are relatively less 

 dangerous, as a great part of the poison remains adherent to the clothing. 



Snake poisons act primarily upon the nervous system and blood, although 

 they exhibit a number of other toxic and ferment properties. Thus viper 

 toxin occasions immediate coagulation of the blood by its action upon the 

 vascular endothelium and has for this reason been called by Flexner and 

 Noguchi, "Hemorrhagin." 



Furthermore all snake poisons have a hemolytic power. 



Cobra hemolysis represents one of the most interesting of 



Cobra biological phenomena, and as it may possibly be employed 

 Hemolysis. in clinical methods of examination its action will be here 

 reviewed. 



Cobra hemotoxin is characterized by its power of dissolving the red blood 

 corpuscles of certain kinds of animals (ox, sheep and goat) only in the 

 presence of serum. Other red blood cells do not require any serum for 

 their hemolysis (dog, guinea-pig, man, rabbit, horse). If the red blood 

 corpuscles of the first group of animals washed free of their serum are mixed 

 with cobra poison, no hemolysis takes place. On subsequent addition of 

 any fresh serum, hemolysis is in evidence. (Flexner, Noguchi). 



The agent which instigates the hemolytic substance belongs undoubt- 

 edly to the class of lipoids. Of these, lecithin stands pre-eminent. It is, 

 however, by no means certain whether that is the only or the most important 

 activator. 



Some sera exhibit this activating influence only when first heated. In 

 their unheated state they are entirely inactive. Other sera act in a manner 

 decidedly the reverse. Kyes and Sachs mention that this depends alto- 

 gether upon the nature of the lecithin union in respect to the other elements 

 present. The following table shows the various combinations and their re- 

 sultant action. 



