POISONS AND THEIR PREVENTION 191 



live powers which can be transferred to another 

 animal. 



How splendid a domain for beneficent research 

 lies before the scientific investigator is apparent 

 to all, and the important work already accom- 

 plished is but an augury of yet greater discoveries 

 awaiting the labours of such leaders as Calmette. 

 It is not surprising, therefore, that the scientific 

 interest in toxins and anti-toxins shows no signs 

 of abatement. On the contrary, the competition 

 for obtaining and working the new "claims" 

 which pioneer research enthusiasts are constantly 

 engaged in "pegging out" remains as keen as 

 ever. 



Despite, however, the extraordinary interest 

 which this subject has aroused in scientific circles 

 all over the world, nearly ten years elapsed before 

 any notice was taken of the curious discovery 

 made by two brothers that the blood of eels con- 

 tained a highly poisonous principle, and the memoir 

 containing this remarkable announcement remained 

 until comparatively recently buried in the Italian 

 journals where it was first published. 



Calmette was, we believe, the first to call at- 

 tention to this discovery of the brothers Mosso 

 and give it the prominence it deserves, and both 

 he and other investigators have not only fully 

 confirmed it, but have greatly added to our know- 



