SNAKE TOXINES. 217 



an integral part of the general action of snake toxine, which 

 is quite analogous to what has been observed in the case of 

 other toxines. Thus, according to CALMETTE (1895), the local 

 action is greatly weakened by heating the poison to 80 C., 

 while the general toxic power is unaffected. KAUFMANN 1 

 states that chromic acid and permanganate have an exactly 

 similar effect. 



The local effects also vary very considerably in intensity 

 with snake poisons of different origin. They are only pro- 

 duced to a slight extent by cobra venom, whereas they are 

 very pronounced in the case of crotalus venom. According to 

 the conclusions arrived at by WEIR MITCHELL and REICHERT, 

 and confirmed by later researches (vide infra), these pyrogenic 

 substances must be sharply differentiated from the true neuro- 

 toxic principle. But their action is undoubtedly connected with 

 that of the second main constituent, the hcemorrhagine (vide 

 infra). 



The absorption of the venom is extremely rapid. A rat inocu- 

 lated at the tip of the tail cannot be saved after the lapse of a 

 minute by amputation (CALMETTE), and dies five minutes later 

 than the animal used in the control experiment. The poisoning 

 is also exceedingly rapid in the case of man. 



The bitten limb swells up, and this is followed by contraction 

 of the mouth, clenching of the teeth, swooning, and death in the 

 deepest coma. 



The mortality fluctuates between 25 and 45 per cent. It largely 

 depends upon the amount of poison introduced. If the snake 

 has bitten shortly beforehand, or if the clothes have afforded 

 some protection, the bite is relatively free from danger; but 

 it is extremely dangerous when it is in a spot that contains 

 numerous vessels. Injection into the veins is almost invariably 

 fatal. 



The general symptoms begin with weakness, vomiting, short- 

 ness of breath, and ptosis. There is loss of faradic excitability 

 of the muscles, and the immediate cause of death is the stoppage 

 of the respiration. Frogs, however, which are able to survive 

 the loss of pulmonary respiration for a longer period, live for 

 some time (up to thirty hours). 



The action of the salivary poison of the vipers (Vipera Redii, 

 &c.) is very similar to that of the cobra. A. Mosso 2 found that 

 the intravenous injection of 0'0077 grm. per kilo, into a dog 



1 Kaufmann, " Sur le venin de la vipfcre," Soc. BioL, xlvi., 113, 1894. 



2 A. Mosso, "Die giftige Wirkung des Serum des Mureniden," Arch. f. 

 exper. Path., xxv., Ill, 1888, 



