EFFECTS OF VARIOUS AGENTS ON VENOM. 33 



another experiment in which the alkali was neutralized by sulphuric acid, death 

 did not occur for four hours. 



In the first experiment, in which a very small amount of ammonia was used, 

 death occurred in less than twenty minutes; in the next, in which three times the 

 quantity of ammonia was used, death did not ensue for some hours, while in the 

 next three a more positive effect was no doubt apparent in the fact that one of the 

 pigeons recovered. In the last experiment death did not occur for over four hours, 

 even after neutralization of the alkali, indicating, as in the case of the potassic 

 hydrate, that some permanent effect had been exerted on the venom by the 

 ammonia. 



Potassium Carbonate. Two experiments made with the venom of the Crotalus 

 adamanteus render it probable that the potassic carbonate does not exert any 

 decided effect. 



Experiment. Dissolved 0.015 gram venom in 1 c. c. distilled water and added 

 0.015 gram potassic carbonate. 



4:16. Injected into the breast of a pigeon. 



4:22. Down. 



4:25. Dead. No appreciable local effect. 



Experiment. Dissolved 0.03 gram venom in 1 c. c. distilled water and 'added 

 0.12 gram potassic carbonate. 



5:25. Injected into,the breast muscles of a pigeon. 



6:45. Down; observation now ceased. 



Following morning found dead ; slight local effect. 



Nitric Acid. The powerful destructive action exerted by this acid on albumi- 

 noids suggests at once that it would in all likelihood completely destroy the poison- 

 ous properties of venom, yet it has been asserted that such is not the case. In the 

 latter instance the result was no doubt due to the insufficiency of acid used, as we 

 have clearly determined in our experiments. 



Experiment. Dissolved 0.03 gram Crotalus adamanteus venom in 0.5 c. c. dis- 

 tilled water and added 2| minims C. P. nitric acid, which caused a considerable 

 precipitate. 



3:32. Injected the above into the breast of a pigeon. 

 3:33. Convulsions, followed by death. 



From this result it seemed probable that not enough acid had been added to 

 throw down all of the precipitable proteids. In another experiment the acid was 

 added to a solution of venom and the mixture filtered. The filtrate was now 

 tested with nitric acid and a further precipitate occurred. This process was 

 repeated until no further precipitate followed. The filtrate was set aside, and the 

 precipitate on the filter washed with dilute nitric acid and then with water. 



Experiment. 5:05 injected into the breast of a pigeon the above filtrate, which 

 measured 3 c. c. and contained 1 c. c. nitric acid. 



6:05. No symptoms except slight droopiness. 

 Following morning no effects from venom. 



5 April, 1888. 



