EFFECTS OF VARIOUS AGENTS ON VENOM. 35 



For some time after the injection the bird was weak, and continued in a feeble 

 condition until eighteen hours after the injection, when death ensued. 



It seems quite rejnarkable that such a powerful acid as sulphuric does not com- 

 pletely destroy the poisonous properties of the venom, and it is even more curious 

 that pure muriatic acid seems to be without effect. 



Acetic Acid. Experiment . Dissolved 0.02 dried venom (Crotalus adamanteus) 

 in 0.1 c. c. distilled water and added 3 minims of glacial acetic acid. 



4:30. Injected into the breast of a pigeon. 

 4:37. Incoordination. 

 4:41. Dead. 



Death occurred in this experiment in such a short time that it was thought that 

 the acid itself might have contributed to this end. We therefore made another 

 experiment in which the acid was neutralized. 



Experiment. Prepared the venom as before, only neutralizing the solution with 

 sodic carbonate. 



4:35. Injected into the breast of a pigeon. 

 5:10. Pigeon unable to stand. 

 5:15. Dead. 



The result of this experiment indicates that the presence of the free acid aids 

 the toxic action of venom. 



Hydrobromic Acid. Experiment. Powdered 0.015 gram dried Crotalus ada- 

 manteus venom in a mortar and added 5 gtt. hydrobromic acid (sp. gr. 1.274), after 

 five minutes added 0.5 c. c. distilled water. The venom and acid formed a slightly 

 reddish-colored solution, which became milky when diluted with water. 



4:25. Injected into the breast muscles of a pigeon. 



4^45. Sickish. 



4:55. Unable to stand. (Final result not noted, but death most certainly followed.) 



We repeated the above experiment, using 10 gtt. of acid mixed with an equal 

 part of water, before dissolving the venom in it. 



2:49. Injected as above. 



3:07. Rocking. 



3:30. Dead ; local effects of the venom apparent. 



Notwithstanding we used double the amount of acid in this experiment, it does 

 not appear as though the activity of the venom was made to differ much from that 

 noted in the previous experiment. Since the previous dilution of the acid before 

 mixing with the venom might have affected its action a third experiment was 

 made in which the same quantity of acid was added, without dilution, to the 

 powdered venom. 



Experiment. Powdered 0.015 gram dried venom and added 10 gtt. hydro- 

 bromic acid, then 1 c. c. distilled water. 



4:20. Injected the above into the breast muscles of a pigeon. 

 5:00. No apparent effect. 

 5:10. Sickish. 

 6:00. Sickish. 

 Following evening. Well. 



