THE ISOLATION OF SNAKE VENOM LECITHIDS. 



473 



According to this, therefore, the second constituent of cobra 

 venom does not pass into the chloroform-lecithin. In this respect, 

 however, we have been able to demonstrate that the watery portion 

 which has practically been freed from the haemoyltic amboceptor still 

 possesses its toxic properties in animal experiments. (See Table II.) 

 The essential difference between the haemo toxin and the neuro toxin , 

 first pointed out by Myers, is thus confirmed by direct chemical 

 means. 



TABLE II. 



COMPARATIVE TEST OF THE NEDROTOXIC ACTION OF A SOLUTION OF COBRA 



VENOM (a) BEFORE AND (6) AFTER SHAKING THE COBRA AMBOCEPTOR 



WITH CHLOROFORM-LECITHIN. 



II. The Properties of Cobra Lecithids. 



In the description of cobra lecithid we shall do best to keep to 

 the product obtained by the method above described, the last traces 

 of lecithin having been removed from the ethereal precipitate by 

 repeated washing with ether, and the main portion of the ether in 

 turn removed by pressing the precipitate between two folds of filter- 

 paper. 



This primary product is insoluble in aceton and ether, but soluble 

 in chloroform, in alcohol (cold), and in toluol (on heating). The 

 solutions in chloroform and in alcohol are precipitated by the addi- 

 tion of ether and aceton. When still moist with ether it dissolves 

 very readily in water, a point of some importance. Even if the 

 ether which the product contains is rapidly evaporated by means 

 of a current of air and the product then dissolved in water an abso- 

 lutely clear, light-yellow solution will be obtained. 



These facts show that the primary product is absolutely different 

 from the two substances from which it was derived, cobra ambo- 

 ceptor and lecithin. It differs from lecithin particularly in its insolu- 



