THE ISOLATION OF SNAKE VEN 7 OM LEC1TH1DS. 477 



by assuming that the combination has become firmer by the entrance 

 into it ot the lecithin molecule. 



There is a fourth point of difference, the behavior toward the 

 snake-venom serum discovered by Calmette. The finished lecithid 

 is affected far less by this serum than is the cobra amboceptor. We 

 shall discuss this in a later article. 



In contrast to these differences the behavior of cobra lecithid and 

 cobra amboceptor + lecithin toward cholesterin is similar. We have 

 already mentioned that cholesterin possesses the power to inhibit 

 the haemolysis by means of cobra venom. The same is true in 

 haemolysis by means of the finished lecithid, although quantitatively 

 to a less degree. (See Table 111 opposite.) 



IV. The Lecithids of Several Other Poisons. 



Naturally it was of considerable interest to see whether this 

 peculiar formation of lecithid (thus far without parallel in chemistry) 

 was confined to cobra venom, or extended also to other poisons. The 

 following poisons, which we owe to the courtesy of Dr. Lamb, Prof. 

 Calmette, Dr. Kinyoun, Dr. Dowson, and Prof. Kitasato, have there- 

 fore been studied by us for this purpose: 



1. Bothrops lanceolatus; 



2. Daboia Russettii; 



3. Naja haye; 



4. Kerait; 



5. Bungarus fasciatus; 



6. Trimeresurus anamalensis (Hill viper) ; 



7. Trimeresurus Riukiuanus (Japan); 



8. Crotalus adamantus. 



In a subsequent article we shall discuss the behavior of these 

 poisons toward different species of blood-cells. For the present, how- 

 ever, we may say that all of these poisons, on the addition of suffi- 

 cient lecithin, dissolve the blood-cells examined by us, namely, those 

 of man, guinea-pig, rabbit, ox. With the exception of two poisons 

 (Bothrops lanceolatus and Trimeresurus anamalensis) the absolute 

 quantity of poison necessary to effect solution, an excess of lecithin 

 being present, is about the same for all species of blood examined; 

 0.003 grm. are sufficient to dissolve 1 cc. of a 5% suspension. The 



