32 Professor Halford. 



Dr. Martin replied as follows : 



" University of Sydney, 



"25th June, 1894. 



" DEAR PROFESSOR HALFORD, I made an experiment 

 last week with your solution which, to my mind, proves 

 conclusively that, whatever it contains, it possesses none of 

 the toxic properties of the venom. The most delicate test 

 I know is its effect, direct or indirect, upon the heart of 

 mammals. I think I am not exaggerating when I say that, 

 by this means, I could detect the 1 ^ i) grain of the venom. 



" I neutralised your solution with HC1, and then injected 

 the whole of it into a rabbit, meanwhile taking a tracing of 

 the blood-pressure in the carotid artery. It produced 

 absolutely no effect except a temporary rise in pressure, due 

 to the addition of more fluid to the vascular system. I then 

 injected the ^ grain of pure venom in the same manner to 

 the same rabbit. In about thirty seconds the circulation 

 stopped, dyspnoeic convulsions consequently occurred, and 

 the whole venous system and pulmonary artery and right 

 heart were entirely thrombosed. I am sending you the 

 curves, which will be obvious to you." 



I received these curves, which are most beautifully 

 executed. The result seems then, that such prolonged 

 maceration in spirit had extracted the toxic properties 

 of the venom. This is in harmony with the conclusion 

 of Dr. Lauder Brunton, on the activity of the alcoholic 

 extract of cobra poison, viz : " The alcoholic extract 

 resembles the poison itself in its activity, and in the 

 symptoms it produces." 



Is there any Antidote to the Venom P 



The answer is, I think, No. Let us see what we 

 have to contend with. The bones of the skull of a 

 venomous snake, including both upper and lower jaws, 



