SNAKE VENOM. 429 



The neurotoxin causes death by paralysis of the 

 cardiac and respiratory centers. The hemolysin 

 appears to be of less importance as a cause of 

 death. 



The venoms of the cobra, water-moccasin, da- variations 

 boia and some poisonous sea-snakes are essentially properties 



neurotoxic, although they have strong dissolving J 

 powers for the erythrocytes of some animals. In 

 studying the hemolytic powers of the venoms of 

 cobra, copperhead and rattlesnake, Flexner and 

 Noguchi found cobra venom to be the most hemo- 

 lytic and that of the rattlesnake the least. They 

 attribute the toxicity of rattlesnake poison chiefly 

 to the action of hemorrhagin. The same authors 

 studied the action of different venoms on the cells 

 of various animals and by absorption experiments 

 found independent cytotoxins for the testis, liver, 

 kidney and blood. Not only was there a distinct 

 cytotoxin for each organ of an animal, but also 

 for the same organ of different animals, results 

 which speak for a remarkable complexity of 

 venom. Certain venoms contain a leucocytic 

 toxin. 



That venoms contain proteolytic ferments is Ferments. 

 shown by their ability to digest gelatin and fibrin. 

 This power may be related to the softening of the 

 muscles which has been noted clinically in cases of 

 poisoning. The rapid decomposition of the body 

 which follows death by snake-poisoning is asso- 

 ciated with a decrease in the bactericidal power of 

 the blood, which, according to Flexner and No- 

 guchi depends on fixation of the complement by 

 the venom. 



The hemolysin and neurotoxin, and perhaps 

 other cytolysins of venom, consist of amboceptors 



