iv VENOMOUS SNAKES AND THE PHENOMENA OF THEIR VENOMS 



Carnegie Institution generously undertook to defray the expenses connected 

 with the preparation and the publication of the monograph. However, as 

 the work of preparation progressed, it seemed more desirable to present a 

 fuller and more balanced exposition of the subject of venom than was at first 

 proposed. No single work in the English language exists at this time which 

 treats of the facts of zoological, anatomical, physiological, and pathological 

 features of venomous snakes, with particular reference to the properties of 

 their venoms. During the interval of the preparation of this monograph 

 there appeared in French the excellent work on snake venom by Professor 

 Calmette, which covers a part of the ground gone over in my monograph. 

 I have availed myself of the opportunity offered by Professor Calmette's 

 book to complete and improve my own. In this connection I desire to thank 

 Professor Calmette for his generosity in supplying me with cobra venom on 

 several occasions, and Dr. George Lamb also for liberal gifts of cobra and 

 daboia venom. I am also indebted to Director William T. Hornaday, Dr. 

 Raymond L. Ditmars, and Mr. E. R. Sanborn of the New York Zoological 

 Park for permission to consult their collection of skulls and photographs of 

 snakes and to reproduce certain of the specimens. 



Finally, it is my very pleasant duty to acknowledge the great advantages 

 which I have gained from the long connection with Dr. Flexner, and the 

 many acts of friendship which he has shown me. 



HlDEYO NOGUCHI. 



ROCKEFELLER INSTITUTE FOR MEDICAL RESEARCH. 

 New York, November, 1908. 



