EFFECTS OF SNAKE VENOM ON CERTAIN MEMBRANES 221 



symptoms produced by the rectal administration of cobra venom are exactly 

 the same as in the cases of other modes of inoculation. 



When we consider the effects of digestive ferments on the toxic principles 

 of cobra venom, the results obtained by various observers, though seemingly 

 contradictory in a few instances, are uniformly equal in their demonstrative 

 values. 



Gastric digestion has but little effect upon the neurotoxin, while the tryptic 

 digestion exerts far greater destructive influence upon this chief principle of 

 cobra venom. Thus, should the ferments be prevented from their action on 

 venom under certain circumstances there would be greater absorption of the 

 more intact neurotoxin from the alimentary tract than under reverse circum- 

 stances. It is not surprising that in some instances death followed, while in 

 other cases the animal survived the alimentary administration of the venom. 

 Similarly we ought to expect a varying degree of antivenin formation. 



The rapid fatal issue which follows the rectal administration of venom only 

 confirms the occurrence of the fermentative destruction of venom in the upper 

 parts of the alimentary canal and the ready absorption of venom from the 

 lower region (rectum) without profound modification. 



The action of snake venom upon the conjunctiva and cornea has also been 

 studied by various investigators. 



Brunton and Fayrer found that cobra venom produces slight congestion of 

 the membrane and sometimes was even absorbed in sufficient quantity to kill 

 the animal. 



Weir Mitchell and Reichert observed that crotalus venom produces on the 

 conjunctiva, in a few minutes, ecchymatous and redematous changes and 

 rapidly closes the eyelids. In one case, in a rabbit, death occurred in 5 

 hours from the conjunctival application of venom. Cat's eye reacts similarly 

 to that of the rabbit. They found, however, that the cornea remained quite 

 transparent. 



The author once met with an accident during one of the manipulations 

 to extract venom from a rattlesnake. A minute particle of venom sprinkled 

 from a fang entered my left eye. Within 20 seconds an intense pain set in 

 and forced me to close the eye in an instant. I ran to a sink nearby and 

 washed the eye in running water for fully 10 minutes. The sharp pain 

 persisted for about 2 hours, during which both lids were so swollen as to 

 close the eye completely. After 4 hours the pain gradually decreased and 

 I felt some nausea and light headache. The next morning the swelling and 

 other symptoms disappeared, leaving several ecchymoses on the conjunctiva. 



Calmette states that cobra venom induces a purulent inflammation of the 

 conjunctiva of the rabbit, comparable to that caused by abrin. This property 

 disappears from the venom heated to 80 C. 



The action of crotalus venom upon various serous surfaces has been studied 

 by Mitchell and Reichert, and is described as consisting of the rapid rupture 

 of small capillaries (haemorrhage) and the simultaneous absorption of the 



