364 THE SNAKES OF SOUTH AFRICA. 



Dr. Giinther says : " The degree of danger depends but 

 little on the species of snake which has inflicted the wound, but 

 rather on the bulk of the individual, on the quantity of its poison, 

 on the temperature and on the place of the wound." 



On the contrary, there is a considerable difference in the 

 poisonous properties of the venoms of the different species of 

 snakes. The venom of a Cape Cobra or Mamba, for instance, is 

 swift and sure. That of the Puff Adder is slow in comparison. 

 In toxic power, one drop of the venom of the Cape Cobra, Mamba, 

 and Boomslang is equal to five drops of Puff Adder venom. 

 Fayrer, Brunton and several others claim that Cobra venom 

 is as poisonous in its action when swallowed as when injected 

 under the skin. 



I have experimented upon a variety of animals, including 

 Chacma Baboons, by introducing the venoms of the various 

 South African snakes into their food. In no case were they 

 affected in the slightest degree. The venoms of all the typically 

 poisonous snakes were used. The Cape Cobra and the Puff 

 Adder, being typical representatives of the Colubrine and Viperine 

 families of snakes, their venoms were selected chiefly for these 

 experiments. Thirty drops of freshly-drawn Cobra venom 

 introduced into about an ounce of food was given on several 

 occasions without any poisonous symptoms supervening. 



If venom taken into the stomachs of such highly evolved 

 animals as Baboons produces no poisonous effects, it is fairly 

 safe to assume that it would act similarly in the healthy human 

 organism. In fact, this has been sufficiently demonstrated by 

 the fact that the Bushmen of the past ate the venom-poisoned 

 raw and half-raw flesh of animals. 



An Australian scientist, in a recent article on the Snakes of 

 Australia, declares positively that the venom of the Colubrine 

 (Cobra) family of snakes is rendered harmless by the gastric 

 juices when swallowed, but that Viperine (Adder) venoms, on 

 the contrary, are not so destroyed. Gadow states that, with the 

 exception of Cobra (Colubrine) venom, all venoms are not ab- 

 sorbed by the mouth or alimentary canal, unless there be 

 abrasions. 



On the contrary, Drs. C. J. Martin, G. Lamb, and Weir 

 Mitchell, all of whom are recognized authorities on snake venom, 

 declare that all venoms are destroyed by the gastric and 



