SURPRISING RESULTS OF EXPERIMENTS. 511 



Surprising Results of Experiments, 



Collecting a quantity of venom from some Cape Cobras and 

 Ringhals, I carefully measured out doses averaging from half a 

 drop to two drops. A dose 



was injected deep into the ' il ^ 



muscular tissue of the thigh 

 of a fowl. A similar dose 

 was injected just under the 

 skin on top of the muscular 

 tissue. This experiment was 

 repeated several times. The 

 poisonous effects were the 

 same in all cases. Death oc- 

 curred just as rapidly when 

 the venom was injected into 

 the muscles as when it was 

 placed just under the skin. 



I carried out a series of 

 similar experiments with the 

 venom of the Puff Adder 

 with surprising results. 

 Several fowls were injected 

 with half a drop of the 

 venom, mixed with a little 

 water. This was inserted 

 under the skin of the thigh 

 with a hypodermic syringe. 

 The solution spread out over 

 the muscular tissue, and was 

 still further diffused by 

 manipulations with the 

 finger. The fowls in all cases 

 recovered. When one drop 

 of venom was injected, 

 the fowls, with the exception 

 of two small weakUngs, fully 

 recovered. 



Two drops were then injected into each fowl. All the larger 

 and more vigorous of the fowls recovered. Those which died 



