NA TURE 



[November 25, 1922 



From the introductory chapter we understand that 

 the term animal-venom is taken in its widest sense, to 

 include not only tangible secretions, like snake-venoms, 

 which are elaborated and discharged, with intent to do 

 hurt, by special apparatus, but also toxins like those 

 attributed to pathogenic Protozoa, of which the exist- 

 ence is inferred rather than conclusively demonstrated. 

 1 11 1 1 n's broad outlook the obvious function of an animal- 

 venom as a gross means of defence or attack, becomes 

 a very special and striking development of a general 

 cellular disposition to defence or retaliation ; and 

 from this point of view the manufacture of toxin is 

 to be seen as a primitive function of wide prevalence 

 in the animal kingdom, and the manifestly venomous 

 animals in each zoological group are to be regarded as a 

 sort of powerful or privileged caste. To the cynic it 

 may perhaps be some consolation to reflect that in 

 Nature's livery we are all more or less toxic — that one 

 touch of toxin makes the whole world kin. 



This theory of a general prevalence of animal toxins 

 and of their function, like other secretions, in influencing 

 the nutrition of the individual, the influence in this 

 case being to stimulate cellular resistance and ultimately 

 to provoke natural immunity to poisons in general, is 

 elaborated in a final chapter on the functions and uses 

 of venoms, where also there are some interesting 

 remarks on the therapeutic employment of animal- 

 venoms in ancient and modern times, and some justifi- 

 able anticipations that snake-venoms may find a 

 further place in the scheme of rational therapeutics. 

 The part played by their venom in the digestive 

 processes of snakes appears to be disregarded. 



Outside these most interesting initial and final 

 chapters are to be found about 1500 pages of considered 

 facts set down in zoological and historical perspective, 

 the general tone being academic, though accidents due 

 to venoms and their treatment are not disregarded. 

 Each zoological group is treated separately, in the 

 anatomical details of the specific venom apparatus, in 

 the physiological properties and pathological effects of 

 the specific venoms, in historical and bibliographical 

 particulars, and also as much as possible from the point 

 of view and bearings of natural and acquired immunity. 

 There is perhaps rather too much admixture of pure 

 zoology of a kind that can scarcely be countenanced as 

 relevant, e.g. the 116 pages given to taxonomy and 

 distribution of snakes, over and above 125 pages 

 devoted to pertinent anatomical description, is perhaps 

 an extreme example of this superfluity. 



As might be expected, the chapters on venomous 

 reptiles and amphibia are the strongest, and those on 

 groups, such as parasitic worms, in which the sources 

 of the toxins are to some extent a matter of speculation, 

 are the weakest. Naturally also in the chapter-- on 

 NO. 2769, VOL. I io] 



the invertebrate groups, those on scorpions and certain 

 Hymenoptera contain the most original matter. Con- 

 siderable space is allotted to spiders and the effects of 

 their venom — enough to correct any lingering in- 

 credulity as to the serious possibilities of spider bite. 

 Ticks, however, are dismissed in 18 lines, and Annelida 

 and parasitic Crustacea are not noticed at all. Fishes 

 are dealt with very fully in three categories, according 

 as they are venomous in spine or tooth, or persistently 

 or periodically toxic as food, or possess notably toxic 

 blood. The amphibia, on the venoms of which Mme. 

 Phisalix is a particular authority, are very thoroughly 

 considered. In dealing with the venomous lizard, 

 Heloderma, the author also draws freely on her own 

 researches in the laboratory, as well as from vivid 

 personal experience of the effects of its bite. Venomous 

 snakes occupy more than two-fifths of the entire 

 treatise ; among them are included not only the vipers 

 and sea-snakes and elapine and opisthoglyph colubrids, 

 but also a number of aglyph colubrids, Boiidae, Ilysiidse, 

 Uropeltidse, and Amblycephalidas, which possess a 

 poison gland, though they are destitute of grooved 

 fangs for injecting the secretion. The text is illustrated 

 throughout by figures, and there are some coloured 

 plates that reach perfection. 



Ol the book as a whole it is not enough to say that 

 it represents a perfectly amazing amount of devoted 

 labour in a fascinating field, or that it is the most 

 complete and comprehensive treatise in existence on 

 the subject of venomous animals. It is something 

 more than this ; and from the touching circumstances 

 of its inception and the motives that helped to sustain 

 its progress, as recorded in the preface by Laveran. 

 one mav be permitted to think that its accomplishment 

 might, without, in this case, any taint of vanity, have 

 finished with the proud conclusion Exegi monumentum. 



A. A. 



Crime and Remedial Punishment. 



Penal Discipline. By Mary Gordon. Pp. xiii + 23S. 

 (London : G. Routledge and Sons, Ltd. ; New York : 

 E. P. Dutton and Co., 1922.) 7s. 6d. net. 



CRIME and criminals are subjects in which most 

 of us are interested to a greater or less degree. 

 The causes of crime, the development of an accidental 

 into a confirmed criminal, and his treatment and mode 

 of life in prison are things we like to read about, and 

 some of us ponder over them. How far ameliorated 

 conditions improve, or to what extent harder conditions 

 deter, the prisoner are questions frequently discussed 

 by sociologists and by the general public. Much has 

 been written by theorists and idealists ; others with 

 practical experience as officials orprisoners have given 



