EFFECTS OF VARIOUS AGENTS ON VENOM. 23 



Experiment.— Subjected a similar amount of venom in solution to a rising 

 temperature to 65° C. 



4:01. Injected into the breast muscles of a pigeon. 

 4:05. Head depressed. 

 4:10. Very weak, falls on the side. 



5-02 Dead. The local effect is not so marked as in the previous experiment. The injec- 

 tion was merely subcutaneous. The viscera did not appear congested or abnormal; the heart 

 was arrested in systole; blood everywhere fluid and dark; no ecchymoses in the peritoneum; 

 muscles appear darker than normal. 

 Experiment.— Repeated the above, but increasing temperature to 74° C. 

 4:13. Injected into the breast muscles of a pigeon. 

 4:19. Weak, falls on side. 

 5:05. Dead. Blood clotted; local effect the same as in previous experiment. 



Experiment.— Results the same as in the last experiment, excepting that the local 

 effects were more marked. This animal lived a half hour longer than the last, 

 which will probably account for the difference. 



Experiment.— The same, but subjecting the solution to 76.5° C. 

 4:04. Injected- into the breast muscles of a pigeon. 

 4:27. Unable to stand. 

 6:00. Nearly dead. 



Following morning. Extremely feeble, too weak to stand ; there is a muco-sanguinolent 

 discharge from the bowels. 

 Second day. Very feeble. 

 Third day. Recovering. 



Experiment.— The same, but subjecting the solution to 79.5° C. 



4:00. Injected into the breast muscles of a pigeon. 

 5:50. No symptoms. 

 Following morning animal well. 



Experiment. — The same, but subjecting the solution to 81° C. 



4:31. Injected into the breast muscles of a pigeon. 



4:45. Apparently a little stupid. 



5:50. No further effect. 



Following morning. Animal well. 



Second morning. Animal well. 

 Experiment.— Boiled a similar amount of solution for two minutes. 



3:26. Injected into the breast muscles of a pigeon. 



4:30. No effect. 



Following morning. No effect. 



The above very interesting series of experiments clearly shows that the effect 

 of heat on a solution of venom is very positive, that the toxicity of venom is 

 decidedly affected, and that the greater the increase of temperature between 

 certain limits the greater is the destruction of the poisonous power of the venom. 

 It will be observed in the second experiment, which is the first in which any 

 positive temperature was observed, that the animal died in about ten minutes after 

 injection; in the third experiment in about one hour; in the fourth and fifth 

 experiments in about three-fourths of an hour, and an hour and three-quarters 

 respectively ; in the sixth experiment in about two hours ; the animal was nearly 



