EFFECTS OF VARIOUS AGENTS ON VENOM. 31 



Experiment. — The same, only using 0.0075 potassic hydrate. 

 4:53. Injected as before. 

 5:00 Weak; breathing deep. 

 5:10. Dying. 

 5:18. Dead. Slight local effect; blood fluid and dark. 



The records of the above experiments, which are in accord with Wall's, show 

 that the results after the addition of the potassic hydrate are not the same as in the 

 series where the alkali was not neutralized, thus proving that the effect of the 

 action of the added alkali does not remain after the latter is neutralized. 



In previous observations we found that solutions of venom were more or less 

 impaired by boiling, and that this was particularly marked with the venom of 

 the Crotalus adamanteus, 0.015 gram being rendered completely innocuous to 

 pigeons. It was afterwards found that no coagula were formed by heating solu- 

 tions of venom to which had been added some potassic hydrate, as in the above 

 experiments. This led us to study the results of heating solutions of venom to 

 which the potassic hydrate was added to learn if heat was capable of destroying 

 or impairing toxicity without the occurrence of coagulation as a necessary event. 



Experiment. — Dissolved 0.015 gram of the venom of the Crotalus adamanteus 

 in 1 c. c. distilled water and added 0.015 grain potassic hydrate, and subjected the 

 solution, as in previous experiments, to a gradually increasing temperature up to 

 74° C. It was then injected into a pigeon. At the end of twenty-four hours there 

 was no effect. 



In this experiment the temperature to which the solution of venom was sub- 

 mitted was below the point at which serious impairment of the poisonous power 

 of the venom occurs, yet the amount of potassic hydrate was sufficient to destroy 

 its action. Other experiments were made in which the quantity of potassic 

 hydrate was not sufficient to effect this end. We found in previous experiments 

 that 0.0037 gram potassic hydrate was not sufficient to destroy the toxicity of 0.03 

 gram of Crotalus adamanteus venom, although the time of the occurrence of death 

 was considerably delayed. 



We used similar amounts of venom and alkali in the three following experi- 

 ments, using 0.5 c. c. distilled water for the solutions. 



Experiment. — Dissolved 0.09 gram of Crotalus adamanteus venom in 1.5 c. c. 

 distilled water and added 0.0 11 gram of potassic hydrate. This solution was 

 divided into three parts. One of which was heated to 76.5° C, one to 79.5° O, 

 and the other to 83.5° C. Each of which was injected into the breast of a pigeon 

 and without any evil consequence following within twelve hours. 



These results indicate that heat impairs the poisonous activity of venom under 

 the above conditions, even though coagulation does not occur. In previous expe- 

 riments recorded it was found that at a temperature of 79.5° 0.03 gram of Crotalus 

 adamanteus venom was rendered non-toxic. The explanation of the further 

 impairment of the action of the poison by heating its solutions having potassic 

 hydrate dissolved in them lies probably in the fact that the potassic hydrate is placed 

 by heat under condition of greater activity. The non-coagulability of solutions 

 of venom to which potassic hydrate was added is no doubt due to the alteration 



