EFFECTS OF VARIOUS AGENTS ON VENOM. 41 



wholly prevents the occurrence of any of the symptoms of venom poisoning. The 

 tincture does not appear to be nearly as efficient. 



Experiment— Dissolved 0.015 gram dried venom of the Crotalus adamantens in 

 0.5 c. c. distilled water and added 10 gtt. tr. chloride of iron. As the iron was 

 added the solution cleared, but in a few moments became milky, and finally thick 

 with whitish precipitate. 



4:22. Injected into the breast of a pigeon. 



5:00. No symptoms. 



5:45. No symptoms. 



Following morning — dead. No local effect. 



In two similar experiments, in which double the quantity of the tincture of iron 

 was used, the result was much the same, the time of death being notably delayed. 



The following experiments were made with the liquor: — 



Experiment.— Dissolved 0.015 gram dried venom of Crotalus adamanteus in 0.5 

 c. c. distilled water and added 4 gtt. liquor ferri chloridi. A heavy precipitate 



fell. 



4:45. Injected into the breast of a pigeon. 



5:00. Very quiet. 



6:00. No symptoms, and none of venom poisoning within two days. 



A similar experiment was made with identical results. 



In one experiment with the venom of the Crotalus horridus, in which only two 

 drops of the liquor were used, the animal showed no evidences of poisoning; and 

 in four experiments made with the dried venom of the Moccasin, in which 0.015 

 gram of dried venom was used and eight, four, two, and one drop of the liquor 

 were used, three animals gave no symptoms of venom poisoning, and one died on 

 the third day— the animal receiving the injection containing but one drop of the 

 iron. This was the only pigeon of the four which gave any signs of poisoning. 

 In three-fourths of an hour the bird was shaky, and at the end of three hours 

 decidedly feeble, remaining pretty much in this condition until death. 



About the point of injection the iron produced considerable hardening of the 



tissues. 



The effect on Cobra venom is not marked, although in one experiment there 

 was an appreciable delay in the occurrence of death; but in the other, in which 

 the quantity of iron was larger, death occurred with remarkable rapidity. 



Experiment— Dissolved 0.015 gram dried Cobra venom in 0.5 c. c. distilled 

 water and added 2 drops liquor ferri chlor. A slight precipitate occurred in the 

 solution after a few moments. 



3:47. Injected into the breast muscles of a pigeon. 

 4:15. Convulsions. 

 4:21. Dead. 



Experiment— Dissolved 0.015 gram dried Cobra venom in 1 c. c. distilled water 

 and added 5 gtt. sol. perchloric! e of iron. 



This was injected into the breast of a pigeon, with the result of death in twenty 

 seconds. 



The reason why ferric chloride is inefficient in destroying the toxicity of Cobra 

 venom no doubt lies in the fact of its main poisonous substance being a peptone, 



6 April, 1886. 



