Further Observations on Snake-Poisoning. 87 



It is certain, therefore, there is some relation between the 

 growth of white cells and those elements which by their 

 separation from the liquor sanguinis constitute fibrine. 



It will be remembered that I referred all the morbific 

 agency to the microscopic germinal matter found in snake- 

 venom, and not to any fully formed cells. Dr. Onimus 

 observes that in infectious diseases, miasmatic or virulent, 

 changes are not found on the side of elements having form, 

 but in the composition and properties of the plasma. The 

 white cells of the virulent pus of a chancre resemble those 

 from a healthy sore ; it is in the serum that search must be 

 made for the difference in the properties of the two purulent 

 fluids. 



It is, however, possible, that with increased microscopic 

 power, and more time for such labours, modifications of 

 form and property may even be recognised in the molecular 

 matter of serum. 



Now, it has been maintained by some, and by Dr. Weir 

 Mitchell, of Philadelphia, whose writings on snake poison- 

 ing deserve, and have my willing respect, that nothing like 

 germinal matter exists in snake venom. I cannot agree with 

 him. 



But I have always stated it exists in a very microscopic 

 form, and that to this minute elementary germinal matter 

 the activity of the venom is due. Since this was stated by 

 me, similar conclusions have been arrived at by M. Chauveau 

 (Comtesrendus, 1868), of the nature of the vaccine virus, 

 which he describes as consisting of — first, the serum, an 

 albuminous fluid, holding the various soluble substances 

 in solution ; and, secondly, the solid elements, consisting of 

 white cells and of elementary granules, both of which are 

 suspended in the serum. 



After separating the white cells, the remainder was as 

 virulent as ever, and the clear serum was found to be 

 harmless ; but in the elementary granular matter dwelt the 

 activity of the virus. 



For the present I must leave the further consideration of 

 this difficult yet interesting subject. During the coming 

 summer I will devote my spare time by some attempts 

 to arrest the changes which take place in the plasma of 

 the blood in severe cases of snake-poisoning. In the 

 meantime I hope this short and imperfect communication 

 may induce others to think on the correlation of the animal 

 poisons. 



