VENOMS OF POISONOUS SERPENTS. 481 



main, and similar products, but with different physiological action, 

 are to be found in other batrachians, as the toad, triton (?), green and 

 red frogs, and in the epidermis of some fish. According to Calmeil, 

 the poison from the toad contains methyl carbylamin and isocyan- 

 acetic acid. According to Phisalix and Contejean, the blood of the 

 salamander possesses antitoxic action with reference to curare. The 

 salamander, therefore, is naturally immune, and, moreover, its blood 

 will protect frogs against curara. 



The recent studies of Faust ^ show that samandarin acts upon the 

 central nervous system. The chemical nature of the poison, how- 

 ever, remains undetermined. According to Phisalix ^ the salamander 

 venom loses its toxicity on drying ; is promptly destroyed at 100° 

 and even at 50° ; and is also destroyed by alcohol. The venom 

 altered by heating to 60° acts as a vaccine and hence resembles the 

 serum of eels. 



The venom of bees is said to owe its toxicity to an organic base. 

 That of the hornet, according to Phisalix, immunizes against viper 

 venom, is not destroyed at 120°, is soluble in alcohol and does not 

 contain an alkaloid. 



Phisalix* has also shown that the ventral glands of myriapods 

 (lulus terrestris) yield a toxic secretion which is not affected by 

 heating in a sealed tube at 100° but is destroyed at 120°. The 

 venom is supposed to contain quinone. 



^Archiv. exp. Path. u. Pharm., 41, 229. 

 2 Comptes Bendus, 125, 121, 977 (1897). 

 ' Comptes Rendus, 131, 955, 1005, 1007. 



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