THEIE NATUEB AND EPFBCTS. 121 



Here the venom killed with all the usual symptoms of 

 cobra-poisoning. 



When a solution of cobra-poison is heated to between 

 70° and 80° C. (158° to 176° r.),it first becomes cloudy 

 and then a white precipitate falls. This precipitate, 

 when washed, is not poisonous, and it corresponds in 

 its behaviour exactly with albumen that has been 

 coagulated in a similar manner. Moreover, if a small 

 quantity of acetic acid be added previously to heating, 

 no precipitate will fall, as is the case with albumen. 

 But a solution of cobra-poison will withstand without 

 injury a much higher temperature than 100° C. 



Experiment II. 



Five decigrammes (7'71 6 grains) of dried cobra-poison 

 were dissolved in water. The solution measured ten 

 cubic centimetres, and it was heated for thirty minutes 

 under pressure to a temperature of 107° C. (224°"6 F.) 

 One cubic centimetre of the solution (equalling five 

 centigrammes or '77 grain) was then injected into a fowl. 



12..57 P.M. Injection. 



1.13 P.M. Eye-lids closed; unable to stand; beak 

 resting on the ground. 



1.23 P.M. Convulsions. 



1.27 P.M. Dead. 



Here five centigrammes that had been heated in 

 soliftion for half an hour to 107° C, killed a fowl in 

 thirty minutes. 



