164 VENOMS 



■with the solution of proteid, while the other served as control. 

 The two small incisions, one on either side of the median line, 

 were then sutured and covered with collodion. In this way the 

 maximum of local effect and the minimum of general effects 

 was obtained. The solutions of albumoses introduced by this 

 method into the organism produced an enormous oedema, which, 

 in from six to eight hours, extended along the whole side of the 

 abdomen containing the sponge charged with poison. 



To test the general toxic effects, the solutions were injected 

 into a vein or into the peritoneal cavity. It was thus found that 

 the proto- and hetero-alhumoses killed the animals in a few hours. 



It must therefore be concluded from these facts that the active 

 principles of venom are proto- and lietero-alhumoses, the albumins 

 that it contains being devoid of all toxic power. 



Many chemical substances modify or' destroy venoms, and we 

 shall see in another chapter that several of them, by reason of 

 their properties, may be very usefully employed, for the destruction, 

 in the actual wound resulting from a venomous bite, of the venom 

 that has not yet been absorbed in the circulation. 



Among these substances the most important are : — 



A 1 per cent, solution oi permanganate of potash (Lacerda). 



A 1 per cent solution of chloride of gold (Calmette). 



Chloride of lime or even hypochloride of calcium (Calmette), 

 in a solution of 1 in 12, which is augmented, at the moment of 

 use, by 5 to 6 volumes of distilled water, so as to bring it to 

 the standard strength of about 850 cubic centimetres of active 

 chlorine per litre of solution. 



A 1 per cent, solution of chromic acid (Kaufmann). 



Saturated hromized water (Calmette). 



A 1 per cent, solution of trichloride of iodine (Calmette). 



All these chemical bodies also modify or destroy the diastases 

 and the microbic toxins. The venoms, although more resistant 

 to the influence of heat, behave, therefore, hke these latter, and 

 exhibit the closest affinity with them. Moreover, like all the 



