180 VENOMS 



after a few minutes, or a few hours, according to the dose injected, 

 with the peritoneum full of blood. 



When deposited upon the mucous membranes of the eye, vagina, 

 or urethra, all venoms, those of Colubrid^ like those of Viperid^ 

 — but the latter with greater intensity— cause very acute inflam- 

 mation, comparable to that produced by jequirity ; the capillaries 

 become distended, allow leucocytes to exude en masse, and, as for 

 instance upon the eye of the rabbit, a purulent ophthalmia soon 

 establishes itself. 



Certain species oiSepedon (CoLUBRiD^), common on the West 

 Coast of Africa, especially in Senegambia and in the hinterland 

 of Dahomey, and to which the name Spitting Snakes has been 

 given, possess the facult}' of projecting little drops of venom to 

 a distance by forcibly expelling the air from their lungs, and the 

 natives assert that this venom, when it happens to come into 

 contact with the eyes, causes blindness. This is true to a certain 

 extent, in so far as it produces attacks of purulent ophthalmia 

 which are often serious ; but these attacks, like those provoked 

 experimentally in animals, can be cured in a few days when 

 properly treated, 



When absorbed by the digestive tract, the venoms of CoLU- 

 BRiD.E often produce no ill-effects. It is otherwise with those 

 of ViPERCDJi!. The venom of Laohesis, for example, if adminis- 

 tered in sufficient doses, sets up acute inflammation of the gastric 

 mucous membrane, and the animals speedily succumb with attacks 

 of gastro-intestinal haemorrhage, even before it has been possible 

 for the toxic effects upon the nerve-cells to become apparent. 



These facts explain the contradictions that are to be found 

 in the works of different investigators upon this subject. It is 

 affirmed by some writers that venom can be swallowed without 

 danger, and they even advise the sucking of venomous wounds in 

 order to hinder its absorption. Others, including Sir Joseph 

 Fayrer, Eichards, and Weir Mitchell, have killed pigeons and 

 fowls by making them ingest venom of Vipera russellii, or Crotalus. 



