88 TOXINS AND ANTITOXINS. 



The effects of the bites of venomous serpents on 

 man and animals are generally well known to the 

 public; it is well to recall them, nevertheless. 

 From the moment the bite has been inflicted, com- 

 plete symptoms of poisoning develop, attended by 

 a condition of extreme and increasing weakness, 

 with vomiting, hemorrhage, and decomposition of 

 the blood. There are, besides, particular effects 

 which vary with every venom. 



The following table by Calmette * gives the 

 comparative toxicity of various venoms, taking as 

 the standard of comparison the quantity sufficient 

 to kill a rabbit in three or four hours: 



Naja tripudians o . 00047 



Naja hage o. 0003-0 . 0007 



Acanthophis antarctica o.ooi 



Ceraste. . . ■ 0.0017-0. 0021 



Haplocephalus variegatus o . 0025 



Trigonocephalus o . 0025 



Nature of Serpent-venoms. — These venoms are 

 homogeneous liquids, somewhat more dense than 

 water,, in which they are soluble, slightly colored 

 green or yellow, transparent, and insoluble in 

 alcohol; they contain from 30 to 35 per cent, of 

 solid matter. When fresh, they have a slightly 

 acid reaction. Towards chemical reagents, and 



* Calmette: Annal. Instit. Pasteur, viii, p. 276; ix, p. 229. 



