100 VENOMOUS SNAKES AND THE PHENOMENA OF THEIR VENOMS 



tested with a delay in its fatal issue. The pure albumose solution is not 

 made turbid by carbolic acid. This fact seems interesting in reference to 

 the precipitate obtained by Kyes with a venom solution after shaking with 

 lecithin. 1 A dilute solution of venom may be destroyed entirely. 



Permanganate of potassium: Brown precipitate is produced and the fil- 

 trate gives no biuret reaction. The treated venom is innocuous after a 

 contact of 24 to 48 hours. Nitrate of silver and corrosive sublimate pre- 

 cipitate and destroy the venom when allowed to stand for 24 to 48 hours. 

 Tannic acid precipitates the pure albumose. The filtrate was quite harm- 

 less, but the whole mixture was still lethal, though it may be delayed. 



The effects of caustic alkalies were studied with the pure albumose and it 

 was found that strong sodic or potassic hydrate destroys the activity very 

 rapidly, but the inactiva venom can be reactivated by removing the alka- 

 lies by neutralization with acetic acid. No precipitate occurs before or 

 after neutralization of the alkalized albumose with acetic acid, but the 

 activity of the venom returns on neutralization, provided that the time is 

 within 12 to 24 hours after the addition of alkalies. 



It is interesting to notice that Kanthack confirmed the observations of 

 Mitchell and Reichert in the case of cobra venom. If the solution of venom 

 be weak enough, ammonia destroys it altogether. 



Acetic acid did not precipitate the albumose and did not destroy or affect 

 its toxicity, even after a long contact. Some other organic acids, citric and 

 lactic acids, had no effect upon the activity of cobra poison or its albumose. 



Kanthack experimented on the action of alcohol on cobra venom with 

 special care, as he employed this means of precipitation to obtain his albu- 

 mose from the venom. Alcohol throws out all of the proteins of the venom 

 and the precipitate reveals the original toxicity when redissolved and injected 

 in animals. 



The investigations of Calmette confirm many observations of earlier 

 workers and add some new chemicals to the list. 



Carbolic acid in 50 to 1000, bichloride of mercury in 1 to 1000, in acid 

 solution, cupric sulphate, naphthol water, silver nitrate in 1 to ioo, do not 

 destroy the toxicity of venom; neither do they retard the onset of toxication 

 if mixed immediately before the injection. The same holds good for chloride 

 of sodium, carbonate and sulphate of sodium, iodide of potash, iodine in 

 gram solution, trichloride of iodine in 1 to 1000, alcohol, chloroform, ether, 

 and chloride of ethyl. 



Ammonium mixed in the ratio of 1 gm. per 0.001 gm. of cobra venom does 

 not alter the action of the latter. The essences of santol, rosemary, cloves, 

 and citron exert no favorable effects in reducing the venomous action. 



Quite a number of these substances, especially iodine, ammonia, essences, 

 ether, alcohol, chloroform, cupric sulphate, silver nitrate, and bichloride of 

 mercury form a precipitate soluble in water in excess of the reagents, and the 



1 Kyes. Ueber die Lecitbide des Schlangengiftes. Biochem. Zeitschrift, 1907, IV, 99. 



