THE VENOM OF THE AUSTRALIAN BLACK SNAKE. 245 
to a peptone, and three varieties of globulins which they separate 
by ‘‘appropriate processes.” 
The reactions given by their so-called 
peptone are characteristic of those bodies which we know now as 
albumoses, and a mixture of the primary albumoses is capable of 
behaving in many respects as their “ globulins.” 
In India the subject has received the attention of many observers. 
About 1871 Brunton and Fayrer* began an extensive series of 
experiments with the venoms of the Cobra, Kraits, and Indian 
viper (Daboia russellic). Their valuable work however hardly 
deals with the chemical aspect of the question. 
In the first volume of the Analyst, Winter Blyth} published a 
paper, the contents of which, coming from an analyst of such 
acknowledged experience, attracted considerable attention. In 
this paper Blyth stated that he had discovered in Cobra venom a 
highly poisonous crystalline body, to which he gave the name 
“ cobric acid,” and that this cobric acid was the sole poisonous 
constituent. 
We have consulted his methods and are convinced that he is 
not justified in coming to any such conclusion. Blyth’s conclusions 
were criticised by Wolfenden,{ who maintained that the crystals 
figured by him were sulphate of lime (!) derived from the water 
in which the poison was dissolved. 
In 1878 Professor Pedler§ of Calcutta published an account of 
his investigations. He made an ultimate analysis of the dried 
poison, and showed that in percentage composition it corresponded 
fairly with that of albuminous bodies generally. He also claimed 
to have separated a ‘‘semi-crystalline” body of an alkaloidal 
nature to which he ascribed the potency of Cobra venom. 
* Rep. on San. Improve. in India, 1878; ditto, 1874. Rep. on San. 
Meas. in India, 1874. Proc. Roy. Soc., 1872-3; 1873-4; 1875 and 1878. 
*Thauatophidia of India,” Lond. 1872, by Sir Joseph Fayrer, and numer- 
ous papers by F’. in Edin. Med. J. and Ind. Med. Gaz. between the years 
1868 and 1874. 
+ “ Analyst,’’ 1876, Vol. 1. 
f£ “On ‘Cobric Acid,’ a so called constituent of Cobra venom,” by 
Norris Wolfenden—Journ. Physiol. Vol. 11. 
§ “*OQn Cobra Poison,” Proc. Roy. Soc., Lond. 1878. 
