952 C. J. MARTIN AND J. McGARVIE SMITH. 
(4.) Blyth* is the only author who claims to have derived a 
crystalline acid body from snake venom and his statements have, 
to say the least not been confirmed. As we mentioned earlier the 
acid present in Black snake venom, at any rate in the quantities 
which we have been able to experiment with, produces when in- 
jected into an animal, no obvious physiological effect. 
(5.) As it has been conclusively shown that the albuminous 
bodies in the venom of Cobra and Rattle-snake do actually possess 
toxic qualities, we naturally look to the proteids of Black snake 
poison, as the active agents. This venom we find to be a strong 
solution of proteids in which we can discover nought else but the 
volatile acid and a small amount of inorganic salts, of which sodium 
chloride forms the major portion. All reagents which precipitate 
the proteids from a solution of venom deprive it of its toxic powers 
and submission to those conditions which are capable of decompos- 
ing or altering proteids in solution—e.g. prolonged boiling, either 
alone or with diluted acids or alkalies, convert this virulent solu- 
tion into an innocent liquid. Reagents such as Ag NO, which 
precipitate proteids in an insoluble form, render both the pre- 
cipitate and filtrate perfectly harmless. We therefore conclude 
that there is no poisonous body present in the venom other than 
proteids. 
The proterids present in the venom. 
A two per cent. solution of Black snake poison in one per cent. 
NaCl behaves in the following manner with the undermentioned 
reagents : 
(1) Warming with nitric acid and the subsequent addition of 
ammonia—orange colouration (Xantho-proteic). 
(2) Millon’s reagent—usual proteid reaction. 
(3) Heating—turbidity between 80 - 86° C., which settles as a. 
precipitate. 
The filtrate from this solution still contains proteid and gives 
the following reactions : 
* Loc. cit. 
