256 C. J. MARTIN AND J. McGARVIE SMITH: 
the other soluble. These two albumoses gave the same chemical 
and physiological reaction as those separated by our first method. 
We now turned our attention to the proteid coagulated by 
heating. 
On dialysing the fresh poison, after some days there is a pre- 
cipitate on the membrane. This might be either a globulin or 
hetero-albumose, but from the fact that dilute solutions of this 
precipitate in 17/ Na Cl gave no obvious precipitate on heating, 
we are of the opinion that the former of these bodies (globulin) is — 
absent. 
The venom of this snake contains a small and variable amount 
of albumen. The temperatures of coagulation were determined 
by an arrangement similar to that suggested by Prof. Schafer and 
described by Professor Halliburton.* This apparatus was so 
modified as to enable us to work with very small quantities of 
fluid (viz., 2 c.c.), and the tube was viewed by reflected light 
against a black back-ground in order that the slightest turbidity 
should be visible. The solutions used contained 2% of the dry 
venom. We noticed an extraordinary sensitiveness on the part 
of the albumen to the acidity of the solution. The slightest ex- 
cess of acetic acid prevented coagulation, the albumen being con- 
verted into acid albumen, as on neutralizing the boiled solution 
carefully with 1 in 10,000 KHO it was precipitated. 
Some idea of this sensitiveness can be drawn from the fact that 
if a glass rod 2 m.m. in diameter moistened with 0-057 acetic 
acid were used to stir the 2 c.c. of solution, too much was added, 
and unless the rod had been previously shaken to remove all excess, 
coagulation was prevented. If, on the other hand, the fluid were 
alkaline or even sometimes neutral, no coagulation occurred until 
it was acidified. Having ascertained the necessary degree of 
acidity, we found that there were two temperatures at which 
definite flocculi were formed, separated from each other by about. 
4°C,. That is to say, if the first formed coagulum were filtered 
off, and the filtrate reacidified, on further heating, the solution 
* Journ. of Physiol., Vol. v. 
