PHYSIOLOGICAL ACTION OF VENOM OF BLACK SNAKE. 147 
yations on particular cases, the larger problems with which 
physiology is concerned. 
The research, the results of which form the subject of this paper, 
was conducted entirely by experiments upon the lower animals. 
Conclusions as to exact physiological action drawn from the 
observation of cases of snake-bite in the human subject, while of 
oy PRE 4 - 
great importance, owing to ignorance 
and want of control of so many factors concerned. When con- 
fronted with a case of snake-bite our principal duty is to treat 
the patient, and although we may carefully observe clinical 
symptoms, the employment of those more accurate analytical 
methods which can be performed on the lower animals, is im- 
possible. Another disadvantage is that no single observer can 
hope to witness a sufficient number of cases of snake-bite, but 
must base his conclusions to a large extent upon the observations 
of others. 
| On the other hand, it is true, that it is a mere inference that 
results obtained upon lower animals can be applied to man. 
Nevertheless when one considers the identity of mechanism which 
underlies what differences do exist, together with the fact that the 
higher mammalia react to snake poisons with striking similarity 
_ to mankind, the inference would not appear to be an unfair one. 
I.—Meruops or Inrropuction or THE VENOM. 
Venom may enter the body by a variety of channels. The time 
of ee and the train of symptoms vary according to the rapidity 
“ its absorption. Usually in cases of snake-bite the poison is 
deposited in the subcutaneous tissues, whence it reaches the 
Seneral circulation principally by absorption through the blood- 
oe In some experiments I made with the object of determin- 
‘ing the relative absorption through the blood-vessels directly, and 
‘“hrough the lymphatics, I found that the symptoms of poisoning 
‘Were not appreciably delayed by previous ligature of the thoracic 
: he poison was in each case injected into the subcutaneous 
Missue of the thigh. The venom is more rapidly absorbed when 
