9 2 



Scientific Proceedings (38). 



tity of venom, but comparing the adsorbing power of equal vol- 

 umes of carmine and charcoal, charcoal is found to adsorb con- 

 siderably more venom than carmine. The fixation of venom on 

 charcoal is very strong and no dissociation of the adsorbed 

 substance is found to take place after injection of the charcoal 

 containing the adsorbed venom into the animal body. Addition 

 of a small amount of weak acid to the venom-charcoal mixture 

 does not influence markedly the adsorption process, while addition 

 of alkali interferes with the adsorption, diminishing the quantity of 

 the adsorbed venom, and causing the adsorption to be less firm. 

 The addition of blood serum of the rabbit or dog also reduces 

 markedly the adsorption of venom, while lecithin does not influ- 

 ence adsorption of venom by charcoal. Kaolin adsorbs con- 

 siderable quantities of venom but less than charcoal, and the union 

 between kaolin and the venom is easily broken up, when the mix- 

 ture is injected into the body. Aluminium oxide, if free from 

 alkali, adsorbs a large quantity of venom, but the combination is a 

 loose one and is easily broken up in the body. Emulsified olive 

 oil does not adsorb any venom. Lecithin adsorbs a definite but 

 not very large proportion of venom. Filtration of venom through 

 a Berkefeld filter is necessary in order to free after previous cen- 

 trifugation the supernatant fluid from fine particles of lecithin that 

 had adsorbed a certain quantity of the venom. Lecithin adsorbs 

 considerably less than charcoal. After injection into the animal 

 body dissociation of the venom takes place very readily. Addi- 

 tion of cholesterin to lecithin causes an additional adsorption of 

 venom, but in this case also the combination is a very loose one. 



Adsorbing Power of the Organs of various Animals for the 

 Venom of Heloderma. — As in the case of adsorbing substances 

 mentioned above the degree of adsorption of the venom by sus- 

 pension of organs was tested by injecting the supernatant fluid as 

 well as the residue. Only in a few cases filtration through a 

 Berkefeld filter was made use of. Usually brain, liver, kidney, 

 in some cases also ova, erythrocytes and blood serum were tested. 



The following animals were examined : Heloderma, turtle, 

 pigeon, frog, guinea-pig, rabbit, dog. The results are as follows : on 

 the whole the suspension of organs adsorbs less venom than does 

 charcoal. The brains of the various species have relatively the 



