Bemarks on Some Experiments ivith Snake-Venom. 
339 
ponent, which, associated with a serum component (horse), dissolves horse- 
blood corpuscles. According to numerous experiments with other snake- 
poisons the serum component in question is lecithine, and there is very- 
little doubt that also in our experiments lecithine acts as an activator for 
the haemotoxic component of the puff-adder poison, forming with it the 
haemolytic lecithide. 
3. 0*3 c.c. puff-adder poison were injected subcutaneously into a horse 
3081, and the following symptoms recorded : — 
Uneasiness ; discharge from nostrils ; pulse 15 minutes after injection, 
60; respiration, 70; 35 minutes after injection, pulse 60; respiration, 38. 
Enormous swelling of the place of injection. Trembling of pectoral, 
gluteal and caudal muscles. The temperature rose 6 hours after 
injection up to 105*0, but fell within an hour to 102-4. The horse died 
9 hours after injection. 
Post Mortem. — Enormous swelling on left side, where inoculation took 
place, extending from base of neck and pectoral muscles to the last 
rib, corresponding with oedematous and haemorrhagic infiltration of sub- 
cutaneous and intermuscular tissues in these regions. Liquid in pleural 
cavity and pericardium slightly increased. Haemorrhagic spots on anterior 
side of diaphragm, on pericardium and left costal pleura, ecchymoses on 
visceral pleura, haemorrhagic infiltration of mediastinal glands, ecchymoses 
on epicardium and both endocardia. Liver khaki-coloured, with numerous 
haemorrhages in the capsula. Spleen and kidneys pale. Mucosa of urinary 
bladder showed patchy hyperaemia and petechieae ; urine normal. Bone 
marrow of left radius and femur normal. Haemorrhagic infiltration of 
perispinal tissue near seat of inoculation. 
Eesume. 
With regard to the question which of the doubtful South African 
snakes, chiefly Opistoglypha, are poisonous or harmless, only a preliminary 
answer can be given, as the experiments are not yet numerous enough. 
Especially the experiments which gave negative results have to be 
repeated. 
Boodon lineatus (Aglypha) proved in two instances to be harmless, as 
was to be expected. The experiments with emulsions of maxillary glands 
from Opistoglypha gave the following results : — 
Leptodira hotambosia was poisonous in one, harmless in another case. 
Tarbophis semiannulatus was harmless (in one instance). 
Trimerorhimis tritceniatus proved to be poisonous (in one case). 
Aparallactus capensis was harmless (in one case). 
Psamophis sibilans was poisonous in one, harmless in two instances, 
one of the latter being an amphibian. 
