462 Proceedings of Royal Society of Rdinhurgh. [sess. 
which had received one-tenth part of the minimum-lethal dose nearly 
every two days during a period of three months and one week, and also 
of one which had received the one4ourth part of the minimum-lethal 
dose nearly every four days during a period of three months and 
three weeks. I did not find that the antidotal power of the anti- 
venenes obtained from these animals was great, or nearly so effective 
as the antivenenes obtained from animals which had finally received 
a dose much in excess of the minimum-lethal. When mixed with 
venom and then injected, 3 c.c. per kilogramme of these antivenenes 
were insufficient to prevent death from somewhat more than the 
minimum-lethal dose of venom, but 5 c.c. per kilogramme were suffi- 
cient to do so. 
I have also administered 1 *5 c.c. per kilogramme of cobra antivenene 
thirty minutes after a dose one-twelfth larger than the minimum 
lethal of the venoms, respectively, of the Sepedon licBmacliates^ the 
Crotalus liorridus, and the Diamantina serpent ; and the rabbits 
experimented on have recovered. This successful result is all the 
more remarkable when the intensely destructive local effects of each, 
but especially of two, of these venoms is recollected. 
The experiments establishing, and to some extent defining, the 
antidotal power of cobra venom, further, have been made on animals 
peculiarly susceptible to the poisonous action of serpents’ venom, 
a circumstance of importance in considering the probable value of 
the antivenene when used as an antidote in the treatment of ani- 
mals of less susceptibility, among whom there appears to be sufficient 
evidence to place human beings. The minimum-lethal dose for 
man probably approximates that of the cat, rather than that of 
vegetable feeders such as the rabbit, guinea-pig, and white rat. 
It is also to be remembered that, in the meantime, the experi- 
ments have been restricted to a definition of the antidotal power in 
certain rigidly adhered to conditions, which were not always the most 
favourable for the mere prevention of death. Indications have indeed 
been obtained which render • it highly probable that death may be 
prevented from occurring more certainly by several administrations, 
rather than by one administration of antivenene, and also by the 
introduction of the antivenene into the same parts as the venom, 
rather than into distant parts. 
It would be important also to increase the number of the experi- 
