468 
Proceedings of Roycd Society of Edinhurgh. [sess. 
Some of these advantages are apparent when the specimens, now 
exhibited, of 15 c.c. of liquid antivenene are compared with the 
specimens of dry antivenene representing 15 c.c. of serum. 
The facts which I had previously communicated to the Society 
show that the dry antivenene retains the original antidotal power 
of the liquid serum. 
With this antivenene I have also made an experiment which 
illustrates its value when used as an antidote in actual practice, 
rather than when used merely for the purpose of defining its antidotal 
power in the rigidly adhered-to conditions of the experiments which 
have been described. ‘5 c.c. per kilogramme having been found to 
be about the smallest quantity that can prevent death when given 
thirty minutes after rather more than the minimum-lethal dose of 
venom, this dose of venom was administered to a rabbit, and thirty 
minutes afterwards the insufficient dose of "4 c.c. per kilogramme of 
antivenene. In three hours, the animal was lying extended with 
the head resting on the floor, limp and unable to stand ; the 
respirations were infrequent and shallow ; the cardiac action was 
feeble and irregular ; and rattling sounds were being produced in 
the throat, from the excessive salivary and bronchial secretions 
always caused by toxic doses of cobra venom. A second dose, 
consisting of ’6 c.c. of antivenene, was now injected under the skin ; 
and very soon a marked improvement occurred in the condition of 
the animal, the respirations becoming deeper, and the cardiac action 
stronger and more rapid, and without irregularity. An hour 
subsequently, a third dose of antivenene, consisting of ’5 c.c. per 
kilogramme, was injected ; and further improvement was produced, 
so that all toxic symptoms soon disappeared, and the animal was 
restored to a nearly normal state, from which no relapse occurred 
until perfect recovery had become established. 
Influence of Diet in modifying the Minimum-Lethal Dose . — I 
have already drawn attention to the remarkable difference in the 
minimum-lethal dose of venom for herbivorous as contrasted with 
carnivorous animals. If tliis difference be due, in any impor- 
tant degree, to the effects, transmitted and individual, of the 
special diet of each of these two groups of animals, it seemed 
probable that the minimum-lethal dose might be modified by 
changing the diet of any animal in whom this could be done 
