The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-08-22
VENOM OF THE SERPENT,
Interesting Scientific Experiments
on Animals with Curious Results.
From Longman's Magazine.

From Longman's Magazine.
The rapidity with which serpent venom
becomes absorbed by the system is al
most incredible, and is well Illustrated by
the following experiment: A rat was in
oculated with venom near the tip of the
tail, one minute later the latter was cut
off short distance above the point of in
oculation; but this operation was quite I'M
able to save the animals life for even in
that brief interval the poison had ac-
complished its fatal work and a few hours
later claimed its victim. This rapid diff
fusion of the venom helps 10 explain the
difficulty which is experienced in arresting
the course of the poison by local treat
ment, for its passage is too rapid to per-
nit Of its being overtakan by superficial
measures of even the most stringent char
acter. But Calmette points out that local
precautions are not to be neglected, for
although they cannot nullify the action
of the venom, they undoubtedly do delay
its progress, and thus create a longer in
terval or respite, during which an oppor-
tunity is afforded for administering the
antl-toxin. Before, however, passing on
to the Investigations which have culmi-
mated in the production OF a specific anti
dote for this terrible toxin, there are a
few more details which Calmette has fur
nished as to its character which are of
interest. Serpent venom is characterized
not only by its intensely virulent proper
ties, but also by the tenacity with which
it retains them under diverse clrcumstan-
ces. Thus il may be stored up for a whole
year, and yet at the end of that time be
as active as ever; and even after several
years, although its toxic powers are some
what reduced. 1t still retains them TO a
very appreciate extent.
Unlike the bacterial toxins this venom
toxin can stand exposure to considerable
temperature without injury to its activ-
ity, and that of the cobra only suffers aft
er 1t has been submitted to 9S degrees
centigrade for twenty minutes. Sensi-
tivencss to temperature varies, however,
with the snake from which the venom is
derived. Thus the venom of the so-called
"tiger-snake" Of Australia will stand be-
ing exposed for ten minutes TO from 100
70 1902 degrees centigrade, and It's viru-
lence only disappears when this tempera-
ture has been applied for twenty minutes
The venom Of the BLACK snake" another
Australian variety. loses its toxlcity at
a temperature between 90 and 100 degrees
centigrade; while an exposure to only so
degrees centgrade for ten minutes Is suf-
tcient IN the case of viper venom, accord
ing to Messrs. phisalX and Bertrand, to
profoundly modify its lethal action. A
continuous exposure for n fortnight TO a
temperature OF 80 degrees centigrade does
not affect cobra venom in the least, but
II during that same time II has been placed
In the sunshine, Il entirely loses all its
lethal properties. Thus. a pigeon was in
oculated with about thirty drops OF venom
which had been exposed 20 the suns rays
for fourteen days, and 20 survived; while
another pigeon was iuoculated with "A lit
tie over six drops OF similar venom which
had been kept during this time IN the
dark. and % died IN quarter Of an hour