The physiological action of Indian snake-poison has been carefully studied by Fayrer, Ewart, Richards, Lauder Brunton and Wall ; and the
action of
general physio-
the various bodily logical tissues has and been fairly well observed ; systems nature of chemical the the but poison has not been
snake-poison
satisfactorily determined, knowledge that the are
our
last
issue,
by
come
indications for
a more
a
intimate
poison
rational antidote
Dr. Wolfenden, which
appeared
the most valuable
perhaps chemistry of snake-poison published. Most previous
forms
to the
hitherto been had
by
obtained.
to be
The article
tribution
and it is
of the chemical constitution of the
primary
likely
on
to the
in
con-
which has
observers
conclusion that the active
principle
proteid nature; but it has only been ascertained that it is a mixture of
of snake-venom is of a
recently several proteids. And although the poison of different snakes produces so apparently different effect that it is possible by a casual observation of the symptoms to say to what family the offending snake belongs, still,
recent
that
probable
"the
observations
make
would
differences between
it
the most
distant genera of thanatophidiae will be found rather in the relative amount and energy of these various
(proteid) elements than in any distinct qualitative peculiarities." Dr. Weir Mitchell, who has been carrying out a line of research initiated by Dr. Lauder Brunton, recently declared that snake-poison can be separated out by dialysis into at least three proteid constituents: one, dialysable and resembling a peptone?'venom-peptone,' and apparently a hastener of putrefactive change, and "
a
convulsive agent, but with little power
to
prevent
and
varying greatly in power coagulation A second?venom-globulin,' a in different snakes. more deadly poison, acting powerfully on the blood and capillaries, so as to cause enormous local haemorrhages at the point where the poison is injected. of the
It
was
destroyed
The third
Recent researches into snakepoison.
Snake-poison all
dwellers
in
subject of perennial interest to India.- For, notwithstanding the
is
a
laborious
researches of numerous distinguished observers, the problem of an antidote to snake-venom still remains unsolved, and poisonous snakes continue to wield their, terrible destructive power with fatal
freedom.
albumin.
globulin
blood,
at ioo?
C. in all the
proteid, 'venom-albumin,' It is also
venoms
active poison in its mode of action." an
studied.
resembles
serum
resembling
to dialysis alone, in the attempt the different proteids of snake-poison, is separate to calculated give most unsatisfactory results. Even
To trust,
however,
to
a crystalline salt which is readily dialysable, requires a period of several days for complete extraction by dialysis. It would be practically impossible to altogether extract a peptone, if indeed such is really pre-
THE INDIAN MEDICAL GAZETTE.
294
sent, in this way. Besides, in dialysing albuminous fluids decomposition must occur, and not only may an active proteid thus lose its activity, but poisonous
decomposition products which did not exist in the original venom, may be formed in this way, and being readily dialysable, they will contaminate the crystalloid proteids. The products which Dr. Weir Mitchell
experimented
with
obtained in this
were
ojectionable
manner.
striking contrast to Dr. Weir Mitchell's method separating out the individual proteids, are the Dr. Wolfenden made
processes which
adopted analysis, of
recognised
so
that his several
Cobra
and
globulin-venom,
He
of
He found that in cobra-
pure quality. there always two
poison
of.
use
precise chemical proteids were presumably
mode
a
fairly
a
alkaloids which he believes In view of these
distinct venoms, viz. Cobra
(2)
(1)
albumin-veno7?i.
globulin-venom he found to act as a poison the respiratory centre, producing no paralysis of
these two
a
marked cobra
that
the symptoms of
cobra-poison
Weir
contains
a
of
case
Dr. Wolfenden is
poisoning.
confirm Dr.
to
that
represent the full activity of the mixture of the two venoms was found
all
produce
able
showing
as
venoms
cobra-poison, to
And
well un-
Mitchell's statement
a
peptone. Both of these observers attribute the whole
of cholera
poison
to
albuminoid
activity constituents, and
Wa.ll says, that " as long as the poisonous agent of cobra-venom is capable of recognition chemically as
albumen,
so
is it
long
poisonous
and
longer."
no
competent and careful chemist like Blyth ascribing the activity of the poison to a non-
Yet
we
have
albuminous
a
Blyth
body.
found that after the
(Analyst, February 1877) proteids had been removed by
precipitation with strong alcohol and filtration, the resulting alcoholic extract yielded crystals having a markedly acid reaction and toxic properties. To this active non-albuminous substance he applied the Mr. A. Pedler also name cobric acid provisionally. states (Trans., Roy. Soc., 1878) that he found the alcoholic extract extremely active. Alcohol precip" itated about 60 per the fresh was
poison,
cent, of
and
soluble in alcohol.
50 to
100
precipitate. poison
times
more
the
albuminous
remaining
matter from 40
per cent,
This alcoholic extractive was active than the albuminous
And Gautier has extracted from the
of the
trigonocephaly
and naja
two
distinct
the
alleged
Government well
Dr. Weir Mitchell of
to
funds
as
ment
credible
would
One
or
increasing to
be welcomed, it seems the Indian Govern-
a
round-about and unsatis-
attempting
of
our
as
observations. knowledge of
likely that
such
adopt
means
Philadelphia,
out the necessary
to
carry Whilst every effort at snake-poison deserves
scarcely
ascertained.
recently gone the rounds of journals to the effect that the Indian has lately sent a large supply of cobra-
the medical
venom
to be
has
report
ject.
paralysis.
that
they play
cobra-poison ought
in
motor
is ex-
it be found that such bodies really exist, then the in the general phenomena of part which
factory
progressive
ptomaines.
observations it
presence or otherwise of active crystalline or alkaloidal bodies in fresh cobra-venom be definitely settled; and if
The
muscles; while the albumin-venom does not affect the respiratory centre, but produces marked and
be normal
to
conflicting
desirable
ceedingly
A
In
of
[October, 1884.
to
secure
their ob-
chief practical difficulties in with snake-venom is to prevent it underdealing that going speedy decomposition to which all albuof the
minous fluids venom
to
are so liable. Experiments with snakeafford reliable results must be conducted with
fresh venom,
that
investigations into cobra-venom only satisfactorily undertaken in India. And there are surely in this country several individuals sufficiently qualified to undertake this work. The important recent additions to our knowledge of snake-venom and the increasing perfection of experimental methods renders the attainment of solid can
so
be
results much
more
time than hitherto.
easy and probable at the present The time has now undoubtedly
arrived for the institution of
re-investigate portance.
a
subject
a
fresh commission
of such
admittedly
to
vital im-
action of
general physio-
the various bodily logical tissues has and been fairly well observed ; systems nature of chemical the the but poison has not been
snake-poison
satisfactorily determined, knowledge that the are
our
last
issue,
by
come
indications for
a more
a
intimate
poison
rational antidote
Dr. Wolfenden, which
appeared
the most valuable
perhaps chemistry of snake-poison published. Most previous
forms
to the
hitherto been had
by
obtained.
to be
The article
tribution
and it is
of the chemical constitution of the
primary
likely
on
to the
in
con-
which has
observers
conclusion that the active
principle
proteid nature; but it has only been ascertained that it is a mixture of
of snake-venom is of a
recently several proteids. And although the poison of different snakes produces so apparently different effect that it is possible by a casual observation of the symptoms to say to what family the offending snake belongs, still,
recent
that
probable
"the
observations
make
would
differences between
it
the most
distant genera of thanatophidiae will be found rather in the relative amount and energy of these various
(proteid) elements than in any distinct qualitative peculiarities." Dr. Weir Mitchell, who has been carrying out a line of research initiated by Dr. Lauder Brunton, recently declared that snake-poison can be separated out by dialysis into at least three proteid constituents: one, dialysable and resembling a peptone?'venom-peptone,' and apparently a hastener of putrefactive change, and "
a
convulsive agent, but with little power
to
prevent
and
varying greatly in power coagulation A second?venom-globulin,' a in different snakes. more deadly poison, acting powerfully on the blood and capillaries, so as to cause enormous local haemorrhages at the point where the poison is injected. of the
It
was
destroyed
The third
Recent researches into snakepoison.
Snake-poison all
dwellers
in
subject of perennial interest to India.- For, notwithstanding the
is
a
laborious
researches of numerous distinguished observers, the problem of an antidote to snake-venom still remains unsolved, and poisonous snakes continue to wield their, terrible destructive power with fatal
freedom.
albumin.
globulin
blood,
at ioo?
C. in all the
proteid, 'venom-albumin,' It is also
venoms
active poison in its mode of action." an
studied.
resembles
serum
resembling
to dialysis alone, in the attempt the different proteids of snake-poison, is separate to calculated give most unsatisfactory results. Even
To trust,
however,
to
a crystalline salt which is readily dialysable, requires a period of several days for complete extraction by dialysis. It would be practically impossible to altogether extract a peptone, if indeed such is really pre-
THE INDIAN MEDICAL GAZETTE.
294
sent, in this way. Besides, in dialysing albuminous fluids decomposition must occur, and not only may an active proteid thus lose its activity, but poisonous
decomposition products which did not exist in the original venom, may be formed in this way, and being readily dialysable, they will contaminate the crystalloid proteids. The products which Dr. Weir Mitchell
experimented
with
obtained in this
were
ojectionable
manner.
striking contrast to Dr. Weir Mitchell's method separating out the individual proteids, are the Dr. Wolfenden made
processes which
adopted analysis, of
recognised
so
that his several
Cobra
and
globulin-venom,
He
of
He found that in cobra-
pure quality. there always two
poison
of.
use
precise chemical proteids were presumably
mode
a
fairly
a
alkaloids which he believes In view of these
distinct venoms, viz. Cobra
(2)
(1)
albumin-veno7?i.
globulin-venom he found to act as a poison the respiratory centre, producing no paralysis of
these two
a
marked cobra
that
the symptoms of
cobra-poison
Weir
contains
a
of
case
Dr. Wolfenden is
poisoning.
confirm Dr.
to
that
represent the full activity of the mixture of the two venoms was found
all
produce
able
showing
as
venoms
cobra-poison, to
And
well un-
Mitchell's statement
a
peptone. Both of these observers attribute the whole
of cholera
poison
to
albuminoid
activity constituents, and
Wa.ll says, that " as long as the poisonous agent of cobra-venom is capable of recognition chemically as
albumen,
so
is it
long
poisonous
and
longer."
no
competent and careful chemist like Blyth ascribing the activity of the poison to a non-
Yet
we
have
albuminous
a
Blyth
body.
found that after the
(Analyst, February 1877) proteids had been removed by
precipitation with strong alcohol and filtration, the resulting alcoholic extract yielded crystals having a markedly acid reaction and toxic properties. To this active non-albuminous substance he applied the Mr. A. Pedler also name cobric acid provisionally. states (Trans., Roy. Soc., 1878) that he found the alcoholic extract extremely active. Alcohol precip" itated about 60 per the fresh was
poison,
cent, of
and
soluble in alcohol.
50 to
100
precipitate. poison
times
more
the
albuminous
remaining
matter from 40
per cent,
This alcoholic extractive was active than the albuminous
And Gautier has extracted from the
of the
trigonocephaly
and naja
two
distinct
the
alleged
Government well
Dr. Weir Mitchell of
to
funds
as
ment
credible
would
One
or
increasing to
be welcomed, it seems the Indian Govern-
a
round-about and unsatis-
attempting
of
our
as
observations. knowledge of
likely that
such
adopt
means
Philadelphia,
out the necessary
to
carry Whilst every effort at snake-poison deserves
scarcely
ascertained.
recently gone the rounds of journals to the effect that the Indian has lately sent a large supply of cobra-
the medical
venom
to be
has
report
ject.
paralysis.
that
they play
cobra-poison ought
in
motor
is ex-
it be found that such bodies really exist, then the in the general phenomena of part which
factory
progressive
ptomaines.
observations it
presence or otherwise of active crystalline or alkaloidal bodies in fresh cobra-venom be definitely settled; and if
The
muscles; while the albumin-venom does not affect the respiratory centre, but produces marked and
be normal
to
conflicting
desirable
ceedingly
A
In
of
[October, 1884.
to
secure
their ob-
chief practical difficulties in with snake-venom is to prevent it underdealing that going speedy decomposition to which all albuof the
minous fluids venom
to
are so liable. Experiments with snakeafford reliable results must be conducted with
fresh venom,
that
investigations into cobra-venom only satisfactorily undertaken in India. And there are surely in this country several individuals sufficiently qualified to undertake this work. The important recent additions to our knowledge of snake-venom and the increasing perfection of experimental methods renders the attainment of solid can
so
be
results much
more
time than hitherto.
easy and probable at the present The time has now undoubtedly
arrived for the institution of
re-investigate portance.
a
subject
a
fresh commission
of such
admittedly
to
vital im-
