Venoms: Venomous Animals and Antivenomous Serum-Therapeutics

PART I.. Page

Page

CHAP. I.--I. General notes on poisonous animals 1

II. General classification of poisonous snakes. Their anatomo-physiological characters 3

CHAP. II.--Habits of poisonous snakes. Their capture 17

CHAP. III.--Description of the principal species of poisonous snakes. Their geographical distribution 22

A. Europe 22

B. Asia, Dutch Indies and Philippine Islands 30

C. Africa 57

D. Australia and adjacent large islands 81

E. America 100

F. Hydrophiidæ (sea-snakes) 131

G. Geographical distribution of the principal genera of poisonous snakes in the five divisions of the world 142

PART II.

CHAP. IV.--Secretion and collection of venom in snakes 147

CHAP. V.--Chemical study of snake-venoms 159

CHAP. VI.--Physiological action of snake-venoms 168

A. Physiology of poisoning in man and in animals bitten by the different species of poisonous snakes (Colubridæ, Viperidæ, Hydrophiidæ) 168

B. Physiology of experimental poisoning 170

C. Determination of the lethal doses of venom for different species of animals 173

D. Effects of venom in non-lethal doses 177

CHAP. VII.--Physiology of poisoning (continued). Effects of the various venoms on the different tissues of the organism 179

(1) Action upon the liver 182

(2) Action upon the kidney 183

(3) Action upon the spleen, heart and lungs 183

(4) Action upon the striated muscles 184

(5) Action upon the nervous centres 185

CHAP. VIII.--Physiology of poisoning (continued). Action of venoms on the blood 188

A. Effects of venom on the coagulation of the blood 188

I. Coagulant venoms 190

II. Anticoagulant venoms 192

III. Mechanism of the anticoagulant action of venoms on the blood 195

B. Effects of venom on the red corpuscles and on the serum 196

(1) Hæmolysis 196

(2) Precipitins of venoms 202

(3) Agglutinins of venoms 202

C. Effects of venom upon the white corpuscles: Leucolysin 203

CHAP. IX.--Physiology of poisoning (continued). Proteolytic, cytolytic, bacteriolytic, and various diastasic actions of venoms: diastasic and cellular actions on venoms 204

A. Proteolytic action 204

B. Cytolytic action 206

C. Bacteriolytic action 206

D. Various diastasic actions of venoms 212

E. Action of various diastases upon venoms 214

CHAP. X.--Toxicity of the blood of venomous snakes 217

CHAP. XI.--Natural immunity of certain animals with respect to snake-venoms 222

CHAP. XII.--Snake-charmers 228

PART III.. Antivenomous Serum-Therapeutics.

ANTIVENOMOUS SERUM-THERAPEUTICS.

CHAP. XIII.--Vaccination against snake-venom--Preparation of antivenomous serum--Its preventive properties as regards intoxication by venom 241

Specificity and polyvalence of antivenomous serums 248

CHAP. XIV.--Neutralisation of venom by antitoxin 253

CHAP. XV.--Treatment of poisonous snake-bites in man and animals. Objects of the treatment. Technique of antivenomous serum-therapy 259

PART IV.. Venoms in the Animal Series.

VENOMS IN THE ANIMAL SERIES.

CHAP. XVI.--Venoms in the animal series.

1.--Invertebrates 269

A. Cœlenterates 269

B. Echinoderms 273

C. Arthropods: (a) Araneids 274

(b) Scorpions 276

(c) Myriopods 280

(d) Insects 281

D. Molluscs 286

CHAP. XVII.--Venoms in the animal series (continued).

2.--Venomous fishes 288

A. Teleostei. Acanthopterygii: 1. Triglidæ 290

-- -- 2. Trachinidæ 297

-- -- 3. Gobiidæ 300

-- -- 4. Teuthididæ 301

-- -- 5. Batrachiidæ 302

-- -- 6. Pediculati 303

B. Teleostei. Plectognathi: 305

C. Teleostei. Physostomi: 307

-- -- 1. Siluridæ 308

-- -- 2. Murænidæ 309

CHAP. XVIII.--Venoms in the animal series (continued).

3.--Batrachians; Lizards; Mammals 312

A. Batrachians 312

B. Lizards 321

C. Mammals (Ornithorhynchus) 323

PART V.. Documents.

DOCUMENTS.

I.--A few notes and observations relating to bites of poisonous snakes treated by antivenomous serum- therapeutics 326

II.--A few notes and observations relating to domestic animals bitten by poisonous snakes and treated with serum 356

III.--Note on the collection of cobra-venom and the treatment of poisonous bites in the French Settlements in India (by Dr. Paul Gouzien) 359

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. PAGE

Fig. 1.--A. Skull of one of the non-poisonous Colubridæ (Ptyas mucosus) 7 B. Skull of one of the poisonous Colubridæ (Naja tripudians) 7 C. Skull of one of the poisonous Colubridæ (Bungarus fasciatus) 7 D. Skull of one of the Viperidæ (Vipera russellii) 7 E. Skull of one of the Viperidæ Crotalinæ (Crotalus durissus) 7 F. Skull of one of the Colubridæ Hydrophiinæ (Hydrophis pelamis) 7

Fig. 2.--A. Maxillary bone and fangs of one of the Viperidæ (Vipera russellii) 8 B. Maxillary bone and fangs of one of the Colubridæ (Naja tripudians) 8 C. Maxillary bone and fangs of one of the Colubridæ (Bungarus fasciatus) 8 D. Maxillary bone and teeth of one of the non-poisonous Colubridæ (Ptyas mucosus) 8

Fig. 3.--A. Fang of one of the Viperidæ (Vipera russellii) 8 D. Transverse section of the fang 8

Fig. 4.--B. Fang of one of the Colubridæ (Naja tripudians) 9 E. Transverse section 9

Fig. 5.--C. Fang of one of the Hydrophiinæ (Hydrophis pelamis) 9 F. Transverse section 9

Fig. 6.--Three transverse sections of a poison-fang of one of the Colubridæ 9

Fig. 7.--Marks produced on the skin by the bites of different species of snakes 10

Fig. 8.--Poison-gland and fangs of a venomous snake (Naja tripudians) 11

Fig. 9.--Muscular apparatus and poison-gland of Vipera russellii 12

Fig. 10.--Muscular apparatus and poison-gland of Vipera russellii 12

Fig. 11.--Muscular apparatus and poison-gland of Naja tripudians 13

Fig. 12.--Muscular apparatus and poison-gland of Naja tripudians 13

Fig. 13.--Arrangement of the scales of the head in one of the non-poisonous Colubridæ (Ptyas mucosus) 14

Fig. 14.--Arrangement of the scales of the head in one of the poisonous Colubridæ (Naja tripudians) 15

Fig. 15.--Feeding a poisonous snake (first stage) 18

Fig. 16.--Feeding a poisonous snake (second stage) 18

Fig. 17.--Capture of a Naja tripudians (first stage) 19

Fig. 18.--Capture of a Naja tripudians (second stage) 20

Fig. 19.--Hindu carrying two captured Cobras in “chatties” 21

Fig. 20.--Maxillary bone, mandible, and head of Cœlopeltis monspessulana 23

Fig. 21.--(1) Vipera berus; (2) Vipera aspis; (3) Vipera ammodytes; (4) Vipera ammodytes 25

Fig. 22.--Vipera aspis, from the Forest of Fontainebleau 28

Fig. 23.--Skull of Bungarus 31

Fig. 24.--Bungarus fasciatus (India) 32

Fig. 25.--Skull of Naja tripudians 34

Fig. 26.--Naja tripudians (Cobra-di-Capello) on the defensive, preparing to strike 35

Fig. 27.--Naja tripudians (Cobra-di-Capello) 36

Fig. 28.--Vipera russellii (Daboia) 45

Fig. 29.--Pseudocerastes persicus 47

Fig. 30.--Echis carinatus (India) 48

Fig. 31.--Ancistrodon hypnale (Carawalla, of Ceylon) 50

Fig. 32.--Lachesis okinavensis 52

Fig. 33.--Lachesis flavomaculatus 55

Fig. 34.--Skull of Dendraspis viridis 65

Fig. 35.--Skull of Causus rhombeatus 68

Fig. 36.--Skull of Bitis arietans (Puff Adder) 70

Fig. 37.--Bitis arietans (Puff Adder) 71

Fig. 38.--Bitis cornuta 73

Fig. 39.--Bitis rasicornis 74

Fig. 40.--Cerastes cornutus 75

Fig. 41.--Echis coloratus 77

Fig. 42.--Skull of Atractaspis aterrima 79

Fig. 43.--Skull of Glyphodon tristis (Australian Colubrine) 83

Fig. 44.--Pseudelaps krefftii 85

Fig. 45.--Pseudelaps harriettæ 85

Fig. 46.--Pseudelaps diadema 85

Fig. 47.--Diemenia psammophis 86

Fig. 48.--Diemenia olivacea 86

Fig. 49.--Diemenia textilis 86

Fig. 50.--Diemenia nuchalis 87

Fig. 51.--Pseudechis porphyriacus (Black Snake) 87

Fig. 52.--Denisonia superba (Copperhead) 89

Fig. 53.--Denisonia coronoides 89

Fig. 54.--Denisonia ramsayi 90

Fig. 55.--Denisonia signata 90

Fig. 56.--Denisonia maculata 91

Fig. 57.--Denisonia gouldii 91

Fig. 58.--Hoplocephalus bitorquatus 94

Fig. 59.--Notechis scutatus (Tiger Snake) 95

Fig. 60.--Skull of Acanthophis antarcticus (Death Adder) 96

Fig. 61.--Acanthophis antarcticus 97

Fig. 62.--Rhynchelaps australis 98

Fig. 63.--Skull of Furina occipitalis 99

Fig. 64.--Furina occipitalis 99

Fig. 65.--Skull of Elaps marcgravii 101

Fig. 66.--Elaps fulvius (Harlequin Snake) 105

Fig. 67.--Head and Skull of Crotalus horridus (Horrid Rattle-snake) 109

Fig. 68.--Ancistrodon piscivorus (Water Viper) 110

Fig. 69.--Lachesis lanceolatus (Fer-de-Lance) 112

Fig. 70.--Lachesis neuwiedii (Urutù) 116

Fig. 71.--Sistrurus catenatus (Prairie Rattle-snake) 121

Fig. 72.--A. Horny appendage (rattle) of a Crotalus horridus 122 B. Horny appendage, longitudinal section 122 C. Separated segments of the appendage 122

Fig. 73.--Crotalus terrificus (Dog-faced Rattle-snake) 123

Fig. 74.--Crotalus scutulatus (Texas Rattle-snake) 126

Fig. 75.--Crotalus confluentus (Pacific Rattle-snake) 128

Fig. 76.--Crotalus cerastes (Horned Rattle-snake) 130

Fig. 77.--Skull of Hydrus platurus 132

Fig. 78.--Hydrus platurus 133

Fig. 79.--Hydrophis coronatus 134

Fig. 80.--Hydrophis elegans 135

Fig. 81.--Skull of Distira 137

Fig. 82.--Enhydrina valakadien (E. bengalensis) 138

Fig. 83.--Skull of Platurus colubrinus 139

Fig. 84.--Platurus laticaudatus (P. fischeri) 140

Fig. 85.--Collecting venom from a Lachesis at the Serotherapeutic Institute of São Paulo (Brazil) 154

Fig. 86.--Chloroforming a Cobra in order to collect venom at Pondicherry (first stage) 155

Fig. 87.--Chloroforming a Cobra in order to collect venom at Pondicherry (second stage) 157

Fig. 88.--Collecting Cobra-venom at Pondicherry (third stage) 158

Fig. 89.--Mongoose seized by a Cobra 225

Fig. 90.--Indian Snake-charmer at Colombo (Ceylon) 230

Fig. 91.--Indian Snake-charmer at Colombo (Ceylon) 231

Fig. 92.--Musical instrument used by Indian snake-charmers to charm Cobras 232

Fig. 93.--Vaccinating a horse against venom at the Pasteur Institute, Lille 244

Fig. 94.--Aseptically bleeding a horse, vaccinated against venom, in order to obtain antivenomous serum, at the Pasteur Institute, Lille 245

Fig. 95.--Technique of injecting antivenomous serum beneath the skin of the abdomen 264

Fig. 96.--Lactrodectus mactans 275

Fig. 97.--Scorpio occitanus 277

Fig. 98.--Scolopendra morsitans 280

Fig. 99.--Poison-apparatus of the bee 281

Fig. 100.--Interior of the gorget of the Bee 282

Fig. 101.--Synanceia brachio var. Verrucosa 291

Fig. 102.--Cottus scorpius (Sea Scorpion, or Father Lasher) 292

Fig. 103.--Scorpæna grandicornis 293

Fig. 104.--Scorpæna diabolus 294

Fig. 105.--Pterois artemata 295

Fig. 106.--Pelor filamentosum 296

Fig. 107.--Trachinus vipera (Lesser Weever) 297

Fig. 108.--Operculum and opercular spine of the Lesser Weever 298

Fig. 109.--Callionymus lyra (Dragonet) 300

Fig. 110.--Batrachus grunniens 302

Fig. 111.--Thalassophryne reticulata 302

Fig. 112.--Lophius setigerus 303

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