A General Consideration of Snake Poisoning and Observations on Neotropical Pit-Vipers

Abstract

THE work under notice is a collection of four papers on the classification of the South American pit-vipers, prefaced by an essay on snake poisoning in general. In the preface, the nature of the poisons of the principal venomous snakes, their complexity, their action, the quantity of venom ejected, the symptoms seen in victims bitten by serpents of different kinds, and the serum treatment of snake bite is all surveyed in 20 pages. The materials for this survey have been selected with discretion, the information is accurate, and it forms a useful introduction to the subject of snake poisoning, but has no particular relation to the four short papers which follow it.

A General Consideration of Snake Poisoning and Observations on Neotropical Pit-Vipers.

By Afranio Do Amaral. (Contributions from the Harvard Institute for Tropical Biology and Medicine, 2.) Pp. vi + 64 + 16 plates. (Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press; London: Oxford University Press, 1925.) 10s. 6d. net.