CHEMICAL STUDIES ON MOCCASIN VENOM I. SOME PROPERTIES OF THE HEMORRHAGIC AND HEMOLYTIC COMPONENTS

¹ From the Laboratories of the Mount Sinai Hospital, New York City

1. Methods for testing hemorrhagin and hemolysin in moccasin venom are described.

2. The hemorrhagic action of moccasin venom is best maintained at a hydrogen ion concentration of 6.0 to 8.0; with increasing acidity the activity of the hemorrhagic principle is diminished. A venom solution with a pH value of 3.0 shows practically no hemorrhagic action. Higher alkalinity also causes some deterioration of the hemorrhagin of the venom but to a much lesser degree than the pH values in the acid range.

3. The hemolysin is most stable at a hydrogen ion concentration between 5.0 and 7.0. There is much deterioration of the hemolytic principle at pH 3.0 and 8.0. It is completely destroyed in an alkaline solution of pH 9.0 and above.

4. Both the hemolytic and hemorrhagic principles are completely destroyed by incubation at 60°C. for three hours. The hemolytic principle is much less resistant to heat. It can be completely destroyed by exposure to 37°C. for three hours.

5. Shaking with chloroform removes practically none of the hemorrhagin or hemolysin, but about 10 per cent of the solid material from a moccasin venom solution 1:50.