Toxk~ai, 1971, Vo]. 9, pp. 183-183. ParQemon Press. Prfntad in üraat Hritdn
" 1~WS McKav, D. G., Mortoz, C., nE Vxrns, A., Csavossv, h and CRUSF, V. (University of California School of Medicine, San Francisco General Hospital, and Rogoff Medical Research Institute, Petah Tikvah, Israel) . The action of hemorrhages and phospholipase derived from Vfpera palistinae venom on the microcirculation. Lab. Irrnst. 22, 387, 1970.
Purti~o hemorrhagen from Vipers palestinae venom injected subcutaneously in rabbits produces edema, leakage of plasma, and extravasation of red cells and platelets. Red cells pass directly through the damaged capillary endothelial cells after which the >~ are plugged by platelets. Hemorrhagin infused intravenously causes multiple hemorrhages in the lung and smooth muscle of the small intestine. Thrombocytopenia t~estilts from aggregation of platelets at sites of capillary damage and on the surface of the Kupffer cells of the liver. Phospholipase from this venom does not damage capillary endothelium but does promote platelet aggregation in the liver and myocardial capillaries. It damages thoerythrocytes in aunique wayby causingextrusion of globules of hemoglobin thus converting them to spherocytes. The hemoglobin globules are later PhaBo~~" Intravascular hemolysis caused by snake venom may be attributed to : (1) extrusion of globules from erythrocytes and theirconversion to spherocytes (2)increasedmechsaical fragilityof spherocytes (3) disseminar ted intravascular coagulation. Several remarkable electron micrographs illustrate this interesting paper. S.A.M . COCfiRANE, C. G., M1n tE]t-EBERHARD, H. J. and Atlta], B. S. (Dept. Exptl. Pathology, Scripps Clinic and Research Foundation, La Jolhi, Calif.) Depletion of plasma complement in vivo by aproteinof cobravenom: itseffect on various immunologie reactions.l.Immuno1.103, 55,1970.
A l ow molecular weight anticomplementary factor (CoF) was prepared from Ngja n4ja venom by preparative electrophoresis and gel filtration chromatography. In rabbits, tats and guinea pigs, this factor complexes with a plasma component to inactivate C3 . Hemolytic complement activity falls to 1 to 10 per cent of nonval and remains low for 4to 6 days. This factor also inactivates CS in mouse aad human serum and C6 in rabbit serum. Large doses cause hemolysis in vivo. Arthus reactions and acute nephrotoxic nephritis in rats am markedly inhibited by CoF apparently because neutrophil participation in the reaction is decreased. Cutaneous anaphylaxis and delayed hyper sensitivity reactions are unaffected . Neutrophils in the cit~culating blood increave slightly during treatment with CoF. They respond normally to immune adherenceand chemotactic stimuli. Kinogen levels andclotting times are not changed. M1NroN, S. A., Jit. and M1NroN, M. R. (Indiana University MedicalCenter,1100 West Michigan Street, Indianapolis, Indiana) . Yerromous Reptiles. Charles Stxibner's Sons, New York, 1969, 274 pp .
Han I Nor read this book from "Since the Dawn of Human Thought" to "Zuni Indians", I might have bcen sorely tempted to advise a publisher that the subject matter could not possibly be treated in a single scholarly document. The Mimosa, however, have done it and have not only provided the reader with a remarkable amount of usable data but have presentedit in a very readable and entr mina manner. A book which relates so many anecdotes and quotes so extensively might be oxpected to drag, but the authors have kept the text lively and the pace smooth . They are to be complimented on a very fine piece of work . The book adequately summarizes some difficult themes, and while it is not primarily intended for the specialist, it does provide considerable specialized material . Chapters includo such diversified considerations as : Snakes in the Space Age, Venom Glands and Venom Setxetion, Snako Lilts and Snake Charmers, the Uses of Snake Venom, etc. I have no serious criticisms of the text . I would have liked a more definitive or perhaps better organized section on the properties and composition of venoms, and the chapter on treatment falls far short of the 183
authors' skill; however, these shortcomings will not detract from its principal worth-that of providing the reader with an authoritative, refreshing, and admirable summary of man's knowledge on the venomous reptiles . F.E.R . (from: BioScience) W. P. (Department of Epidemiology andInternational Health, University of California School of Medicine, SanFrancisco, Calif.) . Ligafarre-incision-suction compared with amputation in thetreatment ofrabbits inoculated with crotalid venons. Am.l. Trop.Med. Hyg.18, 305,1969 . HoRErr,
Tars is a rather confusingarticle whichappearsto have been writtenwithout particular insightinto the present status of the chemistry or pharmacology of Crotalus venons. It reports on a variation of often repeated experimental studies that will no doubt reign furtherconfusion on the first aid treatmentfor rattlesnakebites. Now that the cryotherapists appear to have reversed ship (see Texas Med. 66, 42, 1970) it is difficult to believe that someone has gone astern again and advocates the heating of the area of envenomation . I am sure those whose task it is to treat clinical cases of snakebite will find it difircult to accept the author's rather precarious conclusions, and they would be more inclined to agree with him that his findings `related to heat invite speculation' . This type of naively controlled experiment again points out the care one must take in applying data on experimental animals, even when the parameters can be vigorously controlled, to clinical problems. The hundreds of `cures' for snakebite in experimental animals described in the literature do not seem to have a parallel application in hnmanc, J.A.E . M~reErrd, Z. and LEHEZ, D. (Medicinski Cent~r, Pula, Yugoslavia). Lycosa tarantula in fact and fiction. Bull. MusEum National d'Histoire Naturelle 41, 260, 1969 . Tt~s is a very interesting and informative paper on the complex of `tarantism'. The authors include some notes on experiments with the venom of L. tarantula. F.E.R International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna, 1970 (Proceedings of a Panel, Bangkok, 19-22 May, 1969). Radiation Sensitivity of Toxins and Animal Poisons. New York : UNIPUB, Inc., 120 pp ., 1970.
TI-rrs PAPER bound book contains the manuscripts, and certain conclusions and recommendations, presented at an International Atomic Energy Agency meeting in Bangkok, 19-22 May, 1969 . Six of the papers deal specifically with snake venons . They tango in content from the effects of radiation on venons and antisera to the labeling of snake venons with radioactive isotopes. Although much of the material of the volume may be known to those who have followed the problem of the radiation sensitivity of venons during the past decade, the book serves the purpose of putting together the important papers on this subject in a handy booklet form . It should be of particular interest to those contemplating the use of radioactive isotopes in their venom work or in producing antivenins or toxoids. The book can be purrhased through 1AE Sales Ants and booksellers in all member countries of the International Atomic Energy Agency . F.E.R. M~~w, H. andLnwsox, A. A. H. (Rogional Poisoning Treatment Centre, Royal Infirmary, Edinburgh, Scotland). 7YYatment ofCommon AcutePofsonings, Edinburgh and London : E. &S. Livin~tone, 160 pp.,1970.
Tarts is ahandy reference work written for the practicing physician facedwith theproblem of acute poisoning. Although it is primarily intended for the practitioner in Great Britain, the presentation, in moat cases, will be of interest to physicians practicing in any part of the world. Some problems of poisoning, which might be more common in the United States or India, etc., are relatively uncommon in the British Isles, and vice versa, but in general the scope is practical. As the name implies, the emphasis is on treatment. The mech an,rmc and modes of actions for the various poisons are not given and the clinical features of the various disease states arc brief and might have been better presented if the development of the clinical course had been plead in a time sequence form .