The Natural Repertory of Prof. William Nelson

In 1904, Paul Morawitz introduced the idea of the enzyme capacities of
these different venoms, and their ability to act very similarly to the
digestive juices.
The capacity of these venoms to have enzymatic action in the body was
then determined. These venoms could be deadly if the enzyme activity
was too intense such as in the case of Russell’s pit viper which causes
thrombosis.
Cortalus was a very strong enzyme; whereas elapidae was found to be
weak proteolytically, but strong in its other enzyme activity.
In 1912, C. Delezenne claimed that the venom of Lachesis contained
akinase which activated pancreatic juice. Later in 1919, he observed in
experiments that the toxic secretion of snakes was able to cause catalytic
breakdown of nucleic acids.
By the beginning of the twentieth century, classification of the different
distinguishing properties of snake venoms was possible. Some acted as if
they had ferments, or protein enzyme-like substances. Some were toxic.
Some had diastases.
In 1887, Henry Seawall, at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, was
the first one in the United States to observe that a type of venom serum
could be developed. He injected pigeons with small amounts of venom;
not enough to cause death. Weeks later, the same pigeons, when injected
with a larger quantity of the venom were able to resist the venom’s
effects.
Hahneman’s work with some snake venoms pointed out their reversal
functions. This brief document is an attempt to discuss some of these
venoms and their use in medicine today.
Snakes can use their venom in many different ways. Often, the
purpose of venom is to hunt and digest. People bitten by a snake usually
have respiratory, circulatory, neurological, cardiac and coagulation
problems. The enzymes in the venom will start digestion of the tissues of
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