Abstract
The effects of anti-Habu-serum injection on the local and systemic pathological changes produced by Habu venom injection were histopathologically examined, using male guinea pigs as experimental aniamals.
Injection 1 ml serum for 1 mg venom, or 5 to 10 ml serum for 5 mg venom, both local and systemic pathological changes were repressed, if the serum injection was administered without delay. Even when the changes were produced, they were slight in degree.
When the amount of the serum used was insufficient-1 or 2 ml for 5 mg venom-the serum was not very effective; it could repress neither local nor systemic pathological changes. However, by comparison with the untreated control cases, life of the animals was prolonged by the use of serum.
Generally speaking, the characteristic systemic pathological changes produced by Habu venom consist in circulatory deficiency, which is due to the toxicity of the venom working either directly of indirectly. Immediate administration of the serum is recommended; but when the symptoms are serious, some allopathic treatment for shock must not be neglected in addition to the serum therapy.
