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Polyvalent Antivenin in the Treatment of Experimental Snake Venom Poisoning

The protective effect of North American polyvalent antivenin was tested against the venoms of eight representative species of North American pit vipers. Mice injected with 2 LD₅₀ of venom were treated by intraperitoneal or subcutaneous injection of 0.1 ml. of antivenin. Significant protection was obtained against the venoms of the San Diego rattlesnake (Crotalus viridis helleri) and the horned rattlesnake (Crotalus cerastes laterorepens). Questionable protection was obtained against the venoms of the timber rattlesnake (Crotalus h. horridus) and the massasauga (Sistrurus c. catenatus). No protection was observed against the venoms of the eastern diamondback rattlesnake (Crotalus adamanteus), the western diamondback rattlesnake (Crotalus atrox), the copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix mokeson), and the water moccasin (Agkistrodon piscivorus spp.). Intraperitoneal injection of antivenin gave slightly better results than local infiltration of the injured tissue. Antivenin does not prevent local tissue necrosis under these circumstances. Neutralization of the venoms observed here is paraspecific; none of the venoms neutralized are used in the preparation of the antivenin.