WwttxEU., D. A., Dwvtnsox, N . McD., OM~ton, L. D., POPE, H. M ., Wwrxuas, B. J ., Gtte~v- woon, B. M. and Rero, H. A. (Department of Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria) . Bites by the saw-scaled or carpet viper (F .chis carinatus) : trial of two specific antivenoms . Br . med . ! . 4, 437 (1974). Echis carinarus is probably the most dangerous snake in the world . Forty-six patients with systemic Echis envenoming in Nigeria were given specific antivenin made either by the South African Institute for Medical Research (SAIMR) or by Behringwerke . A simple test of blood clotting was used to assess efficacy . An average 152 ml SAIMR antivenin restored normal clotting in all 23 patients . An average 379 ml Behring- werke antivenin restored normal clotting in only 18 of 23 patients in this, and 3 patients developed local necrosis . No patient in the SAIMR group developed local necrosis . H.A .R . Swet.wc~t, C. and HIC(àINeOTHAM, R. D. (Department of Microbiology, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Health Sciences Center, Louisville, Kentucky). Significance of heparin in the local response to bee sting . Texas Rep. biol. Med . 3Z, 553, (1974) . Trte wunaotes present the postulation that the basic polypeptide melittin is the principal toxin of locally applied bee venom, and that it acts primarily by mast cell destruction . Subsequently, however, they admit that the overall effects of the peptide, and especially its general toxicity, cannot be explained exclusively by mast cell disruption . Mast cell disruption releases not only histamine but also heparin, which inhibits, like any polysaccharide sulfate (sce Z . exp. Med . 129, 436, 1958), the effects of melittin . As a test of inhibition the authors use the antibacterial activity of melittin against Staphylococcus aureus, which can be largely abolished by heparin (ID -= 0~046ug) . Other agents were much less active, so the IDba of heparin monosulfate was 02 ~g per ml, and those of the chondroitin sulfates A, B and C were 3~0, 1~8 and 4~8 kg per ml, respectively. The ID bo of serum albumin was 5~6, and that of globulin was . . 10 . The authors hypoth- esize that mast cell destruction might add not only to the effects of melittin on cutaneous tissues ; the heparin released might contribute to the detoxication of melittin and, by that, to the local resistance to bee venom . E.H . TOXICON 197J Yol. !3

Bites by the saw-scaled or carpet viper (Echis carinatus): trial of two specific antivenoms: Warrell, D. A., Davidson, N. McD., Omerod, L. D., Pope, H. M., Watkins, B. J., Greenwood,

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Page 1: Bites by the saw-scaled or carpet viper (Echis carinatus): trial of two specific antivenoms: Warrell, D. A., Davidson, N. McD., Omerod, L. D., Pope, H. M., Watkins, B. J., Greenwood,

antivenoms . Br . med. !. 4, 437 (1974).

Echis carinarus is probably the most dangerous snake in the world. Forty-six patients with systemic Echisenvenoming in Nigeria were given specific antivenin made either by the South African Institute for MedicalResearch (SAIMR) or by Behringwerke . A simple test of blood clotting was used to assess efficacy . Anaverage 152 ml SAIMR antivenin restored normal clotting in all 23 patients . An average 379 ml Behring-werke antivenin restored normal clotting in only 18 of 23 patients in this, and 3 patients developed localnecrosis . No patient in the SAIMR group developed local necrosis .

H.A.R .

Swet.wc~t, C. and HIC(àINeOTHAM, R. D. (Department of Microbiology, University ofLouisville School of Medicine, Health Sciences Center, Louisville, Kentucky). Significance ofheparin in the local response to bee sting . Texas Rep. biol. Med. 3Z, 553, (1974) .

Trte wunaotes present the postulation that the basic polypeptide melittin is the principal toxin of locallyapplied bee venom, and that it acts primarily by mast cell destruction . Subsequently, however, they admitthat the overall effects of the peptide, and especially its general toxicity, cannot be explained exclusively bymast cell disruption . Mast cell disruption releases not only histamine but also heparin, which inhibits, likeany polysaccharide sulfate (sce Z. exp. Med. 129, 436, 1958), the effects of melittin . As a test of inhibitionthe authors use the antibacterial activity of melittin against Staphylococcus aureus, which can be largelyabolished by heparin (ID� -= 0~046ug) . Other agents were much less active, so the IDba of heparinmonosulfate was 02 ~g per ml, and those of the chondroitin sulfates A, B and C were 3~0, 1~8 and 4~8 kgper ml, respectively. The IDbo of serum albumin was 5~6, and that of globulin was . . 10 .The authors hypoth-esize that mast cell destruction might add not only to the effects of melittin oncutaneoustissues ; the heparinreleased might contribute to the detoxication of melittin and, by that, to the local resistance to bee venom.

E.H .

TOXICON 197J Yol. !3