We see, therefore, that the proportion of dry residue, including albumin, salts, the débris of leucocytes, and the toxic substance, oscillates between 20 and 38 per cent. Its strength varies with the length of time that has elapsed since the snake’s last bite or last meal.
From the histological standpoint, the process of the secretion of venom, in the cells of the glands, may be divided into two stages:—
(a) A stage of nuclear elaboration.
(b) A stage of cytoplasmic elaboration.
These two stages are superposed and successive.
In addition to the passive exchanges between the nucleus and the cytoplasm, the nuclear mass actively participates in the secretion. This participation is rendered evident:—
(1) By the difference of chromaticity in the granules of chromatin.
(2) By the emission of formed granules into the cytoplasm, granules which are spherical and of equal bulk, with the chromatic reactions of differentiated intranuclear chromatin.
(3) By the exosmosis of the dissolved nuclear substance, accessorily formed in an ergastoplasmic shape.