Acute and subacute toxicities induced by the intravenous administration of Formosan snake venoms, the venoms of Agkistrondon acutus (Gunther) and Trimeresurus mucrosquamatus (Cantor), were toxicologically studied in comparison with the shock induce d by ATP or insulin regarding the changes in hematometry, proteinogram, and histological figure on rabbits as follows:
1) When the sn a ke venom was intravenously administered in a toxic dose, lymphopenia and anemia were observed for more a week. But, lymphopenia induced by ATP or insulin in each shock dosage also lasted for several days.
2) Lymphopenia induced by the snake venoms is assum ed to be brought about through the acceleration of function of hypophysis and adrenal cortex.
3) a 2-Globulin was increased in subacute stages of the snake venom toxicosis, but was scarcely changed in any stage of ATP or insulin shock.
4) The snake venoms caused the degeneration of glomerul i and tubules in kidney, of which Trimeresurus venom caused remarked changes. From these results, it has been clarified that each snake venom is not only a shock poison but also a nephrotoxic substance.