Xref: utzoo sci.chem:3083 sci.bio:4389
Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!swrinde!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!ub!kitty!larry
From: larry@kitty.UUCP (Larry Lippman)
Newsgroups: sci.chem,sci.bio
Subject: Re: Snake venom (was Re: natural/synthetic)
Summary: Absorption of snake venom
Message-ID: <4682@kitty.UUCP>
Date: 9 Feb 91 19:42:26 GMT
References: <1991Feb4.095746.15291@uqvax.cc.uq.oz.au> <1991Feb5.040225.19268@midway.uchicago.edu>
Followup-To: sci.chem
Organization: Recognition Research Corp., Clarence, NY
Lines: 16
Keywords:snake venom, toxicity, mode of absorption

In article <1991Feb5.040225.19268@midway.uchicago.edu> chi9@quads.uchicago.edu (Lucius Chiaraviglio) writes:
>>  [. . .] Cobra venom is "natural" but we would hardly ingest it by  choice.
>
>	Actually, are snake venoms toxic if ingested?  I thought they had to
>get into the blood or lymph (or CSF, if you're colossally unlucky) to do their
>dirty work.

	As far as I know, snake venom is not absorbed through unbroken
skin, mucous membranes or the small intestine.

	Despite my statement above, I wouldn't want to tempt fate and
ingest it "by choice" either!

Larry Lippman @ Recognition Research Corp.  "Have you hugged your cat today?"
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