Stability of Mosquito Venom in vitro

In 1929 the senior author1 extracted a toxic substance from macerated salivary glands of the yellow fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti Linnaeus. At the close of the experiments which were conducted then, a few milliliters of the venom extract remained. This aliquot was passed through a bacterial filter, and a very small amount sealed in glass, and stored in a refrigerator.On October 14, 1937, the tube was removed from storage. Inspection showed that the filtrate had remained water-clear with no evidence of a precipitate. The glass seal was broken and 0.1 cc of the contents was injected, intradermally, over the biceps muscle of each of 3 persons. Each injection of the salivary gland extract immediately was followed by a control injection of 0.1 cc of sterile saline over the same muscle on the same arm. The pertinent histories and reactions of the subjects are as follows:Subject No. 1. E.B.M. always had been sensitive to the bite of Aedes aegypti. He participated in the experiments of 1929 and showed a strong re...