ABSTRACT
Snake venom poisoning is certainly an important medical problem, as nearly 30,000–40,000 deaths each year are a result of snakebites. Although the death figures are lower in developed countries because of the routine use of antivenin, in underdeveloped and developing regions of the world, snakebite is a major health hazard. Terrestrial snakes, diurnal ones more so than nocturnal, are responsible for most of these bites; man-made situations, in addition, facilitate the encounters. Sea snake poisoning, too, is a noticeable feature in the coastal regions of the Arabian Sea, Indian Ocean, and Pacific Ocean. Venom toxicity is caused by both enzymatic and nonenzymatic protein constituents. Irrespective of the mode or mechanism of the lethal action of the snake venom, it is possible to determine the minimum lethal dose (MLD) of each snake venom for a given species of animal by introducing the venom into the animal through various routes.
