Venomdoc Forums

Gokul · Acrochordidae Joined: 04 Nov 2009 Posts: 3

Is there a possibility of sialolith (or in this case a Venom stone) in snakes?

Venomdoc · Posted: Thu Nov 05, 2009 2:15 pm Post subject:

No. Those are complete myths perpetuated by indigenous scam artists
_________________
Department of Biochemistry,
Bio21 Institute,
University of Melbourne,
Australia
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Faith can't be put in a test tube. Thats why it shouldn't be put in a science classroom.
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Faith (noun). Belief that does not rest on logical proof or material evidence
Science (noun). The observation, identification, description, experimental investigation and theoretical explanation of phenomena. Such activities restricted to a class of natural phenomena.

Gokul · Acrochordidae Joined: 04 Nov 2009 Posts: 3

I happen to converse with Dr. Sreekumar of Tamil Nadu Veterinary & Animal Sciences University about this.
This is what he said

"when the secretions of any exocrine gland ( a gland that communicates through a duct) gets stagnated due to any reason (obstruction of the ductular part), it becomes pathological. The nidus of the 'stone' is usually crystalline and if left alone, it gets layered by the gland’s inspisated secretion and inflammatory exudates, including cellular debris. Any animal that has a functional salivary gland (or its analogue), including humans, can potentially get sialoliths"

He also said that this can be happen in snakes too....

Venomdoc · Posted: Fri Nov 06, 2009 11:04 am Post subject:

uh huh and how come I have never ever seen this in any of the thousands of snakes I have worked with or heard about it in any other large collection?

Venomdoc · Posted: Fri Nov 06, 2009 11:06 am Post subject:

I would love to see an analysis of some of these that are offered up in India (at vast prices) as cure-alls for whatever ails (from impotence to cancer). I have a deep suspicion none will be snake in origin.
_________________
Department of Biochemistry,
Bio21 Institute,
University of Melbourne,
Australia
---------------------
Faith can't be put in a test tube. Thats why it shouldn't be put in a science classroom.
---------------------
Faith (noun). Belief that does not rest on logical proof or material evidence
Science (noun). The observation, identification, description, experimental investigation and theoretical explanation of phenomena. Such activities restricted to a class of natural phenomena.

Gokul · Acrochordidae Joined: 04 Nov 2009 Posts: 3

well, he doesn't say that this stone cures diseases or has magical powers...actually he too believe snake-pearls to be a myth..its just he thinks sialoliths can exist in venomous snakes (just the possibility). He said he had accidentally stumbled across small aggregates (of sialolith) in gall bladders of rat snakes during necropsy.