Venomous Animals have been a threat to man at all times, in the warm and
wilder regions more than in the temperate areas. People in especially
dangerous regions know about these risks and live accordingly. However,
with modern tourism and nearly unlimited travel oppor- tunities more and
more people without experience and knowledge about venomous animals come
into contact with them; this book is intended to provide these people
with an introduction to the subject. Venomous animals, their habits,
their whole ecology and their venoms have been the object or research
since the beginning of this century; truly intensive work, how- ever,
first started about thirty years ago. Medical treat- ment therefore has
been changed by new insights in the mechanism of action and the
constituents of the various venoms. In this regard this book is also
directed to physi- cians, biologists and chemists to give them an
introduc- tion in this important and interesting field. New aspects of
treatment of envenomations are reported. This book cannot replace bigger
textbooks and monographs - they are cited in the references - but it
gives an overview and an entry into this field. The original German
edition was written at the request of colleagues and students of
medicine, biology and chemistry as well as frequent travellers in
tropical countries. It was sold out within eight months, thus showing
that it really filled a gap.