There is no mystery about the "neotropical viper" mentioned in the Doc Savage story, apart from the elements of mystery present in the story itself. It is something that is known to science.
Magazine cover
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Book cover
Neotropical area
Author Rick Lai had this to say:
From my book, THE REVISED COMPLETE CHRONOLOGY OF BRONZE:
"The Mystic Mullah's poison came from the "neotropical rattlesnake" (chap.
18). This species of snake actually exists, and is more formally called
Crotalus durissus. It is also known as the Central American rattlesnake."
Rick
* DOC SAVAGE Vol. 4 No. 5 (Jan 1935) "The Mystic Mullah" reprinted as
Bantam #9 (Nov 1965) Chapter XVII "The Green Face":*
**
*"If that green stuff touches you, it'll kill you!" Doc said grimly. "He
[Mystic Mullah] was using two kinds [of venom]. One only burned the skin
and produced senselessness. The other was mixed with the venom of the
neotropical rattlesnake."*
**
*"Neotropical—"*
**
*"Something like that," Doc rapped. "Venom of the neotropical rattler
centralizes its effects in the nervous system around the nape of the neck
and causes a form of nerve destruction which makes it appear that the
victim has a broken neck. The posion probably had additional ingredients
which heightened its effects, causing a muscular constriction which actuall
snapped the vertebrae in most cases."*
**
*(Note the weasel words "something like that" and the wiggle room added by
positing a combination of poisons.)*
**
*DND*
Phillip Jose Farmer didn't have a clue, as usual.
Wikipedia article:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bothrops_insularis
THE MYSTIC MULLAH:
http://docsavagetales.blogspot.com/2011/03/pulp-of-week-doc-savage-23.html
THE REVISED COMPLETE CHRONOLOGY OF BRONZE:
A
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