SNAKES, LIZARDS, TURTLES, AND CROCODILES 271 



Notwithstanding the fact that a bite from any one of these 

 venomous snakes may prove fatal to man in a very short time, 

 the real danger from these snakes is not as great as it would 

 seem, for they may usually be seen or heard and avoided. The 

 number of deaths resulting from snake bites in the United 

 States each year is very small indeed, an average of but only 

 two each year, it has been estimated. Sucking the blood and 

 poison from the wound or drinking large quantities of whiskey 

 are the two methods most commonly recommended for treat- 

 ing snake bites. Sucking the poison from the wound may do 

 some good but it is very dangerous, for should some of the poi- 

 son get into cuts or abrasions 

 on the lips or in the mouth 



it might cause more harm 

 that it would in the original 

 wound. Excessive use of al- 

 coholic drinks must also be 

 avoided, as experiments have 

 shown that they may exert 

 a very unfavorable effect. 

 The best thing to do if one 

 should be bitten by a poi- 

 sonous snake is to apply pres- 

 sure, by a ligature or other- 

 wise, to the blood-vessels lead- 

 ing from the wound to the 



heart to prevent the blood from carrying the poison to the 

 heart. If a physician is not available within a very short 

 time the tissue around the wound should be incised deeply and 

 a solution of potassium permanganate (i part of the chemical 

 to 100 parts of water) injected. If properly and promptly 

 applied such a treatment may destroy much of the venom 

 before it can reach the heart and be sent from there over the 

 whole system. Hypochlorite of calcium, i part to 60 parts of 

 water, or chloride of gold, i to 100, or chromic acid, i to 100, 

 may be used if the potassium permanganate is not available. 

 When the venom of a poisonous snake is introduced into the 

 blood of an animal in small quantities it is capable of pro- 



FIG. 125. Dissection of head of 

 rattlesnake. /, poison-fangs; p, 

 poison-sac. 



