SNAKE-BITES AND POISONOUS FJSHES. 121 



The most fatal period after all bites appears to be between two and three 

 hours ; more than 25 per cent, die between one and three hours. 



Treatment. — When a person has been bitten by any snake supposed to 

 be venomous, the first and very important measure is to prevent the entrance 

 of the virus into the general circulation. As the part bitten is generally 

 one of the extremities, this may often be done by applying a tight ligature 

 at once between the part bitten and the trunk ; the second point is to re- 

 move or counteract the virus as soon as possible, suck the wound to extract 

 the poison, cut the part out or cauterise freely, then wash the wound well 

 with hypochlorite of lime==800 parts of chlorine to one of lime, or inject 

 8-10 cm. of the same in the track of the bite ; this destroys the venom in. 

 situ, neutralising that not yet absorbed, or a solution of chloride of gold 

 would act equally as well. 



Inject 10 to 20 c.c. of antivenine if obtainable into the subcutaneous tissue 

 of the flank, or if general infection is marked give it intravenously ; after 

 this has been done the ligature may be removed. One should also promote 

 warmth, stimulate the circulation, and carry on artificial respiration if neces- 

 sary. If no antivenine is to be had, give stimulants freely. 



Half the number of fatal cases are stated to die from fear, not having the 

 heart at the time to apply any remedial measures (Krefft). 



Serum Therapy. 



The analogy between certain toxins produced by pathogenic micro- 

 organisms, as diphtheria, tetanus, etc., and the products of snake venom, 

 together with the effects that they produce on most mammals, led to the belief 

 that some antitoxin might be prepared for the latter, which would give 

 protection against the virus. In spite of the opinion of Sir J. Fayrer and 

 others that any idea of finding a physiological antidote was Utopian, it has to 

 a great extent been actually accomplished : the preparation and dispersion 

 of a most valuable antitoxin is now being carried on in large quantities by 

 Professor Calmette- of Lille and his assistants. There is also to be a special 

 laboratory, under the care of Major Semple, to supply this antivenine on 

 the spot for the use of India. * 



History. — Sewall in 1886 experimented on pigeons. By very gradual and 

 repeated injections of rattlesnake poison, he produced in them very marked 

 resisting powers to that poison. 



Cunningham, by experiments at Calcutta, found that though a fowl may be 

 immunised against cobra bite by repeated injections of the virus, yet that it 

 was not then protected from Daboia poison and vice versa, in contradistinction 

 to the statements of Calmette and Fraser, that an animal immunised to cobra 

 poison was also immune from all other snake venoms — a doctrine quite con- 

 trary to Behring's law, " that the action of an immunising serum is specific." 



Phisatrix, Bertrand, and Calmette advanced knowledge a step further. 

 Experimenting with rabbits and the venom of vipers, cobras, etc., they found 

 that not only were they able to immunise the animal itself, but they also 



1 This laboratory is now in active existence. 

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