Dr. Hancock's Remarks on Snake Poisons, Wi. 



allude to such misconceptions, from a persuasion that a love of 

 truth will make him desirous of seeing such vulgar and 

 pernicious errors exploded, as they tend continually to mislead 

 and to chain us in error. 



2cWhen a person is bitten by a venomous serpent, the first 

 step should be to apply the mouth and suck the wound, and 

 that immediately, without the least delay, which may be done 

 by the patient or a companion ; next, to open the wound freely, 

 with a knife or lancet, by several cross cuts, and instantly suck 

 it again as powerfully as possible, pinching up the skin and 

 flesh deeply by the thumb and fingers of both hands, applied 

 all round the wound, so as to impede the circulation through 

 ihe part ; then to fill the wound with common salt (mur. soda,) 

 or with sal nitre, and the juice of any of the aristolochias or 

 other stimulant substance at hand ; but the suction ought to 

 be continued for a considerable time, and a ligature should be 

 applied above the wound. 



This method is actually practised with the most decisive 

 success amongst the Parinagotos, Macosies, and other tribes 

 •inhabiting the mountains of Sibaroni and Parime ; and that, 

 not only against the bite of the crotalus or rattle-snake, but 

 that of the Quaima* and the Haimararia, which are considered 

 still more deadly than the crotalus. These are almost the 

 only Indians who will undertake to cure the bite of these 

 serpents. It is certainly the most rational, and indeed the 

 only method which can prove successful, as it usually is, when 

 promptly applied, unless any of the larger vessels be punctured. 

 In this case the venom may so speedily mix with the vital fluid 

 as to preclude all remedies. 



This operation, then, if promptly executed, will be sufficient; 



* This is the most lethal, perhaps, of all known serpents, and the largest of the 

 venomous tribe. It grows to ten or twelve feet in length, and has large poisonous 

 fangs, seven in number, on each side the upper jaw. This serpent, when enraged, 

 has the power of contracting its body to about one half its length, and swelling 

 proportionately, which enables it to make a spring, or project itself suddenly for- 

 ward : whilst in this posture, it presents one of the most horrid figures imagin- 

 able, with its enormous gape and projected fangs. It is the Crotalus mutus of 

 Linn^, mistaken by Spix, badly figured by Seba ; and, although but vaguely 

 known to the Swedish naturalist, is yet better characterized by him than any sub- 

 . sequent writer. It is called by the Arowak Indians of South America, Koonu- 

 Rusi, t . e., bush-master, or master of the forest. 



Two perfect specimens of this serpent may be seen at the Museum of the 

 Zoological Society in Bruton Street, 



