168 OPHIDIA. 



local as well as internal ; and both must be resorted to at once, especially the former, imme- 

 diately the accident has happened. 



1. If the wound is on some part of the hand, arm, or foot, one or two ligatures should be 

 made as tightly as possible at a short distance above the wound, to prevent the absorption of 

 the poison. The ligature is left until the proper means are taken to destroy the virus in the 

 wound and until medicine is taken internally, or until great pain or swelling necessitate its 

 removal. 



2. The punctured wounds are to be enlarged by incisions at least as deep as the wounds, 

 to cause a free efflux of the poisoned blood, and to facilitate its removal by sucking. 



3. The wounds should be sucked either by the patient himself or by another person whose 

 mouth is free from any solution of continuity ; cupping-glasses answer the same purpose in 

 cases where they can be applied. 



4. The wound should be washed with ammonia, and its vicinity rubbed with it. Cauteri- 

 zation with a red-hot iron, or with sulphuric acid, butter of antimony, nitrate of silver, &c., 

 are of great advantage, if done before the virus has spread far beyond the place of the bite. 



5. Internally, ammonia should be taken in large doses — one, two, or three wineglasses of 

 the eau de luce. Where this is not at hand, from one to six glasses of brandy may be 

 taken at short intervals. 



In all accidents caused by bites of snakes the action of the heart is much affected ; its 

 contractions become feeble, the respu'ation difficult, and the patient feels great anguish 

 or sinks into a fainting state. To prevent a complete collapse it is necessary to use these 

 strong excitants, and to repeat them until the alarming symptoms are allayed. It would 

 be a great risk in such a case to trust to the remedies of a snake-charmer. 



First Suborder. 

 OPHIDII COLUBRIFORMES—INKOCVOVS SNAKES. 



Snakes without grooved or perforated fang-like teeth in front. 



Synopsis of the Families. 



I. Body cylindrical, rigid, covered with comparatively large, polished, 



firmly adherent scales; head not distinct fi'om neck; none of the 



teeth axe enlarged. 

 Ventral scales not larger than those on the back ; mental groove none ; 



upper labials four Typhlopid^e, p. 170. 



Ventral scales but little larger than the others ; mental groove present ; 



upper labials six Tortricid^, p. 178. 



Ventral shields distinct ; two pairs of frontals ; five occipitals . . . XENOPELTiDiE, p. 180. 



