204 REPTILES OF THE WORLD 



to shut off the circulation between the fang wounds 

 and the heart, to prevent the poisoned blood from gain- 

 ing the general circulation. This is best done by apply- 

 ing a ligature (preferably a rubber one) a short distance 

 above the injury. The next step is to drain away the 

 poisoned blood from the vicinity of the fang punctures. 

 This can be done only in one way — by generous lacera- 

 tion into the wounds. A cut should be made across each, 

 at least as deep as the original wound, then a longitudinal 

 cut at right angles across the first two incisions. The 

 wounds should be drained thoroughly by suction. After 

 every application the mouth must be rinsed with a wine- 

 colored solution of permanganate of potassium, which 

 chemical oxidizes the venom and destroys its action. 

 Following these first precautions the wounds should be 

 repeatedly washed in a solution of the permanganate of 

 potassium — enough of the crystals in water to produce 

 a deep purple hue. After the wounds have been drained 

 of poisoned blood and washed, the ligature may be re- 

 moved. Constitutional symptoms, in the shape of weak- 

 ness and giddiness, should be met by small doses of 

 brandy and hypodermic injections of strychnine. At 

 this time it should be well understood that in blood, 

 attacked by snake poison, the germicidal qualities for a 

 time die out, the fighting corpuscles becoming entirely 

 inactive. This condition renders the wounds liable to 

 dangerous infection — possibly gangrene. Every pre- 

 caution should be taken to keep the wounds clean and 

 draining well. They should be packed with moist, anti- 

 septic gauze and the dressing must be kept continually 

 wet with some good antiseptic solution. If the serum 

 treatment is possible, it should immediately follow the 

 scarification and washing of the wounds. The wounds 



