THE TRANSITION TO LAND 



401 



bite if the bite is on an area of the body where this can be done. This 

 is called a lymph tourniquet since its purpose is to stop the movement 

 of lymph and not blood. Then two incisions should be made through 

 the fang marks and suction applied to remove as much lymph and body 

 fluids as possible. Every fifteen minutes the tourniquet should be loos- 

 ened and moved back up the limb an inch or two. As the skin puffs up 



Photo by Winchester 



Fig. 26.22. Snake Charmer? This young lady is attractive enough to charm almost 



anything, but this six-foot indigo snake would be just as gentle and easy to handle for 



anyone else. The indigo snakes easily become accustomed to being handled and 



actually seem to enjoy it. They are valuable as destroyers of rodents. 



farther from the bite, additional cuts should be made and more suction 

 cups applied. The victim should be kept as quiet as possible so that 

 his muscular movements will not push the lymph on into the blood sys- 

 tem, since most of the poison in the tissues is picked up by the lymph 

 system. In the absence of snake kits containing suction cups, it is gen- 

 erally considered safe to suck the poison out with the mouth. Even 

 though some of it should be swallowed, the pit viper venom is destroyed 

 by the digestive juices. A small amount of the poison might be 

 absorbed, however, if there are cuts or sores on the mouth. As soon 



