100 REPTILES AND BATRACHIANS 



circulation, being almost instantaneous when discharged 

 directly into an artery. The bite usually brings about 

 lethargy and extreme exhaustion, followed by general 

 paralysis of the nervous system, and in many cases entire 

 cessation of respiration. In the Vipers, however, the 

 poison acts more on the circulatory than on the nervous 

 system, producing local haemorrhage. 



Enormous numbers of suggestions have been made for 

 the treatment of snake-bite, which it is quite unnecessary 

 to mention here. The prevention of the absorption of the 

 venom should be the only consideration of the person bitten, 

 and for this purpose a ligature should be placed, immedi- 

 ately after the infliction of the bite, on the limb, a few 

 inches above the wound. As much of the poison as possible 

 should then be removed by making a deep incision at the 

 place of the bite, which should be cleaned out with some 

 strong antiseptic solution. If this treatment could always 

 be carried out with promptitude by those bitten, deaths 

 from snake-bite would be a rarity. Alcohol, which is 

 often prescribed, if taken in moderate quantities, may be 

 of some use in stimulating the heart, but if taken very 

 freely, as is generally the case, the effect is the exact 

 opposite. Walking the patient up and down when in a 

 state of collapse merely produces further exhaustion, and 

 is likewise not to be recommended. 



Some years ago Dr. Calmette, of Lille, was able to show 

 that an animal treated for a considerable length of time 

 with graduated injections of the venom of snakes yielded a 

 serum which had an antitoxic effect towards that poison. 

 At a later date he produced a serum which he claimed was, 

 when injected in certain quantities, a cure against the bite 



