TREATMENT OF SNAKE BITE 291 



CHLORIDE OF GOLD, HYPOCHLORITES OF ALKALIES AND CHLORIDE 



OF CALCIUM. 



As energetic destroyers of snake venom in loco, chloride of gold, hypo- 

 chlorites of alkalies, and chloride of calcium have been recommended by 

 Calmette ^ for local treatment of snake bites. If promptly injected i per 

 cent solution of chloride of gold and hypochlorites of alkalies can destroy the 

 activity of various snake venoms and save the animals from death. These 

 reagents have the advantage over many other venom-destroying chemicals 

 of being less caustic on the tissues into which they are injected.^ 



Chloride of calcium, freshly dissolved in a ratio of 2 gm. per 100 c.c. of water, 

 and having the titration of 90 c.c. of gaseous chlorine per 100 gm., is most 

 highly recommended by Calmette. Owing to the easy diffusibility of chlorine 

 gas to a considerable distance from the spot of injection the venom is quickly 

 destroyed by the lime solution, even after absorption commences. 



The simultaneous application of an elastic ligature is also recommended. 



Certain acids seem to have more or less pronounced destructive action upon 

 snake venom. Kaufmann ^ recommends the local application of chromic 

 acid — in I per cent solution — for the purpose of postponing the lethal effect 

 of venom. The local irritating properties are completely destroyed by this 

 reagent, but not the toxic properties. 



The early work of Weir Mitchell also indicates the destructive action of 

 certain acids upon the haemorrhagic principles of crotalus venom, although 

 he did not recommend the acid as a practical means of combating the effects 

 of the venom. 



Recently Morgenroth found that guinea-pigs which had received some 

 lethal doses of crotalus venom into the peritoneum can be saved from death by 

 prompt injection of dilute hydrochloric acid. I was able to confirm this 

 phenomenon. But how much benefit can be derived from the acid treatment 

 in the subcutaneous venom-poisoning remains to be seen. 



GENERAL MEDICAMENTATION. 



Fayrer and Brunton recommended the administration of strychnine as a 

 means of prolonging the hfe of the bitten person. This notion is derived 

 from their experiments on the beneficial effect of artificial respiration on snake 

 poisoning, when strychnine, as a cardiac and respiratory stimulant, was thus 

 introduced. Feoktistow as well as Aron failed to discover any curative in- 

 fluence either by the artificial respiration or the injection of strychnine. Aron 

 also tested the effect of atropin and caffein without obtaining any beneficial 

 result. Feoktistow thinks that the use of strychnine and caffein should be 

 forbidden because of the danger of increasing haemorrhage through the rise 



' Calmette. Contribution k I'etude du venin des serpents. Ann. Institut Pasteur, 1894, VIII, 275; 

 also, Les venins. Paris, 1907. 



2 Martin and Lamb state the danger of slough from the injections of these chemicals. 



3 Kaufmann. Sur le venin de vipfere. Bull. Soc. Centr. de Med. vet. Par., 1889, n. s., VI, 187. C. 



R. Soc. Biol., 1894, 10 ser., I, 113. 



